DERBY DAY AT EPSOM

Southland Times, Issue 23825, 24 May 1939, Page 10

DERBY DAY AT EPSOM

World’s Greatest Race Today SENSATIONAL WAGERS RECALLED The Derby, the world’s greatest horse race, will be run at Epsom today. Run over a mile and a-half on a difficult course, it provides a thorough test of stamina for the three-year-olds, while the winner will become a horse of exceptional value. It is interesting to note that while the Derby was run first in 1780, a year after the inauguration of the Oaks, the St. Leger is the oldest of the great classics, having been established in 1776. The Two Thousand Guineas came into being in 1809, and the One Thousand Guineas in 1814. For today’s race there were 317 nominations and, after the final forfeit, a few days ago, twenty-nine remained in. Many of those with good form as two-year-olds have disappeared from the list, the most notable of these being Foxborough 11. This American-bred colt, rated as the best of last season’s juveniles, after he had won his-two (races, has failed to train on. NOTABLE ENTRANTS In the Free Handicap Sweepstakes, which is based on the season’s two-year-old form, Foxborough II had 9.7. Though he has dropped out of the Derby, along with a few others that were rated highly, those remaining in the classic race include a number of colts that were among the topweights. Among these are Blue Peter (second in the list with 9.3), Vesperian 8.13, Rogerstone Castle 8.12, Heliopolis 8.11, Dhoti 8.11, Casanova 8.10, Wheatland 8.10, Bellman 8.9, Fox Cub 8.9, Admiral’s Walk 8.4, and Fairfax 8.3. Several races for three-year-olds have been run this season, and they have helned to clarify the position. Probably the strongest field was seen in the Two Thousand Guineas, in which Blue Peter won from Admirals Walk and Fairstone. Then came the Derby trial at Lingfield, where Hypnotist beat Bellman and Major Brackey. A few days later Fairstone won, with Hastings third, the pair being separated by Cockpit, a colt not in the Derby. BLUE PETER FAVOURED

The popular view in England, when the last available mail left, was that the race was remarkably open. After his success in the Two Thousand Guineas, Blue Peter became a pronounced favourite for the Derby, and probably he will retain his position. His sire, Fairway, by Phalaris, failed in the Derby, but he was the outstanding horse of his year and he has been a great stud success. Fancy Free, the dam of Blue Peter, is by Stefan the Great (son of The Tetrarch) from Perfect Peach, a mare tracing to Palmflower. Though the family has not produced a Derby winner, Musa and Mirska won the Oaks. Fairfax, Miss Dorothy Paget s Fairway colt from Celiba, is another candidate of this family. Admiral’s Walk, second in the Two Thousand Guineas, is in the same stable as Blue Peter, though in diffcrent ownership. His sire, Hyperion (son of Gainsborough) won the Derby and St. Leger for Lord Derby in 1933, and now a successful sire. _ Tabaris, the dam of Admiral’s Walk, is by Roi Herode from Tiptoe, daughter of Lady Lightfoot, the dam of Prince Palatine. This colt shapes like a stayer, which is not surprising.

DOUBTFUL CANDIDATE Fairstone did not race at two years, but he has shown good form this season. He ran away from a useful field in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, and after being third in the Two Thousand Guineas he won the Newmarket Stakes. He is a big fellow and though he may stay, doubts have been expressed about his prospects on the up-and-down grades of the Derby course.

Hyperion has other representatives in the Derby field besides Admiral’s Walk. One of them is Hypnotist, winner of the Derby Trial at Lingfield. He ran only once last season and finished seebnd to Fox Cub, a Foxlaw colt, bred in France, with many admirers. Heliopolis, another Hyperion colt, will carry Lord Derby’s colours. He is stoutly bred, a halfbrother to the One Thousand Guineas winner, Tideway. His dam, Drift, by Swynford, comes from the same family as Midday Sun, the Derby winner two years ago. _ Casanova is yet another well-bred Hyperion colt, a good winner last season and a half-brother to Precipitation, a great stayer, with the Ascot Gold Cup among his successes. SOLIDLY-BUILT COLT

The Aga Khan, who has already won the Derby with Blenheim, Bahram and Mahmoud, will have Dhoti to represent him this time. His sire, Dastur (runner-up in the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby and St. Leger), is a Solario horse, half-brother to the unbeaten Bahram, while his dam is from the same family as Bois Roussel, last year’s Derby winner. From a staying point of view Dhoti is one of the most solidly-bred colts in the field.

Blandford, the sire of four Derby winners—Trigo, Blenheim, Windsor Lad and Bahram—will be represented by Vesperian, a half-brother to the One Thousand Guineas winner, Campanula. It is interesting to note that Blenheim, one of Blandford’s Derby

winners, has already sired a winner in Mahmoud and has a colt in this year’s field, while Trigo has two that have shown useful form. Manna and Sansovino are other Derby winners now represented as sires. Instances of Derby horses having been purchased cheaply on various occasions are related. Thormanby, who won the Derby in 1860, was offered at auction as a yearling, but no one wanted him, and he was bought by Mr James Merry for 300 guineas. Less than two years later he won the Derby and his owner was credited with a win of over £40,000 from the bookmakers. Teddington was bought when a foal for 250 guineas by Sir Joseph Hawley, and the owner landed a big stake. The history of Doncaster, who won the Derby of 1873, is a romantic one. As a yearling the son of Stockwell was purchased by the French sportsman, M. E. Lefevre provisionally that on inspection he and his trainer, T. Jennings, were satisfied with him. Doncaster failed to satisfy Jennings, who advised M. Lefevre not to buy him. The Stockwell colt was sent up to auction, when he was purchased by the Scottish iron master Mr James Merry fdr 950 guineas, who had the satisfaction of seeing his colours carried to victory in the Derby. Doncaster was subsequently sold for 10,000 guineas. SENSATIONAL WAGERS For sensational betting on the Derby it is necessary to go back to ancient history. In reminiscences bearing on the period when prominent sportsmen wagered heavily, “The Druid” recited many stirring incidents. Here is one. Lord George Bentinck looked in at Crockford’s a rendezvous of turf speculators, on the eve of the Derby of 1843 and expressed his readiness to , take 3 to 1 about his colt Gaper. “I’ll lay you,” said Lord Glasgow. “Yes,” said Lord George in his rather mincing way, “but then I want to do it to money.” “I’ll lay you 90,000 to 30,000,” responded Lord Glasgow. The plucky overture was not accepted, but it ' was stated that Lord George had Gaper backed for over £lOO,OOO, but he was defeated by Cotherstone. Betting against Hermit, which took shape as a pronounced set against the Newminster colt in 1867, was sensational under many . headings. The Marquis of Hastings, who was one of the most persistent critics of Hermit, was hit for £lOO,OOO. The Hon. Henry Chaplin, owner of Hermit, was credited with winning something like £150,000., William Davies, the leviathan bookmaker of the 50’s was asked as to the price offering about Daniel O’Rourke for the Derby, and the penciller, without the semblance of a quiver, quoted 100,000 to 2000, which was refused; and then to tempt the would-be speculator, he offered to lay 100,000 to 1500, which also was declined. Subsequently 50,000 to 1000 was accepted. Daniel O’Rourke won.

GLENHAM HUNT CLUB ANNUAL MEET TO BE HELD ON JUNE 19

The annual meeting of the Glenham Hunt Club was presided over by Mr D. McKenzie and was attended by a good number of members.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman referred to the success of the annual meet The weather had been all that could be desired and there had been a good attendance of followers of the hunt and the general public. He wished to thank the propery owners for so generously placing their properties at the disposal of the club. The finances of the club were in a healthy condition; as after giving a trophy valued at £4/4/- to the flag steeplechase meeting, they had finished the year with a credit of £B/10/-.

The motion was seconded by Mr G. Sloan and carried unanimously. The election of office-bearers resulted:—President, Mr D. McKenzie; vicepresidents, Messrs G. Sloan and G. Ross; secretary, Mr R. J. Irwin; committee, Messrs E. Rabbidge, A. C. Bulling, J. Bell, R. Robinson, S. Templeton, J. McKay and A. Melvin. The date for the annual meet was fixed for June 19. Two runs are to be held, the first taking place at 1.45 p.m. The usual competitions are to be held during the afternoon and also a football match. Messrs P. Campbell and J. A. Lamont were appointed judges of the competitions.

The usual dance, is to be held in the evening when the trophies won during the day will be presented.