Robert The Devil - second past the post behind the Duke of Westminster's Bend Or in the 1880 Derby.
At the time there was some dispute about whether the winner was Bend Or, or not Bend Or. A groom (who might have had a grudge after being sacked by the Duke) maintained that two foals had been inadvertently switched when leaving the stud. One was Bend Or by Doncaster out of Rouge Rose and the other was Tadcaster by Doncaster out of Clemence.
131 years on scientists have proved that
Bend Or could not have been out of Rouge Rose:
Quote:
“It’s time to re-write a million pedigrees! The skeleton’s mitochondrial DNA proved characteristic of the No. 2 family, the assumption being he was the son of Clemence. He could not have been out of Rouge Rose, despite all that circumstantial evidence.”
It seems therefore that first past the post in the 1880 Derby wasn't Bend Or at all. It was Tadcaster. But since Tadcaster wasn't entered in the race (not in his own name, anyway) the laurels should go to Robert The Devil (who should have won the race on the track but for a piece of poor jockeyship close home).