233 THE BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF. 



The judge awarded second lionours to Lord Gros- 

 venor's Meteor, the third place being occupied by Sir H. 

 Featherstonhaugh's Smart, afterwards Claret. Scota, 

 one of Mr. O'Kelly's pair, started favourite with odds 

 of 2 to 1 betted against her. The date of the race this 

 year was Wednesday, May 31st. Highflyer, the sire 

 of this year's Derby winner, has a history. He was a 

 celebrated horse, ranking about third in fame in the 

 days of his career — Childers and Eclipse only coming 

 before him. His sire was King Herod, his dam 

 Rachel, by Blank. Highflyer was foaled in 1774, and 

 died in October, 1793 ; he was bred by Sir C. Banbury, 

 who won the first Derby with Diomed ; afterwards he 

 became the ])roperty of Viscount Bolingbroke, and 

 was then sold to Mr. Richard Tattersall, and is said to 

 have laid the foundation of the fortunes of that famil}'. 

 The horse had a famous career on the turf; he was 

 never beaten, and never paid forfeit, and was probably 

 the best horse of his day. His winnings are said to 

 have amounted to the sum of £9,000, a large amount 

 for the period. Highflyer, so soon as he had ceased 

 to race, stood as a stallion at the country seat of his 

 owner — Highflyer Hall, at Ely, in Cambridgeshire, 

 where he became the sire of an uncommon number of 

 really good horses, who in time made their mark either 

 on the turf or at the stud. 



' By his prolific deeds was bnilt a court, 

 Near where famed Ely's lofty turrets rise ; 

 To this famed sultan would all ranks resort, 

 To stir him up to am'rous enterprise.' 



It has been calculated that the progeny of Highflyer 

 won in stakes, from 1783 to 1801, a sum of over 



