Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-11-17
TALES or THE DERBY
Mysteries of the Famous Classic
Of the English Turf.
A SCHEME THAT WENT WRONG
Tho Plot to Rob Teddington of the Blue
Ribbon In 1851-Leander's Missing
Head-A Dramatic EPisode-Win-
ners ForetoId In Dreams.

Ribbon In 1851-Leander's Missing
Head-A Dramatic EPisode-Win-
ners ForetoId In Dreams.
If it were possible to write the full
and true history of the Derby it would
contain some startling revelations OF
strange doings behind the scenes of
which the public has little suspicion
and no actual knowledge.
There is, for instance, little doubt
that a very different tale would have
been told of Teddington's 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 bookmakers
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 communi-
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 a strict watch
kept over him night and day. What
ever scheme was on foot to disable the
horse was thus effectually checked,
Teddington soon resumed his place as
first favorite in the betting and, as ev-
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
1874. 1t was more than suspected that
Leander was a four ear-old, but there
was not sufficient evidence on which
to base an objection to his running. In
the race his fetlock was broken by
kick from Running Rein, and he was
effectually placed hors de combat. He
was shot and buried, but when a party
OF SpOrtsmen 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 gone.
Rattan, the second favorite for this
race, was made safe by cunningly
devised bolus, but who administered
it was never discovered, and, to crown
this Derby as the most shady and
fraudulent on record. Running Rein,
who came in first, was found to be
none other than Maccabeus, four
year-old, and thus an impostor of the
first water. But when it became neceS-
sary to produce the horse for an ex-
animation by experts it was found that
he, like Lenders telltale head. had
been spirited away.
In connection with Running Rein, by
the way, a dramatic story is told A
Captain Osborne had backed Orlando
for a very heavy sum, and when Run
with the alternative of blowing out
his brains or being declared a default
err. He was just on the point of choos-
Ing death rather than dishonor when
note was placed In his hand Run
ming Rein" ran the missive, which
was from friendly tout, is an i'm
postor. and he won't get the Derby
stakes. Buy up all the bets on Orlando
you can get, and you will make n for
tune
The captain put away his revolver,
followed the tout's advice and, instead
of providing work for the undertaken.
found himself f1S,0O0 in pocket.
Few horses have ever started a hot
ter favorite for the Derby than Nc
Gregor In 1870. So rosy were his
chances that odds of 0 to 4 were laid
on him to an enormous amount, and
the money was considered as good as
won. To the CONSERVATION, however,
Of his hackers, he seemed unable to
move freely In the race and finished q
bad fourth behind horses who were
not in the same century with him.
There was no doubt whatever that
Macgregor had been drugged, but who
the rascal was who did the dastardly
trick is as much a mystery today as ii
was at the time
1t is of this race that the following
remarkable story is told: During the
night before the race jockey called
Swift saw the finish Of the Derby in a
dream. He saw Kingcraft, which he
recognized, pass the post winner by
a length and half, followed by.
dark brown horse which he could not
identify and with Macgregor, the ia
yorite, a bad fourth. In spite of the
jeering of his friends, to whom he told
the story, he backed Kingcraft for |
every sovereign he could raise, and, to |
his delight as to the disgust OF the |
scoffers. he saw his dream exactly re-
produced-the fayorite badly beaten |
and the despised Kingcraft winning a |
small fortune for him.
Even more remarkable is a story of |
that great Derby race of 1862, won by |
the despised outsider Caractacus, rid |
den by Parsons, the stable lad Al |
though Caractacus was so badly |
thought of that Jim Goater point |
plank refused to ride him and odds of /
40 to / We're freely offered against him.
a tipster gave him as certain winner
on the strength of dream in which |
his blind daughter had seen the horse
win with little boy on his back rs
pale as DEATH" How wildly accurate
was this dream forecast was admitted
BY all who saw the finish of that sensa-