The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-06-22
New York SUM-


II is nerhaps a piece of turf history
moi verv well known that the first
derby was run in the Isle of Man ana
not on the EPSON Downs, as is gen
eralIv suDposed. The narrow strip OF
crisp and springy turf which separates
the BAYS of DerbyhaVen and CastletoWn
was the scene of the initial derby ana
il is still known as the Race Course,
though no races have been held there
for at least 100 years. For long time
the patch of ground has been used as
a golf links
II was in the year 1921, when the
Earls of Derby were still Lords OF
Man. that the order was issued estab-
fishing these races. 1t was also direct
ed that the derby plate, to which the
earl contributed handsomely. should be
competed for every year at Easter on
| the race course at Castletown. Here
/ the derby took place with regularity ev-
/ cry year until the year 1850, when the
present event was founded by Edward
Stanley, the twelfth Earl of Derby.
! In speaking of the early days Of the
race "Thormanby" says in the Sports
| man:
THE noble earl who founded the der
/ by stakes only won them once, name
Nv. i'm 1887. with Sir Peter TeaZle. named
/
rem. the famous actress. with whom he
had fallen i'm love while she was act
ing Lady TeaZle Sir Peter came of
the purest blood, being descended from
the GodOlphin Arabian. Up to 4 years
of age he beat everything opposed TO
/ him. and was said to be the winner of
more races than any other horse on
the turf, but he broke down that year
at Newmarket, and was afterwards
kept for breeding. His success at the
stud was extraordinary, and he sired
more winners than any of the classic
stations of that period
I'm 1894 his stock began to show its
suDer,Ntive excellence and the sport
ing world rang with his fame. Even
across the Atlantic breeders were reused
To enthusiasm by the record of his sue
cesses. American turfmen were anx-
ions 10 secure so successful a sire, and
the American consul offered the ear
s35 900 for the horse, an unheard OF
price in those days. But his lordshiI
with a smile declined the offer. saying
Had | been disposed TO part with Sin
Peter / have already been offered $50
900 for him Lord Derby was more
fortunate in his efforts to win the Oaks
iof which he was also the founder, thar
in his contests for the derby, for hi:
1.-TWO IlilleSs bIiuStl anu NNiNs
placed the ladies' race to his credit
"Sir Peter lived to the good age o.
90 years. Lord Derby was sixty year;
on the turf he attended all the grea
meetings in coach and six with quite
a retinue Of servants. Many memen
toes of this grand old sportsman are
still preserved; the picture of his hunts
man, Jonathan Griffin, on his gra.
horse, Spanker, may be seen on the par
lor walls in many a roadside inn il
Surrey, The likeness of his groom, Sto
~, hangs at Knowsley. OF this worth!
it is told that one day while he wa
dining somebody came running in L
tell him that the Prince of Wales wa
in the stable.
Then he may wait till I have don
my dinner" was the answer. And tn
old curmudgeon did not hurry himself
either.
The twelfth Earl of Derby's success
or had no taste for sport. though hi
fad for natural history, which led Il
, his keeping menagerie and an aviar,