Evening star., 1923-06-04

1774, in honor of the marriage of his
grandson. afterward the twelfth earl.
with Lady Betty Hamilton. on which
occasion his son-in-law, Sir John Bur
goyne, now a general. cola aborated
with the famous actor Garrfck in the
presentation of the open-air play
produced
The twelfth earl. who succeeded to
his grandfathers honors two years
1ater' established racing stable at
the Oaks. and in 1779 inaugurated the
so-called Oaks race meeting. exclu-
slveiy for ffllies, winning the first
race Of the series with a mare of the
name of Jemima. bred by himself
so delighted was he with his success
mat In the following year he supple
hehteu the oaks with another race
HeetihE- also on EPSON Downs to
which he gave his own name. that is
10 say the Derby stakes That was
IN 1850, and since then only four
years nave passed without the Derby
Delng run on the EPSON Dpwns
iaI was during the great war, in
race was run at Newmarket. owing
70 an the buildings and grounds on
tne EPSON course being given up to
Inc care of badly wounded soldiers
~ Is the twelfth Earl of Derby. bv
tne way, who married as a second
wife Nellie Farren, the ceIebratad
actress. not, however. until fully
seventeen years after the first Derby.
race meeting on EPSON Downs.
oIr Cnarles Bunbury. sixth baronet
oI iamlly that still plays notable
role in English sport and public life
enjoys the distinction of. having won
the frst Derby with a horse of The
name or Diomed. which shortly after
Ward was sold for export TO the
onite1 seoo states for the modest price
ever. appreciated more highly tbsn
III tne ola country. For only few
weeks after reaching New York. if
was resoid by its purchaser for s.. .00O
sa anu uieu TWO years later on the stud
idTm OF It's new owner. Ii wouId he
interesting to learn If there is onS
STOCK at present in this country that
can trace its descent from this first
winner of the Derby
The Sir Charles Bunburv who uas
Its original owner married that 1.ady
aran hennox who. for time, was
the object of such infatuation on the
part or George III that there, are
many people to this day who are
convinced that the king secretly mar
tdea @ her. One thing, however. is GER
tain, namely, that Farmer George
never forgot his. youthful affair du
occur For. throughout his reign.
Lady Sarah, who was the daughter If
the second Duke of Richmond was
an object Of particular regard and
sracloushess on the part of his
majesty, even after her sensational
divorce from Sir Charles Bunbury
and after her marriage to George
NAPIER, by whom she became the
mother of Sir William Napier, the
historian of the penisular war. Sir
charies bunoury was in those days
q very conspicuous figure on the
British turf and besides winning the
Derby no less than three times re-.
mains on record as having been the
steward OF the Jockey Club, to whom
was intrusted the extremely nm
pleasant duty of intimating to the
then Prince Of. Wales, afterward
King George w. that in conseuuence
of certain, shady transactions In
which the trainer and managers of
ms royal highness' racing stables and,
the Jockeys in his, employ had become
involved, they would from thence,
forth be warned off" Newmarl,e +
Heath. which meant that virtually
every reputable race course would be
closed to them. The then Prince of
Wales, who had previously won the
Derby in 1888 with a horse called
Sir Thomas, virtually severed his con-
nections from the turf safteT this
notification from Sir Charles Bunbury.
and though toward the end of his
reign he became reconciied.. to the
Jockey Club and entertained its mem,
bers at dinner on the days of the
Derby meeting each year, yet. he
never resumed racing. Nor was 1t
until century. later that the Derby.
was again won by a British heir ap-
parent, namely, in 1896. by a royal
prince whose career of well nigh
forty years on the turf remained alb
solutely free from any reproach. I'M
tarnished by even the faintest breath
of suspicion and whose devotion to
this great national sport was of such
an enthusiastic and useful character
that his victories were always hailed
with universal satisfaction and
treated like those of his son and sue
cessor to the throne as a subject of
public rejoicing. s. z =