A CHRONICLE OF THE DERB Y. 229 



cock-fi'jht between the frentlemen of Middlesex and 

 Surrey a,nd the gentlemen of Wiltshire. From the 

 fact of Diomed starting favourite, the success of Sir 

 Charles Bunbury's colt seems to have been expected. 

 All the nine starters seem to have been ' place*!,' but 

 according to some writers, the judge placed the tirst 

 four animals only, and these, in accordance with the 

 fashion of the period, Avere simply designated as Mr. 

 So-and-So's b. c. or b. f , as the case might be. The 

 history of the horse which won the first Derb}-" Stakes 

 may be briefly related. Diomed was purchased as a 

 foal from the Hon. Richard Vernon, of Newmarket, 

 and, as Sir Walter Srott would have said, was 'come 

 of good kith and kin ' ; among his ancestors on the 

 dam's side being Childers, as also the Paget Turk and 

 the Leedes Arabian. Previous to winning the Derby 

 Diomed had been recorded victor in a race for a 

 sweepstakes of 500 guineas each, six subscribers, run 

 at the Sijrino: Meetin'jf held at Newmarket, and in 

 which he carried 8 st. According to the list of 

 winning horses for the year 17S0, published in the 

 Racing Calendar for that season, Diomed won, for Sir 

 Charles Bunbury, the Derby Stakes of 1,015 guineas, 

 and other races which increased the total sum to 

 5,165 guineas. Diomed as a four-year old won several 

 races of considerable value. At the Newmarket 

 Craven Meeting he received forfeit from Susannah, 

 b. c., 500 guineas, h. ft. ; he Avon the Fortescue Stakes 

 of 300 guineas each, eleven subscribers ; and he also 

 won the Claret Stakes of 200 guineas each, h. ft., four- 

 teen subscribers. At Nottingham he experienced the 

 bitters of defeat by Fortitude, and was also beaten by 



