CHAPTERS FROM TURF HISTORY 



In 1802 the Duke won the Derby with a horse of 

 his own breeding called Tyrant from a field of nine 

 runners. I Tyrant was by Pot-8-os, and his success 

 led His Grace to spare neither money nor trouble 

 to secure the best specimens of this strain of blood. 

 Tyrant is said to have been a very moderate animal, 

 and owed his victory to the riding and fine judgment 

 of Frank Buckle, the most accomplished rider of 

 the day. In the race the running was made at a 

 fast pace by an Eclipse colt, with Sir Charles Bun- 

 bury's Orlando in close attendance. Buckle was 

 sure they would come back to him, and they did so, 

 with the result that he snatched the verdict with 

 Grafton's colt. Another son of Pot-8-os was the 

 renowned Waxy, who won the Derby of 1793. 

 Grafton acquired this fine horse for his stud, and 

 by him bred Pope — known also as Waxy Pope — 

 from Prunella, the granddaughter of Julia of the 

 long lineage. With Pope Grafton won the Derby 

 of 1809. But the Duke's greatest horse was 

 undoubtedly the mottled brown Whalebone, with 

 whom he won the Blue Riband in the following 

 year. He, too, was a son of Waxy from the famous 

 Penelope. This horse's performances on the Turf 

 were the greatest of that date. He made all the 

 running in the Derby. He won the most important 

 King's Plates and Cups. Grafton challenged Pan, 

 the Derby winner of 1808, to a match over the 

 Beacon Course, and Whalebone prevailed. This 

 stout little horse — he was only 15 hands and half 

 an inch — found no course too long. But insig- 

 nificant in size and with bad feet, it was thought 



I There were 30 subscribers to the Derby in 1802. In 1914 

 they numbered 372. 



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