1960-05-14 — Page 15

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MAY 14 19

THE DERBY STORY

They tossed a coin-and the Derby was born

Dinner was over.

turned to racing.

By REX LOPEZ

And Höt unnaturally the conversation

For the party at Lord Derby's country home near Epsom, Surrey, that May evening in 1779 was a double celebration -the victory of his filly Bridget in what had been the first Oaks Stakes.

Among the guests was Sir Charles Bunbury, Steward of the Jockey Club

and virtual dictator of the Turf,

And it was not long before the forceful Sir Charles swung the conversation to his pet topic the state of racing in England. It had been his idea to Introduce the Oaks, a parativelychart race destined to become the premier Claasio for three-year-old Alles,

com-

For owners it meant keeping a horse at least five years be- fore exposing it to the acid test of the racecourse.

Finding a name

But Sir Charles' revolutionary proposal for another short race, which would allow three-year- The idea had not been or-old COLTS to race in the South, ginal. In the North, Lieutenant-was not accepted without deur General Anthony St Leger had by Lord Derby's guests. They three ycars previously

feit the St Leger was still some augurated a similar contest for thing of a novelty in racing. It three-year-old filites AND colts, should be allowed to prove itself But St Leger's race had failed before other similar events were

introduced. to capture the support of the racing traternity.

Now Sir Charles had become its champion.

whose

be

น

"No, it should bear your name," Sir Charles insisted.

Rather than get tangled in another lengthy wrangle with the formidable Str Charles, Lord Derby akroëd to let the toes of a coin determine the matter.

.....

On Wednesday, June 1, 1960, the 181it Derby Stakes, Blue Riband of the Turf, will be held at Epsom Downs. In those fow thrill-packed i horse's price can

£250,000–if He wins. For thor bred breeders all over the world base their plans on the results of the Derby.

But there is more to the Derby thdr just racing. In it all human emotions — jealousy, hate, greed, löve – have played their þárt.

Today the China Mail begin's a six- author REX part series in which at LOPEZ fraces the romantic. Kistory of the Derby through the stories of the men, women and horses who have made it the Turt's greatest event?

And if Sir Charles was dis-

Today, the plans of thorough- appointed at losing the toss, he bred breeders all over the world the are based on the Derby results. was partly recompensed following year, 1780, when he achieved the immortal distinc- tion of leading in the first Derby winner, his chestnut colt Diom- ed.

1

None of the guests at that The dour autocrat

historic dinner-including Sir pastion was racing Charles himself-could have single

foreseen the far-reaching effects thoroughbreds would not talked down. He persisted,.argu-the

Derby would have world racing as, a whole. Monotonous affairing for reform.

Racing in England then was

a' dull monotonous affair.

Events were contested in four-mile hests, often involving the same horses three or four ilmes in one afternoon before a decision was reached.

The gruelling ordeal of events these long-drawn préveniéd Horses other than those fully matured from taking part,

And eventually his logic won the dity.

1

Before the party broke up all present had agreed to try a and new race for both fillies colts at Epsom Downs.

Only one minor formality re- mained-to find a name for the event.

The Blue Riband

оп

For in a short time the race became the world's most im portant test for thoroughbreds. The toughest, trickiest flat race in Britain-and the most coveted victory in the sport.

Indeed, as Benjamin Disraeli "I think it should be called after you," Lord Derby suggest-so optly called it later, the Blue ed to Sir Charles.

Riband of the Turi.

Within

Indeed, the crowds had gone to Epsom long before: horses raced there.

Racing on the Downs at Epsom was a free-and-easy

Derby Stakes, affair; until

introduced in 1780, gove the meeting impetus and spread its fame all over the world

ordénu covered the health-riving... Goglity of the sally well-water there.

At, once the hard-drinking social set of 17th Century Lon dan had migrated to Epsom to take the sph "cure".

And to while away the time-. lag between the water-sipping sessions, they had raced their horses in matches and heats for

the few fleeting They had gathered on the minutes it takes to run the Downs more than 150 years beside-bets and stakes. ⠀ race, the value of a horse mayfore the premier Classic had sar from a few thousand even been thought of. ponfade to more than £250,000 --if it wins.

How could Sir Charles, Lord Spa 'cure' Derby and the other guests have guessed?

In their day, racing, despite the efforts of the Jockey Club then beginning to tighten its grip on the sport, had been still a free-and-easy affair.

The rolling Surrey grassland of Epsom Downs had long been But the established as a meeting place for racing men. meetings had been more in the nature of a festival rather than a test of the best thorough- breds in Britain.

Why not Little League baseball for Hongkong?

HKSA Chairman Bill Woo got wind of this and wasted no fime in forming a committee comprised of, so far, a Mary koll priest, en airline execu tive and a schoolboy softballer, They have been entrusted look into the possibilities introducing Little League base bail to Hongkong in the not too distant future.

By OLLY VAS

What is Little League? What has the Hongkong Softball Association got to do with it? These are timely questions for, though we are now in the "off season" for softball, the ground at King's Park is being put to good use by some extremely talented would-be baseballers who are playing off friendly matches without benefit of proper supervision, coaching or spectators. They have one aim in mind, baseball and to help and volun- | boya, normally within the 8-12 Hongkong it is still a file too early to prophesy, We will that some day they will be tarily assist them in developing age bracket.

Then there is the question of just have to keep abreast of part and parcel of the Little qualities of citizenship, sports-

recruiting suitable umpires, developments and hope that Lesque

manship and manhood

Typically enough the badge coaches and team managers. the various obstacles will not

are vasily be insurmountable. on the letterhead of the Conditions here

Argy venture which will afford official League's

stationery different rom those obtaining

or other big a healthy outlet for youthful shows the following words in say America Character, Courage and Loyalty. countries where commercial in exuberance and help to moulá terests willingly offer financial

a boy's character, and eventual In 22 countries

assistance to purchase special outlook on life merits the sup equipment, where parents port of all who, take an Interest From a modest three-leagues proudly, lend moral support to in the future of the younger

the game and where there generation. affair of only 36 players twenty

are .countless thousands of years ago it has grown the spectators who regularly attend menally

and at the present matches and cheer youngsters It is obvious that no venture, time, it boasts of 5,500 leagues on to greater efforts:

especially the ambitious type of in 22 countries with the num- ber of leagues still increasing

Right now in Hongkong we project (and Little League is i in Europe and the Latin have three unofficial teams amicus me I can assure you) Americas. Some of the places engaged in friendly matches and can hope for even a small where the game la played are from what I have seen of some theasure of success without Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, of them there is no lack of Co-operation to start with. In Turkey, Mexico (winners of baseball talent just waiting to Hongkong 1 Arganised along two World Series), the Philip be nursed along the right lines. the right libes tho properly khaled Little League could pines, Japan and nearest to us,

Worthwhile fise from its present

imoficial Bangko

shoestring basis to spretting really big and Listing

to of

Cohe

Not many people can up with the answer to the first since space quesbloma and prevents complete coverage of every pet at Little League organisation, brief and passing references only can be made to td history, aims and its possible far-reaching effects on our sports-minded community if, and when Ltle Langre comes to Hongkong.

Voluntary service

Little League is essentially

It is dimcult to grasp the significance of so many tho- sands of league affiliations with the parent body but try to think of one million youngsters playing LI ball in 1950 alone with an cleven

a programme, or voluntary anticipated growth to servier to youth in which parents, organissions and in million by 1988 and the mind terested parties can play vital boggles at the extent to which this game has caught the faney roles in character traming,

of people the world over. Anybody who does not reach his 13th birthday before August 1, of the current year is eligible. to join the league, provided. that he best permits himself be insured against accidents on the Beld of play has the written consent of his parents

or legal guardians and lives

Extely no whi iwo "stenotural combodenis, each depending on the

of a world-WINS DTORTAZIOAN.

within the physical boundaries o prescribed by the local zoya

ing body Place of birth

the

squir

not matter and there is no class one

or faclar distinction in Little wall

League baseball, So His its ow

ceivable that ma cosmopoliten own prop community such Hombong

etpan's son fity rüb koulter,

PIER

There must Be

many Foungsters here who would entertain no second thoughts about being tied up with a sedive Little Léakke even fer purely fodreational –ressOTLI the time spent ma possibly tears shed might, be worthwhile if a local Litte League, once started, achieved the purpose of indoctrinating our youth in the values "sof teamwork, fale play, courage, loyalty and discipline.

These are admirable qualities to attain and · hundreds of thousands of youngsters have beñented as a result of laking Dart In LL nativities,

The greatest recommendation Little League baseball had cfice in the way of a proclaration Tast year by the President of the United States of America when hei called for the annual ob- servance of "Little League Baseball Week" following the ted | second Monday in June, 30%)

When we dest with youth wa ponder off the fature and who knows that someda lucky, local boy" play oper mall and find inkde an "tion" to attend the World

an intriguing

Co-operation

centré

They

had gone at the bidding of Henry Wicker, A humble shepherd who had se

Long after the wells had dried up, the taste. for racing Had remained.

And by 1730, Epsom had been one of the most important racing centres in the country.

And now this race, the new for three-year- Derby Stakes

old colts and miles As it was In. Virginth he soon became then called-was to give the premier stallion, founder of a meeting impetus and make it distinguished line of thorough- -the most famous in the world brede..

The first Dérbý

Gap And, that first Derby had begun to work, its magie,

There can have been only a few thousand ardent race-fans. to witness the birth of the Derby Stakes on May 4, 1780

Diomed won.

In its long, eventful history, the Derby, more than any other race in the world, has captured the Imagination of sportsmen

For this is more than a horse

If. Diomed, wag nöt particu-race. Jarly brilliant in his racing in it, all buonan emotions

days, winning that Derby was

greed,

to bring him his shire of love and jealousy, glory. For, when over 20 years triumph and tragedy have

played their part. undis- öld and afféren

All have helped to make the tinguished career at stud in England, he was sold to an Romance of the Derby the

greatest story In Turf history. American baryer.

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