The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-11-05
TALES OF THE DERBY
Mysteries of the Famous Classic
Of the English Turf.
A SCHEME THAT WENT WRONG

The Plot to Rob Teddington Of the Blu
Ribbon In 1s5f-Leander's Missin.
Head-A Dramatic Episode-Win
ners Foretold In Dreams.
/ If 1t We're possible to write the full
and true history of the Derby it would
contain some startling revelations o.
strange doings behind the scenes OF
which the public has little suspicion
and no actual knowledge.
There is. for instance. little doubt
that very different tale would have
been told of Teddingtons Derby but
for the prompt action of his wide
awake owner. Sir Joseph Hawley
When the kentish baronet attended
| the York spring meeting of 1851 he
was amazed to find the bookma kers
eager to lay odds to any amount
against his colt. who was looked on as
certain winner of the blue ribbon a
few weeks later. Sir Joseph at once
scented mischief. and, leaving the
course, he Travelled as fast as RELAYS
of swift horses could take him to his
training quarters, where he commupi.
Gated his suspicious to Alec Taylor, his
trainer.
AS the result of their deliberations
Teddington was at once removed to
another box, placed under the charge
OF different boy and strict watch
Kept over him night and day What
ever scheme was ON foot to disable the
horse was thus effecually checked,
Ieddington soon resumed his place as
first favorite in the betting and. as ey-
erybody expected, won the Derby with
ease.
Another mystery which has not been
solved to this day is associated with
Leander and that memorable Derby of
le44. 1t was more than suspected that
Leander was four-year-old. but there
was not sufficient evidence on which
TO base an objection to his running. In
the race his fetlock was broken bv n
KICK from Running Rein. and he was
effectually placed hors de combat. He
was shot and buried. but when party
OF srortsmen who wished to test their
suspicious dug up his body at dead Of
night they found that the head. which
alone could settle the matter. was zone
Rattan, the second favorite for this
race, was made safe by cunningly
devised bolus, but who administered
IL was never discovered. and. to crown
this Derby as the most shady and
fraudulent on record, Running Rein.
VINO came in first, was found to he
none other than AIaccabeus. a four.
year-old and thus an impostor of the
nrst water But when it became neces- |
sary to produce the horse for an ex-
By experts it was found TINT
he, like Lenders telltale head. had
been spirited away.
In connection with Running Rein nv
the way. dramatic story is fold
captain osborne had backed Orlando
TOE very heavy sum. and when Run.
hing KEN came in first he was faced
with the alternative of blowing ont
MS Drains or being declared a default
er. lie was just on the point of choos.
ing death rather than dishonor when /
note was placed in his hand. Run. I
ming Rein" ran the missiye. which i
was from friendly tout, is an i'm
'ostor, and he won't get the DERBY
stakes. Buy up all the bets on Orlando
'ou can get. and you will make for.
:une"
The captain put away his revolver
oiiowed the tout's advice and, instead
u providing work for the undertaken.
ound himself f1sooo in pocket.
rev horses have ever starte1 hot
er favorite for the Derby than Nc.
iregor in 1870. SO rosy were his
hances that odds of 0 to 4 were Iai1
N MIN to an enormous amount. and
he money was considered as good as
Won. 10 the CONSERVATION. however
I MS hackers. he seemed unable to
move freely In the race and finished n
'ad fourth behind horses who were
oI IN the same century with him.
W J.
iaegresor mad been drugged, but who
he rascal was who did the dastar1Iy
rlck Is rs much mystery today as II
Tas at the time
II Is OF this race that the following
charitable story is told: During the
ight before the race a Jockey called /
wifi saw the finish of the Derby in a
ream. lie saw Kingcraft. which he {
scognized, pass the post winner nv {
length and half, followed bv s
ARK brown horse which he could not c
lenafy and with Macgregor. the ia. S
orife, bad fourth. In spite Of tho q
'ering of his friends, to whom he told b
he story, he backed Kingcrafts for b
very sovereign he could raise. and ~ I
Is delight as to the disgust Of IN, L
offers, he saw his dream exactly 70. I
favorite badly beaten
40 the cespised Kingcraft winning !.
nan fortune for him.
Even more remarkable is a story ~ 0
'a' great Derby race of 1862 won nv II