The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-17

III the ueVelOpment oil nOrSefleSn. lnaL Is
what they are given for. One of the lead
ing turfmen of England said to me the
other day, but for such stakes as the st.
Leger. the Derby, the Oak, the Goodwood
cup, etc., their thoroughbreds would lack
the speed and endurance which these
events make necessary.
All this review recalls some interesting
facts.
When look back upon what has trans
pired during the century in the history of
the Derby, | wonder how many Americans
know how much it has impressed itself
upon sports of the same character in the
United States. Every turf man knows the
story of American Eclipse, Boston, Lex
ington, Sir Archy and others that have
made our best turf history. But i wonder
how many know that the first winner of
the Derby founded the race of American
thoroughbredS after he was % years old
All the great animals | have named car
ried his blood in their veins, and in fact
whereyer it is found there is a good race
horse.
Diomed captured the first Derby in
17S0 and three years later was retired from
the track and went into the stud. He was
very successful sire and in 1898 when %
years old was sold for $3.50. He was
brought to this country in a sailing YES
sci and sired the Godolphin Arabian, who
got more great race horses of endurance
than any animal that has ever lived.
Diomed died in Virginia in 1908, when he
was 81 years of age, and produced colts al
most up to the time of his death. This
magnificent chestnut stallion left behind
him a history of achievements both on the
turf and in the stud that has never been
equaled by another horse since the breed
ing of thoroughbreds has been known. Sir
Archy sprang from his loins in 1905 when
Diomed was % years of age, and
Sir Archy transmitted all the best pow
ers of his sire to nearly all the great race
horses whose history is romance OF speed
and endurance, like Boston, Eclipse, Lex
ington, etc. In those days endurance was
the greatest consideration, and how we'll
Diomed and the thoroughbreds who carried
his blood is seen in Boston. who won
! thirty four-mile heat races and nine three
| mile. Lexington, Eclipse and others
| demonstrated his wonderful powers, not
only on the turf, but in the stud. 1.-THE
| Godolphin Arabian of America" was the
| pet name given to Sir Archy because his
/ get was almost certain to be successful on
| the turf.
| Racing is changed wonderfully since
| those days. Now long distances are
rarely ever run and the Derby itself is
only a mile and half dash. Breeding for
speed instead of great endurance has i'm
| proved the breed of English race horses as
| well as American. 1t has also introduced
! into the strains of blood elements of good
! temper, ety., that have been of value. Our
great races of fifty years ago, however,
| impaired that strain of endurance to our
| fieet-footed horses that enable them to 20
| rate of speed that was entirely unknown,
| either in England or America, when they
run two, three and four mile heats. The
| class of stations that have taken the
| places of the great heroes of the past do
| not suffer by comparison. England is full
| of animals that are improving the breed OF
| l. Il Lv1L
| being paid for thoroughbred stations bear
ing the blood of a successful ancestry, and
| the price seems to increase every year.
Ormonde is the sensational feature of the
| past two years, and when the Duke OF
/ Westminster sold him to South Ameri-
can syndicate for $4,000, English turfmen
| bought him back, that so valuable an ami
| NAL might not be lost to their breeding in
terestss st. Simon, belonging to the Duke
| of Portland, is another great animal, so is
| Barcoldine, the property of Lady Siam
! ford. st. Gatian, who ran the dead heat
| with Harvester, and the second one ever
run in the history of the Derby, belongs to
Mr.. Chaplin, who owns Old Hermit. AL
| these animals play greater or less part
in the necessities of our turf, and like old
Diomed, impress their powers and indi-
| viduality upon most of our thoroughbreds
This year promises to be one of the most
| eventful in the history of the English turf
| The entries for all the big stakes are very
large and of fine material. As usual fol
the past five years, the Duke of Portland
seems best equipped in good horses to wiz
a great deal of money. His phenomena
success has made people look upon him a:
| the luckiest man on the turf. This may
be true, but besides luck he has owned the
| finest of stock, and handled it to perfec
ton. Year before last he won in stake,
and purses nearly $4,000 Last year ovel
hundred thousand, and almost ever sine,
he has been on the turf he has headed tn,
list of winning owners. These may seen
| large figures to American owners, but oul
folks will get to them in good time.
| FRANK PUpp