40 THE BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF. 



shire, Lincoln, Leicester, Lichfield, and Great Marlow 

 — twenty-four places in all. In the year 1720 the 

 'father of the turf had the folio wing- named horses 

 running at Newmarket : Potatoe, Highlow, Nutmeg, 

 Hobler, Sparin Halls, Margaretta, and Sorrel Filly. 

 The last time Mr. Frampton's name appeared on the 

 record of races run at Newmarket was on April 10th, 

 1723. 



Sir Charles Bunbury, who won the first race for 

 the Derby, was called 'father of the turf also, and 

 others who promoted in its earlier stages the ' sport of 

 kings,' notably some of the Kings themselves, might 

 have had a similar title conferred upon them : why not 

 James I. or Charles II. ? Many of the princes and 

 nobles of a far-back time helped to make horse-racing 

 what it is to-day. It is to them, indeed, that owners 

 owe the strains of blood that now course through the 

 veins of modern race-horses. It is in connection with 

 the incidence of Avhat have been designated 'the classic 

 races' that we find the men who did most for the turf 

 in the way of expending money on their studs so as to 

 improve the breeds of running-horses. Although in 

 chronological order the St. Leger and. Oaks take pre- 

 cedence of the Derby, the latter is the more pojtular 

 race of the three ; and included among those who 

 have won the ' Blue Ribbon of the Turf,' are to bo 

 I'ound the names of many noblemen and gentlemen 

 who did much to promote and popularize the pastime 

 of horse-racing. 



As has been already mentioned, and as nearly all 

 the world knows, 'The Derby,' and 'Tlie Oaks' too, 

 derived its name from a well-known member of the 



