Henry Chaplin, 1st Viscount Chaplin, 1841 - 1923

Part 2 - Henry Chaplin & the 1867 Derby

Chaplin was a great racing man, throughout his life he owned and bred many racehorses.  Hastings was also not only a racehorse owner, but a compulsive gambler and both men had a great interest in one of racing's classics, The Derby. In 1866, Chaplin bought a horse, Hermit with a view to entering him in the following year's Derby.  Hastings, with no suitable horse with which to oppose Chaplin, wagered thousand and thousands of pounds against Hermit.

10 days before the Classic, during the regulation Derby trial, Hermit pulled up with a burst blood vessel. Chaplin was advised to withdraw him from the Derby and the jockey, Custance, was given another ride.  Meanwhile it was discovered that Hermit's case was not as serious as first thought. His trainer, Captain Jem Machell, slowly eased Hermit back to health although the horse was not fully recovered by the big day.

May 22nd, 1867 was the eventful day. A field of 30 horses was entered for the Derby. It was a miserable day at Epsom with heavy showers of sleet and hail.  Hermit had been written off as a no hoper and nobody paid him much attention. Needless to say, Hermit showed his mettle and won by a neck with a late run.

Hermit, Derby winner 1867

Chaplin was delighted. At only 26 he had won the Derby and at the same time settled an old score with Hastings.  Hastings lost heavily and never really recovered.  He spiralled into heavy debt and his drinking grew out of control.  Within a few years, he died in poverty, his estates gone. His wife, Lady Florence, who had spurned Chaplin, remarried and lived to an old age.

Chaplin went on to live the life of the country 'Squire', becoming Master of the Blankney Hunt.  He entered politics, eventually becoming the first Minister for Agriculture in 1889.  In 1876, he married Lady Florence Gower, elder daughter of the 3rd Duke of Sutherland.  She made him extremely happy but tragically died in 1881 giving birth to their 2nd daughter.

Lady Florence Chaplin

 Chaplin lived life to the full but with dwindling income from his estates and mounting debts he was forced to sell Blankney Hall  to Lord Londesbrough in 1892.  His love of horses and riding remained with him until he died in 1923 at the age of 82.

For a fuller account of the Hermit saga, visit Valerie Martin's excellent site about the racing village of Findon