The Washington herald., 1908-05-31
By Ex-ATTAcHE.

I
render Of the British forces under his
177S. had not as a young subaltern made
a runaway marriage with Lady Char
lotte Stanley, daughter Of the eleventh
Earl of Derby. Il is more than probable
that there would have been no oaks, and
above ALL no Derby.
The latter is universally recognized as
the greatest OF all horse races. Its pre-
eminence as such is acknowledged by
sporting men in every part OF the world,
and the ambition Of every breeder and
owner OF horses, no matter whether In
England or IN foreign countries. is TO win,
at least once in his life, this. the blue
ribbon OF the turf. That is why Austrian,
French. Germas.. snd' American entries
are 10 be found each year among those
for the Derby.
On three occasions 1t has been won by
American stables, namely, by the late
Pierre Lorillard. with Iroquois, in 1881;
by the late William c. Whitney. with
VoIodyovskl, in 1901. and by Richard
Croker last summer with Orby. Several
American owners are competing In the
Derby Of 1908. which viii be run on
Wednesday next. and according TO the
reports OF experts. August Belmont has
very fair chance of carrying off the
prize with his colt Norman III.
Derby" is the name which has been
given to the principal race meetings in
a number OF foreign countries. notably in
Austria. But there is none that can com
in,
and in Importance, with the meeting
which will take place on Wednesday
next. on Epson Downs. Il is a race
which has become to such an extent a
national event, that parliamentary busi-
ness comes 10 a virtual standstill, that
most Of the courts OF justice arrange 70
adjourn. and that business on the stock
exchange is 70 all intents and purposes
suspended on that day. Great bankers.
and judges OF the highest tribunals, leg
islators from both houses of Parliament
foreign ambassadors. and grave English
statesmen. viii all be found gathered at
Epson Wednesday, where on more than
one occasion the prime minister OF the
empire has been seen leading in his horse
as the victor Of the race. and where the
sovereign himself is one OF the principal
competitors.
the turf, the only ruler in these modern
times, who not only maintains a great
racing stable, but likewise participates
in all the principal contests Of the year
AS Prince Of Wales he has on two oc-
casions won the Derby. but since his ac-
cession 10 the throne. now some eight
yrears ago, he has been defeated on every
occasion for this particular race Per
haps he may be more fortunate on
Wednesday next. and in that event the
sporting world will be treated 70 the IN
precedented and altogether unique spec
tacle Of king leading in Derby win
ner.
OF course, everybody IS aware that the
Derby owes its name and its origin 10 the
twelfth Earl OF Derby. True. race meet
ings were held on Epson Downs as far
back as in the reign Of James I, who was
devoted 10 the sport. and there used like
wise In olden times TO be a race meeting
known as the Derby Stakes held in the
Isle OF Man, OF which the Earls OF Derby
were not merely owners, but sovereign
rulers But there was no connection be
tween the Earls OF Derby and Epson
Downs until young penniless captain
Of the Guards. John Burgoyne. a natural
son Of the spendthrift Lord Bingley, made
a Gretna Green marriage with Lady
Charlotte Stanley. daughter Of the elev-
enth Earl Of Derby Burgoyne and his
bride went after their marriage 20 live
at an inn in the little parish OF Wood
manSterne, known as The Oaks" sit
uated on the Downs. II had originally
been a hunting lodge. owned by the Lam
berts. who were lords Of the manor, and
in those days bore the name Of Lam
bert's Oaks. owing TO the number OF
majestic trees OF that description by
which il was surrounded.
AT the time Of BurgOyne's marriage the
Oaks had become the village inn. So
delighted were the young couple with the
place that Burgoyne bought il. and with
out demolishing the old hostelry COM
menced 20 build onto Il country house
Of the Elizabethan order Of architecture.
BY the time it had been completed. the
Burgoynes found themselves involved In
pecuniary difficulties, and a reconclIia-
tion having in the meantime been effect
ed with Lord Derby, he took over che
Oaks. and the 200 or 800 acres of ground
by which IL was surrounded. in order 10
prevent IL from passing into the hands Of
strangers. He became very fond OF the
place. and spent much Of his time there
and gave large fete champetre there, on
June Q. 1774. in honor Of the marriage Of
his grandson, afterward the twelfth earl.
with Lady Betty Hamilton. on which oc-
casion his son-in-law. John Burgoyne.
now a general collaborated with the
famous actor Garrick. in the production
OF the open-air play produced.
The twelfth earl, who succeeded to his
grandfather's honors two years later. es-
tablished a racing stable at the Oaks.
and in l779 inaugurated the so-caled oaks
race meeting, exclusively for fllies. win
ming the first race OF the series with a
mare of the name OF Jemima. bred bv
himself. So delighted was he with his sue
cess, that in the following year he sup
plemented the Oaks with another race
meeting, also on Epson Downs. and TO
which he gave his own name. that is 10
say, the Derby Stakes That was in 1850.
and since then not a year has passed
without the Derby being run on Epson
Downs. either on the last Wednesday in
May, or on the first Wednesday in June.
1t was this twelfth Earl Of DERBY by
the bye, who married as his second wife
Miss Nellie Farren, the celebrated actress.
not however, until full seventeen years
after the first Derby meeting on Epson
Downs.
Sir Charles Bunbury enjoys the distinc-
ton of having won the first Derby. with
a horse Of the name Of Diomed. which
shortly afterward was sold for export
TO the United States for the modest price
of $500 Here its merits we're, however.
appreciated more highly than in the old
country For only a few weeks after
reaching New York il was resold by its
purchaser for the sum Of 5000, and died
two years later on the stud farm of its
new owner 1t would be interesting TO
learn II there is any stock at present in