BLUE GOWN'S DERBY 121 



Lady Elizabeth " went to pieces '' during the 

 winter, her set-back being the result of the tre- 

 mendous effort made when she beat Julius in the 

 Match immediately after the Cesare witch. She 

 became nervous and irritable and a delicate feeder. 

 As the weeks flew by the hopes of the Marquis 

 of Hastings descended to zero. His finances 

 were in a desperate state. Most of his horses 

 had, it was understood, been assigned to Mr. 

 Padwick as security for a loan advanced to enable 

 him to meet pressing debts. None knew better 

 than John Day that Lady Elizabeth's success 

 was almost past praying for, but he was afraid to 

 learn the worst. The filly was not tried ; she 

 was not even given a stripped gallop. And yet 

 the public, ignorant of the real state of affairs, 

 were eagerly taking 5 to 4 about Lady Elizabeth. 

 So far as the stable was concerned, the situation 

 was the more galling because, in The Earl, it 

 sheltered a colt believed to be capable of beating 

 Blue Gown. Owing, however, to the money 

 that had been laid against him, it was impossible 

 to allow The Earl to start for the race with winning 

 orders. The night before the Derby he was 

 scratched. A week or two later The Earl won 

 the Grand Prix de Paris. On Derby Day the 

 odds against Lady Elizabeth expanded to 7 to 4, 

 as well they might, but the public were still 

 infatuated with her chance. Blue Gown was 

 second favourite at 7 to 2. 



