The Derby 297 



Criterion, with George Fordham up on the latter ; 

 Shotover in the One Thousand had just beaten NelHe a 

 head, with Fordham again on the hHv, so that she had 

 every advantage of horsemanship in that race ; how 

 easily, then, ought Bruce to beat Shotover, who w^as on 

 this form practically the same mare as Nellie ! But 

 that was reckoning without jockeyship. In the Derby 

 Tom Cannon rode Shotover ; Mordan performed on Bruce, 

 and at Tattenham Corner the latter took a wide sweep 

 into the adjacent country and lost incalculable lengths, 

 Cannon meanwhile coming the shortest way round, and 

 then steering his mare through her horses with the 

 ease and judgment w^hich always made his riding so de- 

 lightful a spectacle to the appreciative observer. So 

 her name was added to those of Eleanor (1801) and 

 Blink Bonny (1857), the three fillies that have won 

 the Derb}^ 



It is difficult to speak of 1883 without reference to 

 the ugly rumours which were current after GaUiard's 

 defeat ; and at the same time it is assuredly not in the 

 least my purpose to dwell on any unpleasant stories. 

 One thing certain is that Charles Wood on St. Blaise 

 saw and seized his opportunity to dash round Tattenham 

 Corner and secure his place on the rails, and the 

 shortest way round is always an advantage, except under 

 peculiar circumstances. (In Sir Bevys's year, for instance, 

 when the lower side of the course was fetlock deep, George 

 Fordham came wide on the right that he might have 

 firmer ground to gaUop on.) Wood gained a good two 

 lengths by his alertness in rounding the bend, and he 

 held it to the finish. Highland Chief also beating Galliard. 

 It was the only race St. Blaise won that year — not 

 reckoning a walk over — and the only one Galhard lost ; 



