CHAPTERS FROM TURF HISTORY 



Crucifix made her first appearance in the Julv 

 Stakes at Newmarket in 1839 — ^ i"^ce which in 

 those days attracted heavy betting. Two days 

 before the race the secret was whispered that 

 Danebury would send something exceptionally good 

 to run, and after Bentinck's money was invested 

 the odds shortened to 2 to i. Young John Day 

 who rode the filly was obliged, in spite of a very 

 tight rein, to let her win by two lengths. On the 

 Thursday she ran in the Chesterfield Stakes, which 

 proved to be a chapter of accidents. After several 

 false starts the horses ran the full course, and 

 Crucifix finished second to Lord Albemarle's Iris. 

 The stewards decided that it was " no race," and 

 in the actual contest Crucifix reversed the verdict 

 and won easily by two lengths. 



The style in which Crucifix had won her races 

 showed that she was a filly of more than ordinary 

 excellence, and she increased her reputation by 

 cantering away with the Lavant Stakes at Good- 

 wood and with the Molecomb Stakes at the same 

 meeting. 



In October at Newmarket she won the Hopeful 

 Stakes. In this race there were seventeen false 

 starts, and the horses were kept at the post for 

 over an hour. She was favourite, had a bad 

 start, and carried a 9-lb. penalty, but nevertheless 

 she won as she liked, and afterwards walked over 

 for a £100 sweepstakes. At the second October 

 meeting she won the Clearwell easily with odds 

 betted on her, and in the last race of the year she 

 ran a dead-heat for the Criterion with General 

 Bates' Gibraltar, carrying a 9-lb. penalty and 

 getting last off after a long delay at the starting- 



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