-Q THE BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF. 



number of entries, a glance at once shows that for 

 the race of 1885 121 subscribers entered 190 horses ; 

 i-n the following year 202 horses were named by 

 12^0 ladies and genilemen. For the 'Blue Ribbon* 

 of' 1887, 112 persons entered 190 animals ; for tho 

 r'kce of 1888 there were ninety different nominators, 

 who named 1G3 horses. In 1889 the figures were 

 92 subscribers and 171 horses. Many gentlemen 

 name a considerable number of their colts in each 

 year; thirteen animals have sometimes been entered 

 by some of England's best sportsmen, whilst entries 

 of from four to nine are common. When it is stated 

 that the colts which compete in the Derby when 

 they are of the age of three years have to be entered 

 for the race while they are 'yearlings,' itwill be at onco 

 obvious, even to persons who are not familiar with the 

 economy of the turf, that many of the animals named 

 never compete. Some die long before the day, others 

 do not stand the strain of hard work which is abso- 

 lutely necessary for tlieir preparation, and thus it comes 

 about that perhaps not more tban twelve or fifteen 

 are sent to the starting-place on the eventful Wednes- 

 day on which the great riice falls to be run. It is 

 obvious from what has been said or indicated that, in 

 respect of the money involved, subscribers to each 

 succeeding Derby might just as \vell write the names 

 of their horses on a piece of paper and draw them 

 out of a hat as run them in the race, or they might 

 meet at dinner and toss against each other for the 

 stakes !* That, of course, would not be esteemed 



* ' It was recently asked by a defender, or. rather, apologist 



