FAMOUS COCKERS 



Space has forbidden notice of individual 

 cockers, but mention must be made of the 

 1 2th Earl of Derby for two reasons : first, 

 because he was recognised as the foremost 

 cocker of his time, holding his own with the 

 Knowsley breed of Black-breasted Reds, famous 

 for nearly 300 years, throughout his long life ; 

 and second, because he was the last English 

 peer to take prominent part in the sport 



Succeeding to the title at the age of twelve 

 years Lord Derby came of age in 1775, and 

 throughout his life was devoted to cocking. 

 He built a pit at Preston at his own expense 

 (in 1868 this building had been converted into a 

 temperance hall), and he always fought his birds 

 at the Preston and Liverpool race meetings 



Lord Derby's great antagonist was General 

 Yates, whose breed of cocks was considered 

 equal to that of Knowsley. The usual stake on 

 the main was 1,000 guineas, but it was fre- 

 quently 2,000 and even 3,000 guineas. After 

 General Yates died, Mr. Thomas Leigh and 

 Mr. Houghton (afterwards Sir Henry 

 Houghton) were the cockers against whom 

 Lord Derby often pitted his birds 



Lord Derby's name first occurs in the cock- 

 fighting returns of the Racing Calendar for 



