Lord Derby's Sleeper

The Honorable George Lambton, fifth son of the Earl of Durham and trainer of the Earl of Derby's horses, was "frightfully annoyed" last week. He summoned the Press to explain his annoyance. One of the Honorable George's charges, a horse by the name of Caerleon, had just won the Eclipse Stakes. That in itself was all right. But Caerleon has raced frequently this summer--in the Jubilee Stakes and during Ascot week--and not only failed to place but showed such bad form that he went to the post for the Eclipse Stakes quoted at 25 to 1 by the bookmakers, 43 to 1 on the totalizator. When Caerleon galloped in an easy winner British bettors raged; even the Jockey Club Stewards thought it odd./- An inquiry was held. Hon. George Lambton, like New York's Mayor Walker, welcomed investigation. The cause of his annoyance last week was a canard, published in the Press, that the Jockey Club inquiry had been suddenly adjourned.

"This falsehood," protested the Hon. George, "is a serious matter to a man of my reputation as a trainer. I know that I should think something serious had been discovered if I had heard that an inquiry by the Stewards had been adjourned.

"There was no adjournment. I was called before the Stewards and gave my explanation. I waited and later Lord Lonsdale came out and told me that my explanation was quite satisfactory, and that it would be given to the Press at the earliest possible moment."

Because the Stewards had for some reason neglected to do so, Trainer Lambton gave his explanation himself last week. Horse Caerleon had been coughing (one of those summer colds that hang on & on). A good gallop was what he needed to sweat it out. "But," said the Hon. George, shaking his head sadly, "the horse is stubborn and sulky. A race does him more good than any number of home gallops."

For medicinal reasons, therefore, coughing Caerleon had been entered in the Jubilee Stakes and at Ascot. Suddenly as he trotted to the post for the Eclipse Stakes, coughing Caerleon felt ever so much better.

"It is a pity," concluded Trainer Lambton, "that more inquiries are not held. They warn crooks, and that is a lot."

/-Such a performance, when fraudulent, is known to U. S. touts as "putting over a sleeper."

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