For racing fans, the Derby we are most likely to recall feature the great horses or superb jockeyship. Shergar remains my favourite. Never has horse in my lifetime won so convincingly. And of course Lester Piggott dominated the race for years, ruthlessly 'jocking-off' other riders in order to ensure he rode the likeliest winner, but conclusively proving over and again that he was the best.
But for those odd people to whom racing has no interest, the Derby they are most likely to have heard of happened over 100 years ago, when the suffragette Emily Davidson threw herself in front of the King's horse.
There is a fascinating account of the 1913 Derby in The Druid's Lodge Confederacy by Paul Mathieu. It is the true story of a syndicate of gamblers - including a stud owner, a theatre impresario and a Royal vet - who with cunning, ruthless secrecy and a magnificent boldness made racing pay through their audacious gambles. The blurb mentions that Dick Francis would have been hard-pressed to invent a more fascinating tale; actually that is not true. Mathieu's story is much better than the formula fiction dreamt up by Dick Francis (or was it Mrs Francis all along?)
The final coup executed by the partners was to win the 1913 Derby, with a horse that they did not really think would win. It was nowhere near financially their biggest success. Indeed Wilfred Purefoy, the said theatre impresario, was not even at Epsom to witness the triumph.
The author covers the Davidson element, and makes it clear that in his view she did not intend to kill herself and it was only chance that meant she was hit by Aboyeur. He suggests her intention was to reveal a Suffragette banner as the field passed Tattenham Corner-
"From where Emily Davidson stood, the greatest race-reader born would have been lucky to pick one horse's colours to lunge at. It was bad luck - not planning - that the King's horse was the one she fell under. It was far worst luck - not suicide - that she paid with her life for her publicity seeking."
The bulk of the field had passed by before Davidson stepped out. Almost certainly the jockeys up front had no idea the incident had even happened. They fought out the finish unaware of the drama 5 furlongs back, and were involved in the most controversial result ever declared.
Craganour, the heavily backed favourite, was judged to have passed the post first. The Druid's Lodge horse, Aboyeur, came second. He was a rank outsider, returned at a starting price of 100/1. Purefoy had staked £250 at odds of 200/1, believing the horse was better than his form suggested (a trait of all their successful gambles) but not thinking he was good enough to beat Craganour.
Six horses in all were involved in what was a rough, and exceptionally close, finish. There was bumping and interference, which most observers thought the jockey on Aboyeur, was responsible for. One horse came up the stand rail and was missed altogether by the judge, a Mr Robinson, who was notorious for missing horses 'under his nose' in close race - it was, of course, before the use of photo-finishes.
After an agonised pause Judge Robinson's verdict was announced - Craganour by a head and neck, from Aboyeur and Louvois, with Great Sport fourth and Nimbus fifth. The cheer from the crowd could be heard in central London, as they greeted the success of the public gamble.
Everyone expected an objection by at least one of the losing jockeys, but none was forthcoming. The Clerk of the Scales announced 'All Right' and the result was official. Bookies began paying out on Craganour.
There followed the most controversial steward's enquiry in history. The 3 stewards had - amazingly - been watching the race from 3 different locations and because of the huge crowd took time to get together. When they eventually met, one steward, Eustace Loder, lodged an objection himself. It was said that there was bad feeling from him towards the owner of Craganour.
The stewards over-ruled the 'All Right' and mayhem broke out on course.
Lord Rosebery, one of the stewards stood himself down from the enquiry because he owned a horse in the race, leaving the investigation in the hands of just Loder and Lord Wolverton.
After one hour the 2 stewards announced their verdict. They disqualified Craganour for causing interference and declared Aboyeur the winner. Purefoy got off his train in Ireland to discover he had won £62,500 (equivalent to over £1.5million today) from his gamble.
Most bookies - excluding those who had paid out before the Stewards' Enquiry and Ladbrokes, with whom Purefoy had placed his wager - saved a fortune with news of the amended result.
Aboyeur run unsuccessfully once more, the owning syndicate dissolved and their Derby 'winner' was sold to the St Peter's Jockey Club. Rumour has it that come the Revolution he then became a - very fast - member of the White Russian cavalry.
As a result of the controversy the term 'All Right' was abolished, and 'Weighed In' has been used ever since.
There is some fascinating Pathe news film of the race, but even if available at the time, it may not have been much help to the stewards.
NB - Those concerned about a syndicate named the Confederacy, will also be alarmed to hear that the feature race today at Sandown is The Imperial Cup. If (and it's a big if admittedly) Dr Newland has got Ebony Express back happy again, then last year's winner is weighted to repeat his victory at 14/1.
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