Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1908-11-05
TALES OF THE DERBY
Mysteries Of The Famous Classic
Of the English Turf.

Mysteries OF The Famous Classic
/, Of the English Turf.
"A SCHEME THAT WENT WRONG
The Plot to Rob Tcddinston Of tho DlGe
Ribbon In 1s51-Leander's Missing
Head-A Dramatic Episode--Nvin-
ners Foretoid In Dreams.
If 1t were possible to write the full
and true history of the Derby 1t would
contain some startling revelations OF
strange loings 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 Teddington's Derby but
for the prompt action of his wide
awake owner. Sir Joseph Hawley.
When the Kcntish baronet attended
the York spring meeting of 1851 lie
was G.lla;cd to find the bookmakers
eager to lay odds to any amount
against his colt. who was looked Oh as
a ccrt.;n winner of the blue ribbon a
few week.; later Sir Joseph at once
scented mischief, and. leaving the
course. lie Travelled as fast as relays
of swift horses could take him to his
training quarters, where he co..lmuni
Gated his suspicious to Me. Taylor. his
trainer.
AS the result of their deliberations
Ta1aingtoa Was nj e;6c renewed t.
aaa!!H.r ha:. ria I'd u:.tss. the charge
Of i ,!i.iclr..i .is:y a:.G IL sri I waite
kept over him night :,.,.i Gay What
ever scheme Was Oh foot 10 disable til,
horse w;s.s thus effectually checked
Teddingtcn soon resumed his place ~,
first favorite In the betting and. as ev
ersLcdy expected, won the Derby will
ease.
Another mystery which has not beef
I've. TO this day Is associated wifi
Lcfiit.;,r and that memorable Derby Of
ISL. 1t was more than suspected tina;
I-eanGer was :: four-yea;9;a. Eu: ther,
WAS not su..io iea! rvi,l.ac;. on w!licl
to base an objection to his running. i,
the race his fetlock was broken 10y :
kick from Running Eein. and he was
eEectually pla c'l hoi*: .,e combat. liz
was shot and l;,.ed. hi when part,
of sportsmen Wa, wished to test thei
suspicious C.. y, NJ: IL dy Mt dead o.
night they far i that lie head. which
alone could 80 j. the n.atter. was gone
Rattan, the GO. tavofite for this
race, was made safe by cunningl,
Gavisea bo.s.s, but who administered
1t was never discovered, and, to crown
this Derby as the most shady AMI
fraudulent on record. Running Rein
who came in first. was found to b,
none other than Maccabeus, four
vc:sr-o;l. :.nd thas an impostol of til,
first water. Bat when 1T became neces
sais. to produce the horse for an ey
animation by experts it was found tina
he. like Lenders telltale head. ha,
been spirited away
In connection with Running Rein. h,
the way. Il dramatic story is told. J
Captain Osborne had backed Oslanu,
for very heavy sum. and when Run
lii..ss Rein came in first he was face
VIII the alternative of Blowing OIL
his brains or being declared Il default
c.. He was just on the point of choos
ing death rather than dishono. when /:
note was placed in hts hand. .liua
hing Rein ran the missive, whic.
was from Il friendly tout, "is an im
postor. and he won't get the Dcrb,
stakes l:uy up all the bets OH Orland,
You can gass. and you will make for
tune
The captain put away his revolve.
followed the tout's advice and. iasteat
of providing work for the. undertaken
found himself I1S.OG0 i'll pocket.
Few horses have ever started Il no.
Ter favoii.e for the Derby than Nc
Gregor in 1870 SO rosy were hi:
chances that odds of o to were lai,
on him to an enormous amount. an;
the money was considered as good ii
Won. 10 the CONSERVATION. howcve,
of his hackers, he seemed unable {,
move freely III the race and finished :
| bad fourth behind horses who wcr,
not in the same century With him.
There WAS 10 doubt whatever tia
Macsrcsor had been tlrU==gel, but win
the rascal was who did the tlasta;gl,
trick is as much mystery today as i
was ut the time.
1t Is; of this race that the followin:
remarkable story Is told: During til,
night before the race IL jockey called
Swift saw the Gni:.h CT the Derby in :
dream. lie saw kingeraft. which b;
, recognized. pass the post 4 winner l.,
Il length ana 4, half. followed by /.
dark brown horse which he could no
t-.cutify and With Macgregor. the FL
vo.i.e. bad fourth In spite of til,
jceringfof his friends. to whom he told
the story. he backed Kingcraft TO
every sovereign lie could raise. and. t,
his delight as to the disgust Of til.
scof'ers. he saw his dream exactly re
proluced-the favorite badly beaten
and the despised ISingcraft winning ;
small fortune for him.
Even more remarkable is u story O
fiat great Derby race OF 1862. won b,
the dcspsed outsider Caractacus. rid
Gen by Parsons. the stable lad. A.
though Caractacus was so badly
thought Of that Jim Goater poin