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A traditional historic meeting I really like, featuring the Indigenous Handicap (named after the hand-timed world record holder for 5f), the 1m2f City And Suburban Handicap which was originally open to 3yos and upwards and attracted Classic winners back in the day, the now 1m4f (until 1985 over 2m2f across The Downs) Great Metropolitan Handicap and the 1m2f Blue Riband Trial.
Not one of the more respected Classic trials, but dual Champion Stakes winner Cracksman is a relatively recent winner, and if you go back to 1978, when the race was conducted over 1m110yds, Roland Gardens (after a Stockton-On-Tees pipe-opener!) won it and then landed the 2,000 Guineas.
Premonition, the 1953 winner, went on to land the St Leger, and go all the way back to 1939 and Blue Peter won it before landing the 2,000 Guineas then returning to win The Derby.
This year, the race has attracted Epictetus, runner up to 2,000 Guineas and Derby favourite Auguste Rodin in the Futurity at Doncaster.
He’s fours on and, by miler Kingman out of 1m2f winner Thistle Bird, should just about get the 1m2f, though it’s not an absolute given on pedigree, even if the way he raced at two might suggest it is.
A fascinating afternoon coming up two days’ hence in my opinion.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"“This year, the race has attracted Epictetus.”
I shall watch with interest. I have 33/1 against him for the Guineas and for the Derby. I am not sure if he is still in the former.
Blue Peter is a racing pub quiz question. He would almost certainly have been another Triple Crown winner but the St Leger was cancelled due to the outbreak of WW2.
Epictetus is a really nice colt, CAS.
His sire developed into a multiple Group 1-winning miler at three and his dam never even raced at two and her finest hour was surely when winning the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh as a 6yo.
Everything about this suggests to me that Epictetus will surely be even better this year.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I also have Auguste Rodin on my side. I am certainly more hopeful about him but am happy to have Epictetus on side as well. If he wins this week, they will surely go to the Derby even with the stamina doubts.
Not widely known I think that the Great Met was the first ever sponsored race. A City publican with customers who liked a bet, persuaded them to contribute when he heard that the Clerk of the Course was having difficulty finding the prize money for a new race he wanted to run, called The Great Metropolitan.
They raised £300 by involving other nearby pubs in the City, the first running in 1846 was a great success, and the same approach, now also using pubs in the suburbs where the City men lived, later produced the money for the City and Suburban in 1851.
Two of the last few horses to win the Great Met before it was reduced to a 12F race, were the Triumph Hurdle winners, Heighlin (Elsworth) and Baron Blakeney (Pipe). Of course Triumph Hurdle winners these days have bigger targets elsewhere and are rarely seen on the flat.
Any excuse: https://youtu.be/l3scTrfRejs
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I’ve always struggled to decide whether I find the Great Metropolitan or the City and Suburban more gloriously nostalgic and now I find from apracing that they were both effectively sponsored by pubs that probably explains my affinity!
Funnily enough, I first read the info Alan imparted only last night.
Wikipedia: “The City and Suburban Handicap and its companion race, the Great Metropolitan Handicap, were devised by London hosteler Samuel Powell Beeton who owned The Dolphin in Cheapside. The establishment was well known for gambling and was dubbed “the Tattersalls of the east end” by the racing public. In 1846 Beeton and a collection of other tavern owners (known collectively as the “Licensed Victuallers of London”) raised £300 to establish a purse for the first running of the Great Metropolitan Handicap. The race was popular with the city betting houses and by 1851 Beeton had raised additional money by drafting subscriptions from both city and suburban gambling houses to establish a second race on Epsom Downs, the City and Suburban. The inaugural race was run on 4 April 1851 where it was open to three-year-old and older horses of either sex that had won a stakes race worth at least 200 sovereigns in their career. The winner was required to pay £10 out of the purse to the Licensed Victuallers’ Protection Society, a fund and charity for retired British pub owners. The first running was held on the New Derby course at a mile and a quarter.”
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"5.5 on the Going stick at 8am, bit of standing water in one car park and officially Soft, Heavy in places, but sunny with a gentle breeze.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Not particularly impressive from Epictetus. Maybe Dettori might have hung onto him a bit longer if he could ride the race again – but he did not look like he wants to go another 2f.
I was surprised they started him over 10f
Being a kingman and none of the progeny of the dam got 1m4f
You’d think 1m2f would be the maximum distance he’d get
I had a right good look at Epictetus in the paddock before today’s race – I’ll leave it there.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"
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