Suffragettes 100 years on: Trampled rights led to Epsom death

FIRM favourite to win the Epsom Derby, 100 years ago today, was Craganour, bred by Lord Dunraven at Adare, Co Limerick, and owned by Bower Ismay, brother of the shipping magnate, J Bruce Ismay, who was rescued from the Titanic.

“More sensation was crowded into half an hour than in half a century of racing”, said the Freeman’s Journal. Dunraven had foaled numerous prize-winning horses at his famous Fort Union stud farm, including Tagalie, winner of the 1912 derby. In 1913, the world’s eyes were on Craganour, son of the Limerick sire, Desmond, and already winner of six prestigious races.

On Wednesday, Jun 4, in a close-fought race, watched by King George V and Queen Mary, and filmed by Gaumont Newsreels, Craganour was adjudged to have won by a head, his number hoisted into the frame. But as the bookies paid out, the stewards held an enquiry. Half an hour later, Craganour was disqualified for “not keeping a straight course”, “jostling” and “bumping” other horses, and the race was awarded to second-placed Aboyeur, a 100-to-1 outsider. This would have been sensation enough, for no horse had been disqualified at the derby since 1844. But something more shocking happened.