A 'pirate' racecard for the 1826 Derby won by Lord Egremont's Lap-Dog, printed by W. Lindsey of Kingston, engraving titled 'Epsom Races' to the revers

A 'pirate' racecard for the 1826 Derby won by Lord Egremont's Lap-Dog, printed by W. Lindsey of Kingston, engraving titled 'Epsom Races' to the reverse Lap-Dog is unnamed on the card, just identified by his pedigree. The colt was trained by R Stephenson and ridden by George Dockeray. The official racecards for Epsom were printed by Dorling's in the town. However they had a perennial problem with cards being printed and sold unofficially by commercial rivals. This led to them titling their production as 'Dorling's Genuine Card List.' To further help the public identify and purchase the official racecard they printed on the reverse an elaborate engraving of the scene on the Downs. However, the 'pirates' then copied this as well. On the reverse of the Dorling's 1827 racecard, being offered as the following lot, it reads: THIS PRINT IS PLACED ON THE BACK OF EACH CARD AS A 'MARK OF DISTINCTION', TO GUARD THE PUBLIC AGAINST THE NUMBERS OF SPURIOUS CARDS AND LISTS THAT ARE PRINTED AT KINGSTON, CROYDON, AND OTHER PLACES. THE ONLY COPY IS PURCHASED BY THE EPSOM PRINTER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RACING FUND - SOLD AT THE PRINTING OFFICE IN THE TOWN, RUBBING HOUSE, AND THE JUDGE'S STAND ON THE DOWNS. THE SHEET LIST IS FILLED IN FROM THE JUDGE'S BOOK, AND PUT TO PRESS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RACES FOR THE DAY ARE ENDED; AND MAY BE HAD AT THE PRINTING OFFICE IN THE TOWN ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTERWARDS.