Un Derby de Epsom que no se corrió en Epsom y que ganó un caballo que después se quedó ciego - An Epsom Derby that did not run on Epsom and that won a horse that later went blind
Derby Day by William Powell Frith
(Please look for the English version below)
Un Derby de Epsom que no se corrió en Epsom y que ganó un caballo que después se quedó ciego, "Dante".
El título se las trae, pero no se me ha ocurrido algo mas corto para definir lo que se trata en este artículo y para atraer la atención del lector.
En primer lugar debemos aclarar que el conocido como "Derby de Epsom" no se celebró siempre en Epsom Downs; hubo dos períodos de la historia, concretamente durante las dos grandes Guerras Mundiales, en las que las carreras se celebraron en otros hipódromos del Reino Unido. El hipódromo, como tal, estuvo cerrado entre los años 1.915 y 1.918 así como entre 1.940 y 1.945. Y fue en este último periodo cuando Epsom se utilizó como lugar donde alojar a los prisioneros de guerra.
En el último año del cierre de Epsom Downs como hipódromo, en 1.945, el Derby se
celebró en Newmarket, mas concretamente el sábado 09 de junio con la participación de 27 caballos que fueron los que quedaron de los 206 inscritos inicialmente.
Ganó "Dante" montado por W. Newett, propiedad de Sir E. Ohlson y preparado por M. Peacock. El tiempo empleado por el ganador fue de 2m. 26,6s. y su propietario se embolsó la bonita suma de 8.339 libras, lo que equivale a 917.000 libras de hoy.
Dante, potro castaño con una pequeña estrella en la frente y calzado de una, era hijo (nada mas y nada menos) de Nearco y de una yegua francesa llamada Rosy Legend (Dark Legend) ganadora de 4 carreras.
En 1.944, con dos años de edad, estuvo imbatido después de 6 salidas a la pista. Entre las carreras que ganó se encuentran el "Coventry Stakes" y el "Middle Park Stakes" y fue nombrado por ello el mejor potro de 2 años.
A sus 3 años reapareció en el Roseberry Stakes que ganó con suma facilidad, su siguiente salida fue en Newmarket en las 2.000 guineas, saliendo como favorito en un campo de 20 corredores a pesar de que se informó que dos días antes de la carrera había sufrido un problema ocular que se pensó provenía de habérsele alojado una semilla en el ojo cuando la realidad es que estaba sufriendo las primeras etapas de una enfermedad degenerativa que acabó dejándole ciego. Esa carrera la perdió por un cuello, batido por Court Martial.
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| (foto de open.abc.net.au) |
Dante partió como favorito con una cotización de 100/30, mejor que la de su rival Court Martial del que se dudaba su aptitud a la distancia por su origen; junto a ellos otros 25 potros se alinearon para participar en este Derby.
Al principio Dante partió en posiciones retrasadas y ahí se mantuvo hasta llegar al último cuarto de milla (poco mas de 400 mts.), donde aceleró para resultar vencedor por dos cuerpos sobre Midas que batió por una cabeza a Court Martial.
A consecuencia de este triunfo, Dante fue favorito unánime para el St. Leger pero en agosto, los rumores sobre la salud del potro empezaron a circular y el día 25 fue retirado de la carrera y, mas adelante, pasó a ejercer de semental.
Entre su progenie cabe destacar a Toulouse Lautrec, Darius, Carrozza y Discorea.
Esta es la ficha del resultado del Derby de 1.945 :
Y, para terminar, unas curiosas imágenes del hipódromo de Newmarket en ese mismo año, 1.945 :
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An Epsom Derby that did not run on Epsom and that won a horse that later went blind, "Dante"
The title is brought, but I have not thought of something shorter to define what is in this article and to attract the reader's attention.
First of all we must clarify that the so-called "Epsom Derby" was not always held at Epsom Downs; There were two periods of history, specifically during the two World Wars, in which the races were held in other racetracks in the United Kingdom. Racetrack, as such, was closed between the years 1,915 and 1,918 as well as between 1,940 and 1,945. And it was in this last period when Epsom was used as a place to house prisoners of war.
The title is brought, but I have not thought of something shorter to define what is in this article and to attract the reader's attention.
First of all we must clarify that the so-called "Epsom Derby" was not always held at Epsom Downs; There were two periods of history, specifically during the two World Wars, in which the races were held in other racetracks in the United Kingdom. Racetrack, as such, was closed between the years 1,915 and 1,918 as well as between 1,940 and 1,945. And it was in this last period when Epsom was used as a place to house prisoners of war.
In the last year of the closure of Epsom Downs as a racecourse, in 1945, the Derby was
celebrated in Newmarket, more specifically on Saturday June 9 with the participation of 27 horses that were those that were of the 206 enrolled initially.
Won "Dante" rided by W. Newett, owned by Sir E. Ohlson and trayned by M. Peacock. The time used by the winner was 2m. 26.6s. and its owner pocketed the handsome sum of 8,339 pounds, equivalent to 917,000 pounds today.
Dante, chestnut colt with a small star on his forehead and shoes of one, was son (nothing more and nothing less) of Nearco and a French mare called Rosy Legend (Dark Legend) winner of 4 races.
In 1944, at two years of age, he was unbeaten after 6 starts on the track. Among the races he won are the "Coventry Stakes" and the "Middle Park Stakes" and was named for it the best colt of 2 years.
At 3 years old he reappeared in the Roseberry Stakes that he won with great ease, his next outing was in Newmarket in the 2,000 guineas, leaving as favorite in a field of 20 runners although it was reported that two days before the race he had suffered an eye problem that was thought to have come from having a seed in his eye when the reality is that he was suffering the first stages of a degenerative disease that ended up leaving him blind. That race was lost by a neck, beaten by Court Martial.
In June he faced the Derby, which was also held that year at the Newmarket racecourse despite the recent end of the War, a race that attracted an influx of 30,000 fans, the Derby with the highest attendance of those celebrated in times of war. Many of those present were military like those that can be seen in the photo on the left taken at the end of May at the same racetrack.
Dante, chestnut colt with a small star on his forehead and shoes of one, was son (nothing more and nothing less) of Nearco and a French mare called Rosy Legend (Dark Legend) winner of 4 races.
In 1944, at two years of age, he was unbeaten after 6 starts on the track. Among the races he won are the "Coventry Stakes" and the "Middle Park Stakes" and was named for it the best colt of 2 years.
At 3 years old he reappeared in the Roseberry Stakes that he won with great ease, his next outing was in Newmarket in the 2,000 guineas, leaving as favorite in a field of 20 runners although it was reported that two days before the race he had suffered an eye problem that was thought to have come from having a seed in his eye when the reality is that he was suffering the first stages of a degenerative disease that ended up leaving him blind. That race was lost by a neck, beaten by Court Martial.
In June he faced the Derby, which was also held that year at the Newmarket racecourse despite the recent end of the War, a race that attracted an influx of 30,000 fans, the Derby with the highest attendance of those celebrated in times of war. Many of those present were military like those that can be seen in the photo on the left taken at the end of May at the same racetrack.
Dante started as a favorite with a price of 100/30, better than that of his rival Court Martial, who doubted his ability to distance from his pedigree; next to them another 25 colts lined up to participate in this Derby.
At first Dante started in delayed positions and stayed there until he reached the last quarter of a mile (just over 400 meters), where he accelerated to be the winner by two lengths over Midas that beat Court Martial by one head.
As a result of this triumph, Dante was unanimous favorite for St. Leger but in August, rumors about the colt's health began to circulate and on the 25th he was retired from the race and, later on, he became a stallion.
Among his progeny include Toulouse Lautrec, Darius, Carrozza and Discorea.
Here is the result sheet for the 1.945 Derby:
And, to finish, some curious images of the Newmarket racetrack that same year, 1,945:
And, to finish, some curious images of the Newmarket racetrack that same year, 1,945:
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