The Washington times., 1894-04-02
LORD ROSEBERY'S
EARLY TURF CAREER.

Curious as 1t may appear now, there was a
time when, to the English sposting public,
Lord Rosebery was best known as whole
some purveyor of market" favorites-in
other words, horses which without any chance
of winning were nevertheless put forward in
the antepost betting to fiji the pockets of the
bookmakers and fleece the gulls who were
deluded into backing them. Lord Roseberys
horses might always he implicitly trusted to
finish in the rush when the public boosted
them into favorites, and it was equally certain
that when they did win. it would be when no
one except the bookmakers and the compact
confederacy which controlled them could
profit by the result
Lord Rosebery was by no manner OF means
to blame for this condition Of affairs. He was,
in those days, young, and, TO put it mildly,
decidedly green in turf affairs and was
compl stely fooled by the gang which man
aged his stable. His horses. in those days,
were trained by Robert Peck. one of the most
astute schemers the English turf ever saw.
II is safe to say that Mr.. Peek, who bad won
the Derby for Mr.. Merry with Dorchester,
was many thousand pounds richer for his
connection with the Rosebery horses.
Lord Roseberry's association with the turf
began in 1873, when, under his family name
(Primrose), he ran a few selling platers at
meetings Of minor importance. His colors,
which he uses to this day, were the rose
jacket with primrose hoops and cap. 1t was
not until the following year. however that
he scored his first hit. with Aldrich. a three
year-old son of Adventurer, which, with odds
OF fifty to one quoted against him, won the
City and Suburban Handicap. In 1875 and
1876 he had only few horses. of the poorest
class, in training, although Levant, we'll
named son of Adveuturer. had shown some
speed as a two-year-old. In this year, too, he
succeeded in winning the Manchester cup
with the moderate Conseil.
1t was about this time that his horses passed
into the hands of Robert Peck and then his
troubles began. Under the advice of this
shrewd wire-puller. Lord Roseberry bought
largely in two-year-olds and yearlings. OF
the two-year-olds only four Chevronel Ros-
bach. Touchet, and La Merveille-ever rose
above sellng-plate form.
Throughout 1878 Lord Roseberry's colors
were prominent at all the principal English
meetings. Perhaps Newmarket was his
favorite hunting ground. Chevronel was a
sprinter of high class when in the mood to
try, but subsequently, trained ''off." Ros-
bach, useful bread-winner, could show well
his class at any distance. from six furlongs
to mile. but was always more or less a friend
to the bookmakers.
Lord Roseberry in those days was Touchet,
which. in 1881. won for him the Lincolnshire
handicap-this after two unsuccessful at
tempts. In 1878 and 1879 Touchet. heavily
backed by the public and, apparently, by the
stable. was unplaced. In 1881, unnoticed by
the poor. fatuous talent" and starting at
80 to l. he just squeezed home after a terrific
fight with the aged Mars. one of Harry Halls
carefully hidden good things. against which
100 to had been yainly offered
Lord Roseberry had always been exceed
ingly fond of his La Merveille, n delicate,
highly strung. nervous filly, which for the
greater part of her career was on the sick list.
Nevertheless Robert Peck. whose skill as a
trainer was une2celled, succeeded in getting
her to the post for several races. which she
won. In 1878 she was third in the Cam
bridgeshire, won by Isonomy. and for which
R0sebach had been made n false favorite.
She improved on that performance in 1879.
when after two or three others in Robert
Peck's string had been pushed forward in the
betting to the confusion of the public, and
the profit of the bookmakers, she landed the
race at the comfortable odds of 30 TO l. Only
after she had raced home head in front OF
the extreme outsider Caxtonian did the pub
lie learn that a handsome stake had been
netted the stable connections.
His marriage with Miss Hannah Rothschild
in the previous year had replenished Lord
Roseberys Impoverished exchequer. He had
now grown heartily tired of the fortunes of
racing. He is credited. however, with the
ownership of Peregrine, which, racing in the
name and colors OF a Mr.. Norman, won the
1000 guineas at Newmarket in 1881, and sub
sequently ran second TO Iroquis for the
Derby. Between 1881 and 1890 Lord Rose
berry's colors were seldom seen on the turf,
although he still continued to own few
horses, notably Cameliard, a good, game
c+o Ip.a ha b,s
turned to his old love. Everyone hopes that
his colt. Ladas. now favorite for the Derby,
will succeed in winning the blue ribbon for
his brilliant owner.