The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17
CHEAP HORSES WIN |
CLASSICS
TALES OF DERBY WINNERS THAT
COST THEIR OWNERS SMALL
SUMS.

Stories of Derby winners having
been sold as youngsters for exceeding
ly small sums are fairly numerous,
and without going too far back into
the recesses of the past at least two
instances can be sited Of animals des-
tined ultimately to win the blue rib
bon of the turf which as yearlings
no one thought good enough to buy.
voltigeur was one of these, and the
other was Thormanby.
Voltigeur was bred by Robert Ste
phenson in 1S47 and as yearling was
sent up to be sold at the Dom
caster sales, a reserve price of 81, $50
being placed on him. Not a man was
found to bid that much for him; con-
sequently he was withdrawn.
In all probability he would have re-
manned unsold had not Williamson, a
relative by marriage of Lord Zetland,
seen him and, having taken fancy
to him, finally persuaded his lordship
to buy him.
His judgment was triumphantly vim
dicated, for not only did Voltigeur
win the Derby and st. Leger, but he
succeeded in establishing line of
thoroughbreds which is at present
dominant on the English turf and
likely to remain so for some time to
come.
Thormanby too. was sent up to be
disposed Of at the Doncaster and like
Voltigeur. did not reach nominal
reserve DESTROYS of getting rid of him,
however, Plummer. his breeder, re-
quested his famous trainer, Matt Daw-
son. to come and have a thorough
look at him
This Dawson did, and perceiving at
a glance good points about him which
no one else apparently had noticed,
bought him for Merry, his patron.
Strange enough, Dawson gave the
same figure for Thormanby as that
paid for Voltigeur.
AS a 2-year-old Thormanby ran IA
times and out of this number scored
nine wins. and in the Derby of the
following year he beat a field of 30
1t was said that the race netted Merry
the nice sum OF $4,000
The cheapest horse that ever won
the Derby was Little Wonder, which
was successful in 1910, for he cost his
owner, Robertson, the meager sum OF
only 1925
Spaniel, too, winner of the race in
1881, was picked up for a very small
sum, Lord Egerton, his breeder, let
ting him go for $3.50
Pyrrhus j., which won in 1916, was
purchased by John Day, the noted
trainer, as a yearling at Doncaster,
Gully. the pugilist. taking half inter-
est in him.
AS 2-year-old, the horse never ran,
and seemingly his abilities were then
OF an unknown quantity, for at the
end OF the season Day agreed to sell
his half share in him to Gully for
$500. Days chagrin at his subsequent
victory in the Derby was very great
Teddington, the winner of 1851, was
bred by blacksmith, who sold him
as a foal, together with his dam, to
Sir Joseph Hawley for $1,250 and a
further $1,000 if he won the Derby.
Sir Joseph and his confederate. Mas
sey Stanhope. to whom the horse real
ly belonged, profited largely over the
success. and the Jockey. Marson, who
IL
token of victory. which in, those days
was unprecedented.
Sainfoin. which carried the colors
of Sir James Miller to the front, was
an exceptionally fortunate purchase
by John Porter. the trainer. He
bought the colt out of the HAMPTON
Court lot of yearlings in 1888 for the
very reasonable price of $2,720 Sir
ROBERT Dardine taking a half inter-
est in him.
AS 2-year-old he was seen ONLY
once in public. and he won his race
with the greatest ease. The year fol-
lowing he won the Esther stakes in n
canter. after which he was sold to Sir
James Miller for $4,000 and a con-
tingency OF half the stakes IT, he won
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