THE THOROUGHBRED HORSE lOI 



each of which are very old. The first Derby in England 

 was run at Epsom, May 4, 1780, for a stake valued at 50 

 guineas, open to three-year-old colts, the colts to carry 

 eight stones, fillies seven stones and eleven pounds, over 

 a distance of one mile. This was won by Diomed. In 

 1784 the distance was increased from one mile to one and 

 one-half miles. The only American-bred horse to win 

 the Derby was Iroquois, a descendant of Diomed. He 

 also won the St. Leger, a notable feat in view of the fact 

 that both the Derby and the St. Leger have been won by 

 the same horse but nine times in over a century of racing. 



There are a number of important events held in 

 America, the following being the most notable : Metro- 

 politan Handicap, one mile, Belmont Park ; Carter Handi- 

 cap, seven furlongs. Aqueduct; Excelsior Handicap, one 

 and one-sixteenth miles, Jamaica; Saratoga Handicap, 

 one and one-quarter miles, Saratoga; Suburban Handi- 

 cap, one and one-fourth miles, Sheepshead Bay; Brigh- 

 ton Handicap, one and one-fourth miles, Brighton Beach ; 

 the Futurity, six furlongs, Sheepshead Bay; and the 

 Brooklyn Handicap, one and one-fourth miles, Gravesend. 



Speed records of the Thoroughbred. — With this breed 

 races are run under the saddle and a right skillful rider 

 (jockey) is needed. Jockeys usually weigh from 100 to 

 125 pounds. The fastest record, i.35j4, was made by 

 Salvator on a straightaway track of one mile, in 1890, 

 at Monmouth Park, New Jersey. The best record for a 

 standard track is 1.37%, made December 22, 1908, by 

 Center Shot, on the Santa Anita track, while the next best 

 record is 1.37%, which has been equaled many times. In 

 1855 Lexington ran four miles in 7.19%, winning $20,000 

 in a race against time. In 1897 Lucrezia Borgia ran four 

 miles against time on the Oakland track in 7.11, while in 

 191 1 Messenger Boy ran the same distance on the Louis- 

 ville track in 7.14% in a race. 



English records. — The following table gives the Eng- 

 lish Derby race records, one and one-half miles, since 



