346 THE BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF. 



Martyrdom, Belladrum, Perrydown, Rhjsliworth, Ladas, 

 Alpenstock, and Ethus also ran in the Derby of 1869, 

 for which there were 247 subscribers and twenty-two 

 runners, the stakes being valued at the sum of £G,225. 

 The race was won by a head, there being a length 

 between the second and third. Betting: 11 to 8 

 afi"ainst Pretender, 11 to 2 as^ainst Pero Gomez, and 6 

 to 1 against Belladrum. 



Sir F. Johnstone won the Oaks, the ninety-first of 

 the series, by the aid of his filly Brigantine, which 

 was ridden by Cannon. Sir Joseph Hawley's Morna 

 was second, and Sir R. W. Bulkeley's Martinique 

 third. The race was won by two lengths, Morna 

 starting favourite with odds of 6 to 4 against her. 

 There Avcre 187 subscribers and fifteen runners. 

 Value of the stakes, £4,550. Brigantine ran in the 

 One Thousand Guineas, being placed third. Scottish 

 Queen, the winner of the One Thousand, was not 

 placed in the Oaks. Morna achieved second honours 

 in both of these races. 



It was not to be wondered at that MacGregor should 



start a ' red-hot favourite ' for the Derby of this year, 



jg-Q seeing that he had previously won the Two 



Kingcraft. Thousaud Guiucas by five lengths — King- 

 craft running third. It will be Avell in the recollection 

 of all race-goers that the defeat of Mr. Merry's horse 

 caused quite ' a sensation,' and that all sorts of ugly 

 stories Avere circulated regarding the untoward event, 

 which affected many thousandswho had backedhim,Mr. 

 Merry's horses being always heavily supported by the 

 public. No true reason for the defeat of MacGregor 



