The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-23 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

SPORTING NOTES.—No. CCCLVIII.
INTRODUCTION TO THE ANALYSIS OF THE

SEVENTY-FOURTH DERBY.
(Concluded from No. 357.)
The Derby and Oaks have been won only once by the
same horse—Sir C. Bunbury's Eleanor, in 1801, a feat,
that, in the ordinary course of events, will never be re-
peated. The winner of the Derby has in four instances
figured at Doncaster as the conquering hero of the St.
Leger race ;—Mr. Wilson's Champion in 1800, being the
first that carried off the great race of the North, in ad-
dition to that of the South ; and what was termed the
" Champion charm," was not dissolved until nearly half a
century had elapsed, when, strange to say, the deed of note
was done three years in succession ; in 1848, by Lord
Clifden's Surplice ; in 1849, by Lord Eglinton's Flying
Dutchman, and, in 1850, by Lord Zetland's Voltigeur.
In each instance, these celebrated horses were the best
of their respective years.
The Derby has been won on thirty-three occasions
out of the seventy-three, by the best horse of the
year; and during the last eight years, a full moiety
of the Derbies have fallen to the lot of the " great
guns" of the year. The instances in which the contrary
was the case are the following :—ln 1845, the Derby was
carried off by the Merry Monarch, a remarkably inferior
animal ; Alarm, who could have conceded some eight or
ten pounds to the winner, and beaten him into jelly,
having had his chance disposed of by getting loose and
running all over the course. This latter animal, and the
Baron (winner of the St. Leger), were undoubtedly the
cracks of that year. In 1846, the three best horses
were Pyrrhus the First, Sir Tatton Sykes, and Sting ;
the last named being considered by all to be the "flower
of the field," but reports of dosing—which were but too
true, I believe—suddenly sent him from the rank of
first favourite to the extreme outside lot, and Pyrrhus
and Sir Tatton, the two next best horses, swept the
Derby and St. Leger between them. In 1847, Van
Tromp ought to have headed the lot, both in Derby and
St. Leger, being a much better horse, as was afterwards
proved, than his Derby conqueror—Cossack ; but, as in
Sting's case, Van Tromp was the victim of underhand
proceedings, and only finished a bad third at Epsom ;
but afterwards won the St. Leger easily. This year
the leading horse ought to have been Stockwell, but
on the Derby day, from want of preparation, both
he and the second best of the year—Kingston—were
nowhere. It is difficult to determine the exact preten-
sion of Barbarian and Chief Baron Nicholson, both of
whom are undoubtedly superior horses ' • and had Nat
been on either one or other on the Derby day, Daniel
O'Rourke's portrait would never have had a place in the
gallery of Derby winners. Both of those animals, how-
ever, went amiss almost immediately after the race—
Barbarian from his wretched legs—and have not been in
form since. Hobble Noble is a first-class mile horse,
and I am very much deceived if he is anything more ;
and should the Chief Baron, in form, ever meet him at a
longer distance, I expect that Hobble will succumb
easily.
As the three-year-old races of the spring, more
especially the Two Thousand Guineas and Newmarket
Stakes, influence the Derby betting at least, if not the
race, I think it will not be a work of supererogation to
glance at the past records of these stakes. I will not go
further back than eight years, that being the extent of
my experience ; and as this period has been the most
rife in sport, and what we may call the "golden days"
of the turf, I think that will be sufficient for my present
purpose. Singular to say, the winner of the Column,
during the time just mentioned, has never, except in
the instance of Tadmor, obtained even a place in the
Derby, although on several occasions has, by winning
this race, been made a great favourite for the event at
Epsom. The race in the forthcoming year having only
three animals of any particular note in it—Filbert,
Defiance, and Estrella, without Jack the Giant Killer
should turn out something good, victory, not impro-
bably, will attend Lord Exeter's colours ; and conse-
quently we may expect to see Filbert a good favourite
for the great race.
Since the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes were first
run for in 1809, although the winner of this race has
been made in many instances the favourite one for the
Derby, yet on former occasions only has the double
triumph been effected, namely—in 1813 by Smolensko,
in 1828 by Cadland, in 1836 by Bay Middleton, and in
1843 by Cotherstone. In the course of the last eight
years but three of the winners have gained a front posi-
tion in the Derby ' and yet this race is considered the
key to it. In 1845, 6to 4 was laid on Idas for the
Guineas, which he won in a canter, and immediately be-
came first favourite for the Derby. 'At starting he was
actually.: standing at 2 to 1 ; but, being a mile horse
and nothing more, was beaten at the road. In 1846,
13 to 8 was laid on Tom Tulloch for the Guineas ; he
finished second to Sir Tatton Sykes, against whom they
laid 5 to 1. The latter afterwards ran Pyrrhus the
First to a neck for the Derby,. and I think might have
won but for the imprudence of his eccentric owner and
jockey, Bill Scott. In 1847, 5 to 4- was laid against
Planet for the Guineas, who ran second to Conyngham,
which was priced at 4 to 1; the latter afterwards was an
unplaced fourth in the Derby. In 1848 Blaze was the
favourite for the Guineas, at 6to 4. He was beaten at
the bushes, and finished third to Flttcatcher, who beat
the second favourite—Glendower—by a neck. For pe-
culiar reasons Flatcatcher did not start for the Derby,
or probably he would have been in his stable companion,
Shylock's, place (third). Glendower was fourth. In
1849, 6 to 5 was laid on Nunnykirk for the Guineas,
Honeycomb. The former won by
and 10 to 1 against
~half a length, but was nowhere in the Derby, while the
latter ran in fourth. In 1850, Pitsford, the favourite at 2 to
1, won the Guineas by a neck, and afterwards got a good
second place in the Derby. In 1851 the favourites were
Mountain Deer and Confessor, who respectively finished
second and fourth to Hernandez, wit() obtained the
fourth place in the Derby, and
had he been persevered with. ; mrrb;'ght have been third
--s year the favourite
was Homebrewed, who was nowhere in the Derby, but
finished a good second to Stockwell for the Guineas.
The latter animal, had he been up to concert pitch
throughout the season, would not only have swept the
Guineas and St. Leger, and Derby also, but every other
race he was engaged in. So much for the effects of the
Guineas upon the Derby.
I will just take a glance at the bearing the Newmar-
ket Stakes has had upon the greatest race of the year
before closing this present analysis. In 1846 Pyrrhus
won this stake, and afterwards the Derby. In the fol-
lowing year Cossack and War Eagle ran first and second
for this stake, and obtained the same positions in the
Derby. In 1848, Glendower won this stake, and ran
fourth at Epsom. In the three following years the
winners of this race—Vatican, Cariboo, and Midas—
were nowhere in the Derby. This year Stockwell car-
ried it off. I need say no more with reference to him.
This race is run over the D.M., and, from the running of
the last seven years would seem to afford a better clue
to the Derby winner, than the Two Thousand Guineas.
But little more need be stated to conclude this intro-
duction ; the last eight years give the following Derby
notabilia. The winter favourite has been the winner
twice (Surplice and The Flying Dutchman). The Merry
Monarch and Daniel O'Rourke are the only outsiders
who have won—Voltigeur, in my opinion, not coming
within this category, as he was backed tremendously by
those in the secret. Pyrrhus the First and Cossack, in
the winter were quoted at 1,000 to 15 each, and scarcely
mentioned until each had achieved his Newmarket Stakes
victory. The first favourite won thrice. In five in-
stances the price of the winner at starting was under
8 to 1.
Early next week I shall commence my analysis of the
Derby, with the great stable of the North.
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

THE TRINKET CASE.—The Stewards of the Jockey
Club have decided that Dir. Hughes shall not henceforth
be allowed to run any horse at Newmarket, or to go on
the race-course or exercise-ground there.

INCREASE OF SALARY TO THE ASSISTANT-INSPECTORS
OF LETTER-CARRIERS.—The Earl of Hard.wieke (Postmas-
ter-General) has satetioned a very considerable increase in
the salaries of this very useful class of public officers.