DISRAELI AND THE RACE-COURSE 



Thomas Dawson (the eldest of the four celebrated 

 trainers) for 350 guineas. He was by Rococo 

 (son of Gemma di Vergy), his dam by Adventurer. 

 Chippendale did not run until he was three years 

 old, but in 1879 ^^ credited his owner with nearly 

 £7,000. He began his career by beating Palm- 

 bearer, who later ran second in the Derby. Next, 

 he won the Epsom Summer Plate, and at Ascot 

 was successful in the Ascot Derby and the Hard- 

 wicke Stakes. In the Hardwicke, Silvio, the Derby 

 and St. Leger winner of 1877, was an odds-on 

 favourite, and, with Archer riding, was confidently 

 expected to win. In the race, which was run 

 in very deep ground, Silvio, having apparently 

 beaten all his opponents, was allowed by Archer 

 to take matters too easily, so that Osborne was 

 able to drive Chippendale alongside of him and,, 

 catching the Derby winner at every stride, won 

 the race. No doubt the task set Silvio was a 

 stiff one, and it may have been that the attempt 

 to give Chippendale 18 lb. was beyond his powers,, 

 though he made a very gallant effort to do it. 

 Later in the season, Chippendale suffered two 

 defeats — one of them by that good mare Dresden 

 China ^ in the Great Yorkshire Handicap at Don- 

 caster ; but Wadlow, Lord Bradford's trainer, 

 made no secret of his belief that the horse would 

 beat the mare at Newmarket in the autumn, and 

 he was right. 



" I hope you have won the race," wrote the 

 Prime Minister from Downing Street to Lady 

 Bradford ; adding, " this is possible, as they say 



' Dresden China in the following year won the Goodwood Cup 

 and the Doncaster Cup. 



121 



