Montrose

Montrose is the fourth chapter of Samuel Johnson's book Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland, about a trip he took in 1773. The previous chapter was Aberbrothick and the next is Aberdeen.

Leaving these fragments of magnificence, we travelled on to Montrose, which we surveyed in the morning, and found it well built, airy, and clean. The townhouse is a handsome fabrick with a portico. We then went to view the English chapel, and found a small church, clean to a degree unknown in any other part of Scotland, with commodious galleries, and what was yet less expected, with an organ.

At our inn we did not find a reception such as we thought proportionate to the commercial opulence of the place; but Mr. Boswell desired me to observe that the innkeeper was an Englishman, and I then defended him as well as I could.

When I had proceeded thus far, I had opportunities of observing what I had never heard, that there are many beggars in Scotland. In Edinburgh the proportion is, I think, not less than in London, and in the smaller places it is far greater than in English towns of the same extent. It must, however, be allowed that they are not importunate, nor clamorous. They solicit silently, or very modestly, and therefore though their behavior may strike with more force the heart of a stranger, they are certainly in danger of missing the attention of their countrymen. Novelty has always some power, an unaccustomed mode of begging excites an unaccustomed degree of pity. But the force of novelty is by its own nature soon at an end; the efficacy of outcry and perseverance is permanent and certain.

The road from Montrose exhibited a continuation of the same appearances. The country is still naked, the hedges are of stone, and the fields so generally plowed that it is hard to imagine where grass is found for the horses that till them. The harvest, which was almost ripe, appeared very plentiful.

Early in the afternoon Mr. Boswell observed that we were at no great distance from the house of Lord Monboddo. The magnetism of his conversation easily drew us out of our way, and the entertainment which we received would have been a sufficient recompense for a much greater deviation.

The roads beyond Edinburgh, as they are less frequented, must be expected to grow gradually rougher; but they were hitherto by no means incommodious. We travelled on with the gentle pace of a Scotch driver, who having no rivals in expedition, neither gives himself nor his horses unnecessary trouble. We did not affect the impatience we did not feel, but were satisfied with the company of each other as well riding in the chaise, as sitting at an inn. The night and the day are equally solitary and equally safe; for where there are so few travellers, why should there be robbers.

Montrose was the name of a bay colt bred in Kentucky by Milton Young, and born in 1884. The horse was owned by the Labold brothers and trained for the racetrack by John McGinty, who had also trained Leonatus.¹

In the spring of his third year, Montrose was one of seven horses entered in the thirteenth running of the Kentucky Derby. He carried 118 pounds, including African-American jockey Isaac Lewis.

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         |                  |               | Australian by West Australian 
         |                  | Waverly       |                         
         |                  |               | Cicily Jopson    
         | Duke of Montrose |               |                            
         |                  |               | Bonnie Scotland by Iago      
         |                  | Kelpie        |                 
         |                  |               | Mare by Sovereign
Montrose -----------------------------------------------------------  
         |                  |               | Voltigeur by Voltaire        
         |                  | Billet        |
         |                  |               | Calcutta by Flatcatcher
         | Patti            |               | 
         |                  |               | Pat Malloy    
         |                  | Dora          |     
         |                  |               | Etta Jr by Bill Alexander   
------------------------------------------------------------------------2    

Partly cloudy skies and a trace of precipitation made Derby Day 1887 hot (80 F) and humid.³ The track was rated fast as the seven contenters took their places. Fearless jockey Lewis (who would race in four consecutive Derbies, finishing 6th aboard Grimaldi in 1886, 5th on The Chevalier in 1888, and 6th on Sportsman in 1889) guided Montrose from the start, overtaking the leader, Jacobin, within the first quarter-mile of the race. Montrose lead the rest of the circuit and won by two lengths. Jim Gore (a son of Hindoo) placed second, and Jacobin finished third. The favorite, Banburg, managed a fourth-place finish, while the rest of the field (Clarion, Ban Yan, and Pendennis) hardly mattered. Montrose's time was 2:39.25 and he won $4200.⁴

Montrose's career was quite successful. Besides the Derby, he won the Great Western Handicap, the Free Handicap, the Cotton Exchange Stakes, the St. Leger Stakes, the Blue Ribbon Stakes, the Morrissey Stakes, the Kearney Stakes, the Distillers and Brewers Stakes, and the Cincinnati Hotel Handicap. He finished second in the Mechanics Stakes, Sheridan Stakes, Phoenix Stakes, Grand Prize of Saratoga, Boulevard Stakes, Merchants Stakes, and Kentucky Handicap. Also, he ran third in the Prospect Stakes, Moet and Chandon Stakes, Latonia Stakes, Excelsior Handicap, Free Handicap, Distillers and Brewers Stakes, and Latonia Derby. In a total of 51 races, Montrose accumulated 14 wins, 11 seconds, and 9 thirds, and he brought in $27,321.⁵

Notes:
1. The Blood Horse, http://tcm.bloodhorse.com
2. http://members.fortunecity.com/spiletta42/files2.html
3. NOAA, http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/climate/derby.txt
4. www.kentuckyderby.com
5. www.tbcprojects.com/career.php