THE 



BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF. 



A PRELIMINARY CANTER. 



I. 



The Derby, in name at least, is still the greatest racing 

 event of the English turf; it is not, however, our 

 oldest existing race, the St. Leger having been insti- 

 tuted in the year 1776. The Oaks also takes prece- 

 dence of the ' Blue Ribbon,' being a year older. 



It was in 1780 that the first Derby Avas run, the 

 prize being won by Sir Charles Ihmburj^ the name of 

 the victorious horse being Diomed ; the same gentle- 

 man was so fortunate as to win again in the year 1801, 

 v/ith his mare Eleanor, which also won the Oaks, now 

 sometimes fancifully designated ' the Garter of the 

 Turf.' ]\Iuch that has been written about the earlier 

 races for the Derby is indebted chiefly to the imagina- 

 tion of the writers, facts being scarce. 



The race was named after the Earl of Derby, but 

 on the earlier occasions of its recurrence attracted 

 almost no attention, its decision eliciting onl}' a 

 bare record in such newspapers of the period as 



1 



