THE FRAUD OF A DERBY 



had been foaled in 1841 at Mr. Cobb's stud farm 

 at New Malton, in Yorkshire. Lord Stradbroke 

 and his colleagues then proposed that the colt's 

 mouth should be examined, but the owner, Levi 

 Goodman, in strong language, refused point-blank 

 to allow it.^ In spite of this most suspicious 

 circumstance the Stewards over-ruled the objec- 

 tion. ^ " There is little doubt," wrote another 

 sporting scribe, " that objection will be taken 

 when Running Rein comes to the post again. 

 Anyone may be excused for forming an opinion 

 that Running Rein is a three-year-old, for a more 

 furnished two-year-old I never saw." Although 

 the decision was in favour of the horse, all bets 

 were paid under protest. 



Some of the legitimate competitors for the 

 Blue Riband of 1844 were thought to be animals 

 of considerable merit. The Ugly Buck, a colt 

 by Venison out of a Plenipotentiary mare, ran 

 only once as a two-year-old, when he won the 

 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood. He was then 

 reserved for the Two Thousand Guineas, which 

 he won, but not with that ease which his Derby 

 admirers expected. His favouritism for the great 

 race was throughout challenged by Ratan, a colt 

 by Buzzard, bred and owned by Crockford, the 

 owner of the gaming-house in St. James's Street. 

 He had won a race at Ascot on his first appearance, 

 and in the autumn carried a penalty to victory 

 in the Criterion. It only remains to notice that 



' This was subsequently proved at the trial in court. 



» This decision was set aside by a resolution of the Jockey Club 

 at their general meeting on July 6, 1844, and the Duke of Rutland's 

 Crenoline was declared the winner of the Plate. 



129 I 



