BACK PAGES:IN SPITE of increasing competition from richer races, the Derby at Epsom maintained its cachet as the Blue Riband of racing more than a century ago. The event in 1899, with a prize of 6,000 sovereigns, was not expected to provide much excitement.
Indeed, it was expected to be something of a one-horse race with the winner of the 2000 Guineas, Flying Fox, the clear favourite. The main challenger was a horse named Holocauste which had only managed to come third in the French equivalent of the Derby. Nevertheless, the crowds still went to Epsom and the race itself included some unexpected drama, as the report in today’s newspaper in 1899 made clear:
There was every inducement for a large company to make the journey to Epsom to-day, for the weather was brilliantly fine in the metropolis, and the road was perhaps more extensively patronised than ever, bicycles being in strong evidence, and it was generally conceded that the attendance was one of the largest ever seen at Epsom . . . The sun shone down with great power from a perfectly cloudless sky, and the assembled thousands consequently witnessed the racing under the most pleasant surroundings.
Happily, the card was limited to six events today, and this permitted of an extra interval both before and after the Derby, and even with this the proceedings, as usual, were finished very late. Prior to the resumption of business the Derby came in for notice, and Flying Fox became a 3/1 on chance, while Holocauste, respecting whom there were conflicting rumours, receded to 100/15. Oppressor found favour at 100/8 , while Damocles figured at 100/6 . . . In the wagering at the finish Flying Fox became somewhat easier, pencillers accepting 5/2, while Holocauste figured at sixes. Damocles advanced to 15/1 , with Oppressor next in demand at 20s, Ballyleck, Matoppo, and Beautiwick being the outsiders of the party at 200/1. It was after the time fixed for the race to be run when the horses emerged from the paddock, and surely this could be obviated with better supervision.
Holocauste showed the way in the parade and canter, but seemed to move in somewhat listless fashion, whilst Flying Fox brought up the rear. It was very late when they reached the post, and with several breaks away, in most of which Beautiwick and Flying Fox figured prominently, the flag did not fall until 45 minutes after time, and thus another argument was afforded in favour of the adoption of the starting machine.
Holocauste and Flying Fox were the first away, Holocauste settling down with the command, and leading until about a quarter of a mile from home, when he gave way to Flying Fox. Almost at the same moment, Holocauste was seen to fall and Innocence and Damocles became the attendants of Flying Fox, who won by two lengths from Damocles, amidst plenty of cheering, and thus credited the Duke of Westminster with his fourth Derby, whilst it was the seventh winner of the big race that John Porter had trained, but Morny Cannon, who was on the back of Flying Fox, scored his first win in the race.
It afterwards transpired that Holocauste had badly smashed the pastern of his fore-leg, and after veterinary opinion had been consulted it was deemed best to destroy the poor horse, who was in great pain, and he was poleaxed in a tent close to where his unfortunate mishap occurred, and his owner is to be commiserated on the unfortunate accident, but Flying Fox had undoubtedly taken his measure when he came to grief.