"The titles make a big mark in the annals of the Two Thousand," wrote,
a few years since, a well-known sporting journalist. And so they do, as
a glance at the list of winning names will show.
The race was established in 1809, when it was won by Mr. Wilson's
Wizard; and in the year following Lord Grosvenor captured the
prize, beating eight competitors, with Hephestion by Alexander.
Lord Darlington with Cwrw proved successful in 1812, whilst Sir C.
Bunbury's Smolensko won in 1813. Lord Rous with Tigris followed in
1815, Lord G. Cavendish landed the stakes with Nectar in 1816. In
two succeeding years, 1818-9, Lord Folley and Sir John Shelly gained
Two Thousand honours with Interpreter and Antar respectively. Then
come the three consecutive wins of the Duke of Grafton by the aid of
Pindarrie, Reginald, and Pastile. Two Commoners follow, Mr. Rogers and
Mr. Haffenden, their winners being Nicolo and Schahriar. Lord Exeter
follows with Enamel, after which (1826-7) the Duke of Grafton adds two
wins to the three he had previously achieved, the names of his winners
being Dervise and Turcoman. After his Grace of Grafton comes the Duke
of Rutland with Cadland. Lord Exeter is next enrolled on the Two
Thousand scroll of honour, Patron and Augustus crediting him with the
stakes in 1829-30. In 1831 Riddlesworth gave the prize to Lord Jersey.
Wins by horses belonging to Colonel Peel and Lord Orford follow, and
then Lord Jersey throws in for four consecutive triumphs, Glencoe,
Ibrahim, Bay Middleton, and Achmet being the names of the victorious
horses. Lords George Bentinck (twice) and Albemarle take the trophy
in 1838-9-40-1. Lords Stradbroke, Enfield, Exeter, Derby, Zetland,
Stamford, and Glasgow follow up. Then in 1874 comes the name of Lord
Falmouth, and before his death it is twice repeated in the annals of
the Two Thousand. Lords Dupplin and Lonsdale also win the race, as do
the Dukes of Beaufort, Westminster, and Portland. Among the racing
Commoners who have been credited with the Two Thousand Guineas we find
the names of Mr. Bowes, who twice took the prize, and Mr. Merry, who
won it on two occasions. The well-known names of Mr. Gully and Mr.
Sutton, as also Count La Grange, Sir Joseph Hawley, and Mr. D. Baird,
are likewise enrolled on the scroll of fame.
Horses which win or run prominently for the Guineas are not always
entered for the Derby or St. Leger, but it happens that the double
event of Two Thousand and Derby has fallen to the same horse on twelve
occasions, the successful animals being:
1813. Smolensko.
1828. Cadland.
1836. Bay Middleton.
1853. West Australian.
1863. Macaroni.
1865. Gladiateur.
1866. Lord Lyon.
1869. Pretender.
1882. Shotover.
1886. Ormonde.
1888. Ayrshire.
1891. Common.
Four times the Two Thousand winner has also taken the St. Leger as well
as the Derby: West Australian in 1853, Gladiateur in 1865, Lord Lyon
in 1866, and Ormonde in 1886. The Two Thousand and Oaks were captured
by Crucifix in 1840, and by Formosa in 1868. The double event of Two
Thousand and St. Leger has been achieved by Sir Tatton Sykes, 1840,
Stockwell, 1862, West Australian, 1853, The Marquis, 1862, Gladiateur,
1865, Lord Lyon, 1866, Formosa, 1868, Petrarch, 1876, and Ormonde,
1886.
Here is a little statement regarding the Two Thousand I have "rescued"
from the sporting journals, in the columns of some of which it was
recently "going the rounds." As will be seen, it is not without
interest, showing as it does the relative performances of Two Thousand
and Derby winners in each of those races for the past thirty-one years:
"The Two Thousand winner has started twenty-six times in that period
for the Derby. He has won the latter race seven times, ran second six
times, third four times, and unplaced nine. The Derby winner, in the
same space, has competed seventeen times in the Two Thousand--seven
times as a winner, four times second, four times third, and twice
unplaced. It is interesting to note that the winner of the Two Thousand
has succumbed in the Derby to a horse he had beaten in the Two Thousand
on eight occasions, viz.: in 1861, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1877, 1881, 1883,
and 1889."
As has been often said, the race for the Guineas greatly discounts
the Derby. So it does. In some years indeed, as in 1891, it is in the
nature of a rehearsal for the great event which takes place on Epsom
Downs, just in the same way as the One Thousand frequently proves a
preliminary canter for the Oaks, these two races having been taken on
thirteen occasions by the same filly. Both sexes may try conclusions
in the Two Thousand, but in the One Thousand and Oaks only fillies are
eligible to compete.
It is a notable circumstance that, beginning in 1814, the first race
for the One Thousand fell to Mr. Wilson, the same gentleman who was
credited with the premier of the Two Thousand nine years previously.
One name makes a big mark in the annals of the One Thousand; it is
that of the Duke of Grafton, who won the race five consecutive times,
1819-20-1-2-3, and then missing a year, came again to the front with
three winners in the three years of 1825-6-7. The race has in its
course fallen to many other distinguished members of the Peerage, the
latest recipient of the prize being the Duke of Portland, who in 1890
landed the stakes by the aid of Semolina. Upon three occasions the
triple event of One Thousand, Oaks, and St. Leger has been secured
by the prowess of the same animal--Formosa, Hannah, and Apology,
1868, 1871, and 1874 respectively, Maidment and John Osborne being
jockeys who were credited with the triple ride. The double event of
One Thousand and St. Leger has fallen on five occasions to the same
filly--Imperieuse, 1857, Achievement, 1867, Formosa, 1868, Hannah,
1871, and Apology, 1874.
It is not a little remarkable that, whilst the names of all the jockeys
who have ridden winners of the St. Leger, Oaks, and Derby have been
ascertained and preserved, no record has apparently been kept of the
riders who won the Two Thousand during the first thirteen years, or
of the jockeys who were so fortunate as to ride the winners of the
One Thousand in the first eight years of its existence. The most
fortunate horseman in connection with the Two Thousand seems to have
been Robinson, who on nine several occasions was credited with the
_dux prize_; he also on five occasions won the One Thousand. Most of
the chief horsemen of the period have had successful mounts in these
races; the veteran John Osborne, who is now retiring, has had a share
of Guineas honours.
During many of the earlier years of the Two Thousand (notably from
1817 to 1846) the fields competing in the race seldom exceeded double
figures; on two occasions only a couple faced the starter, the
fortunate owner of the winner in both these years (1829-30) being Lord
Exeter, with Patron and Augustus. During the last six years the number
of horses starting for the Two Thousand have been 7, 6, 8, 6, 9, 9,
respectively. In the case of the One Thousand the fields were much
better, averaging over twelve; in no year have the entries for this
race exceeded ninety, whilst the largest number of starters has been
nineteen, and curiously enough nineteen formed the biggest field that
has yet competed in the Two Thousand.
A series of interesting notes might be compiled about the Two Thousand
and the horses which proved victorious in the race, as well as the men
who owned and the jockeys who rode them to victory, but the larger
portion of all that could be said has, I fear, been said already, and
that more than once. The Duke of Grafton, Lord Jersey, Lord George
Bentinck, Sir Joseph Hawley, Lord Falmouth, and other noble sportsmen
have frequently been made the subject of eulogy. Of the victorious
horses much has also been written; the praises of the never-defeated
Bay Middleton, of West Australian, Galopin, Macaroni, and Gladiateur
have been sung to a universal chorus of approbation ever since the
record of their victories was written in the annals of the race.