The Express.
London, England, 1865-06-01 00:00:00

TILE

THE DERBY.

lltss as impossible to find a fault with his &pro=
ante, and any odds were at once offered in
his favour. One individual hinted that he
' was above the age, and we understand that
the point is reserved ; but old or young, be is pro-
, bably the finest-looking horse that has ever been
seen at Epsom. The Parisians claim him as French
all over, the son of Monarque, a French horse, odt
of "Miss" Gladiator, • name which, we should
say, had an English look about it, if it were not so I
frightfully suggestive of unmaidenly impropriety
in a distinguished family. The English, ou the
other hand, swear that "the whole lot" came out
of John Boott's stables, and with these contradie-
tory statements we must leave Glatlisteur to suffer
the fate of all who become celebrated, from Homer
downwards, namely, that of having people in all
quarters of the world claiming them 113 fellow-
citizens. The other horses did not attract much
notice, and nobody even mentioned Christmas
Carol or Eltham, who subsequently came in
second and third. As they returned front the
important ceremonial of the paddock, we thought
the cheering came down along with them a little
more frantic than usual, and soon found out the
cause, for right in front of the procession walked,
in unassuming white hat and paleto:, his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, bowing and smiling
in response to such shouts of welcome as royalty
does not often (get when surrounded by its OUO3•
brons state Indite squadron of protecting dragoons.
Superintendent Walker rode a little behild his
Royal Highness merely to regulate the exuberance
of loyal feeling, but beyond that the Prince's escort
1, consisted of the people of England, as represented
' by the half-million or so who had been able to make
1 their way to the Derby.
11 The Prince having reached his box on the Grand
Stand, the course was cleared in the usual
form and with the usual facility by the ex-
' I perienced police, and • pause of expects-
' ition followed, only interrupted when some
gentleman knocked down his neighbour at the ropes,
or an unhappy kleptomaniac, whose complaint was
not understood by the police, was summarily
dragged off to the van. One patient who had been
caught in a violent paroxysm begged hard to lie
permitted to see the race, but his captors were
obstinate, and he disappeared through the crowd be-
; wailing his hard fate and the beta he might have
made in the most pathetic terms. As usual there
: were a great many false starts, and they must have
. told severely on the strength and spirits of the
horsey. At one time they would gallop away for
almost a third of the course, and people would
cry "They're off, they're off," but then they
would suddenly be pulled up and return leisurely
to the start. Then there would seem to be an
equine combat, horses would rear and plunge,
jockeys would swear and lash and spur
and all would be confusion. Bo long
this teazing game last that, whereas three
, was the hour fixed for the Derby race, it did
not commence in real earnest until four minutes
past four, but from thence, as every one knows, it was
an affair of only two or three minutes. At first the
horses kept well together, then a white jacket was
seen to lead, and subsequently Breadalbane's rose
colour came to the front. There was some doubt
,as to who might win up to the corner, but from
that point Gladiateur had it all his own way. He
came past the winning post in a canter, the whole
ruck of his competitors following at • respectful
distance, and when it was over be looked as if be
could have won the race over again, so little did be
seem fatigued by his exertions.
When the race was ended, the winners had got
through their usual Terpsychorean achievements,
and the losers had all thoroughly wiped their
foreheads, and relieved their minds by a liberal
allowance of swearing, the crowd broke into the
ring, the Frenchmen conspicuously in front, and
1 all swarming round proud and conquering Gladia-
teur, to convince him by their praises that nothing
succeeds like success. Probably such a spectacle
was never seen before, even on Epsom Downs. The
whole space which so lately had been a bare green
sward, and which had hardly ceased quivering
under the tramp of the racers, was now filled with
moving humanity and much-admired horseflesh.
Gladiateur in the front, surrounded by his delighted
countrymen, trod along, slowly and with majestic
peoe, escorted by mounted police, and followed by
thousands who cheered him to the echo ; then, at
intervals, came Christmas Carol and Eltbam, and,
finally, the ruck, distinguishable by the bright
jackets of the jockeys, as they surged through the
crowd, and made for the grand stand. It was the
final scene of the Derby ; in a few minutes the
crowd had migrated from the course to the booths,
and in another few minutes the vast majority were
making, as best they could, their way back to
London.

The chronicle of this year's Derby IOOOI4IIA fact
unique in the history of Epsom Downie. A French
horse ham won the blue ribbon of the turf, and
Breech sporting men will carry off all the money
for which thesuoble racers have so eagerly striven.
The historian whose painful duty it will be to
describe the astounding event for the benefit of
futurity must also add that ou the whole it was
witnessed by the traditionally surly islanders with
extraurdiusry equanimity. Indeed, we may go
further, and say that the not inconsiderable section
of them who won upon the stranger overflowed
with cosmopolitan seutiment and universal philan-
thropy. With them Gladiateur was the pink
of horses, and his countrymen might claim
the same colour in the roll of nature's
nobility. "Mormon was • " nobby fellow"
after all, and "We hope he'll come again," were
expressions often uttered, and if any one added
that he bad won a fifty or a hundred on the event,
nobody was so ill-natured as to suppose that such a
vulgar accessory was n to give solidity to
the entente cordiale. Imaity, however, obliges
Wto add that with the the matter did not
quite so much wear the couleur de rose. There
was in more than one retired corner dreadful
shaking of hands after the race, scattered remarks
bout foreigners coming over and swallowing up
everything, even ills:1111d the beer—for the
Freachmen are awfully fond of Allamp—and one
er two rather malignant expressions that Epsoea
wasn't—well, no matter what it wasn't—if the
grumblers bad won, it would have been set down
as Magenta or golferino. Whichever way we
take it, the result was very remarkable, but
more likely to be salutary than anything else, as it
will have snore effect in making our breeders look
to their cattle than all the speeches General Peel
could make iu parliament, or all the letters Admiral
Rous could write to the newspapers.
The weather was splendidly adapted to the oc-
casion. A brown day, free from sun and nearly free
from dust, with the clouds wearing such a placid
expreseion of countenance, as convinced the
weather veers that they meant not to come down
in rain until they had seen the race. The road was
fuller than ever had been known, even in the days
when railways were not, and such a pilgrimage
moved incessantly along it, that one would have
imagined a new Mormon settlement was on the
point of formation somewhere beyond Clapham.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
was an early traveller by this route, and
seemed to admire the " infinite variety" of
the Derby procession as moth as the humblest of
his countrymen. As • fact showing how much the
patronage of royalty brought the old ways into
fashion this year it may be mentioned that one
omnibus proprietor prepared twenty-four four-horse
vehicles for the occasion, and that every place was
taken at 15s. a-head on Saturday last. But it
must not be supposed that this diminished the
railway traffic—not a bit of it—people were more
crushed at the platform than ever, the carriages
were made to hold more passengers than ever, and
the trains took longer than ever in getting from
London to the course ; and this not because there
Was less efficiency in the railway work, but because
there were infinitely more people to be accommo-
dated. A fellow-traveller of ours said in a reusing
way, " The Derby grows bigger every year, and
Lord Palmerston must do something," the speaker's
ultimate conviction evident] y being that it was only
necessary for our venerable Prime Minister to take
the matter in hand to enable any one that was so
minded to get to the Downs in half an hour without
having antlered the slightest pressure or inoonveni-
mice in the meantime. It certainly was a state of
things requiring resignation, not to speak of strength
of nerve, especially for those who had any knowledge
of railway signals. So blocked up was the line
that the train bad to stop every two minutes or so,
the engine screaming all the while in the dismallest
manner, and the look-out men waving their danger
signals frantically on every side. It was in this
horly-burly, however, that our safety lay, and
the precaution that was everywhere observable was
most creditable to Mr. Slight and his numerous
staff. As a matter of fact, every one got to the
ground in safety, and most,we trust, in time to see
the race, but those who were not PO fortunate had
only to drop into any of the booths in the neigh-
bourhood of the Grand Stand, and they would obtain
more vivid descriptive pictures than anything they
themselves could have oonjured up by actual ob-
servation. Those who wished to arrive early took
tickets at London-bridge for the line to the course,
and then jumped into the carriages for the turn,
upon which there was no rush, and when they bad
reached the platform jumped into the carriage next I
the engine, which was not generally popular, but j
which was an admirable position for a representative (rani[ ooh SPORTING coanserommirr.l
of the press as he was when there sure to have the
first intimation of an explosion, and to be early on As usual, there were some tedious " blocks"
the ground should there happen to be a collision at the toll gates end bars, and the cedlector required
with any obstruction ahead. I some equanimity to submit calmly to the satirical plea-
Having started at 12, we got to the station at outdo' in which he was playfully reminded of a Folding
whiob the tickets were collected at 2, when one of reform whisk was to "pat him dove" by act of paaliameot.
the passengers, in a horridly sarcastic manner, Several spills were chronicled, tb• mast ludicrous of which
asked, "Who's the winner To which the offended a was between Mitcham and Batton, whore an eaneibue eel-
°tidal replied, " You'll know soon enough." And lapesd like • peek of cards, the roof falling sad the sides
his words were prophetic, for the inviduous party I falling out. and Davis; nothing but the flooring and four
was one of those franoophobista who had bet wheels. Allbriegh no cos was hurt beyond • few serener
heavily against Gladiatear. We hod thence a nice sad braises, two robust ladies insisted upon going through
run down, doing the last four miles easily in about the feminine female of fainting, and being restored by •
twenty-five minutes, although it must be confessed white esnmenad from a stogie bottle, pound into
the tired engine looked dreadfully blown with its • wins glass which, like Donate, bad lest its foot-
extraordinary effort when we at last reached the A strife smash occurred in the approach to Epsom, through
station. The By-drivers bad been raising their the wilful determination of three mu in • light earl
prices as each successive train arrived, and now had to take • narrow out Weise two vans. The
everything their own way. Whoever wished to occupants of the light cart were thrown out with hotness*
see that day's Derby must submit, and as a result violence, sad two Will fearfully cut and disfigured,
they all filled at once, and reaped a golden bar- end time takes late one of the outage gardens at the road-
vest. On arriving at the Grand Stand we found aide in Zest-strut, were they received very hied Westin,
the usual Arab encampment in the rear, experienced bat it was found Demme" for them to proceed for surgical
the usual polite attentions from the gentlemen emietetes The steep hill leading to the Downs co the
with the clothes brushes, and took the usual Km tit &pealed sad Settee was a sore trial to moms of
hustling in making our way to the front. The the mails, many of whom suddenly exhibited strong pria.
Grand Stand—all the stands were crowded to the angel of iedepsedeuce, and retailing to go forwards were 11
root, and the prices bad been generally raised, "on also squally obstinate on the subject of making
account of the Prinoe of Wales," as our check- a retrograde movement. After considerable patience
taker apologetically informed us. The Prince was and a,„„„tuam, exertiose is "shoving cep
there, that is certain, and had a glorious reception ; the distressed animals contrived to crawl to Tat-
but his Royal Highness could hardly have taken up mobam Cesar, sad bad "idiot', termed that ewe
so much MOM as to cause this extraordinary pees- apiaima au the subject of Derhy.det enjoyments.
sure all over the course. Superintendent Walker ! mote muting upon the mere beim.. dem& of the
was also present in the body, clearing everything day, we may remark that the weird on the Dowse
before him, andpersuading theperaons whobad taken a, as great as on say farmer sem„„my, the be„
up the most comfortable inside places that it was imam mum of people alaateb og as both sides of the
for their own good as well as that of the public that comes far beyond Tattenham Corner, the variety al hoes
they should vacate the circle as speedily as possible. in the eostueses, the intersectioes of blue veils sad whits
We bad registered • vow not to mention the Derby- haw, paaaamiag a mot extraordinary enemas, as the
dog this year but the splendid running fight which crowd swarmed towards the Grand Stead, taking the usual ,
► canine individual of unassuming appearance • preenstati• of hepatica prior, to the Ant Dues. Asy sir
sustained against two mounted men of the A surpar.a the mu*y banes and ft tt ady
division amid the shouts of 200,000 people justifies thoss who hue., boss t whom fay roam the pk,
us in relapsing for a moment into the conventional. tummies.. of mot =wt. so.. pity, who. so scab
It is customary to look upon the Derby gathering tin, dm.' to owe see, lower mime, thempegme,
a nearly the greatest merrymaking in the world, ea,. bating. and bums( the odds win., the m.o.*
but the ludicrous rose into the sublime in the spec- Ths Goad !maw and the general sad lane
rms. wee I
teals that pretreated itself to the wondering spec-
mod, and we tot attempt to mom% a tit el the I
later the moment be had obtained a position from „hi,. thew mom
'which he could survey the whole course. People, maid aaaap, a acea1,;,771-0,, —ln site raadassa
people, everywhere ; in the stands, which were mecum— ef the Ream -peen sad leighar
drowded to suffocation ; at the rails, where they tire Awirsubly could be noted, and there wee
fought and struggled and scramb'eti for breathing a tremendous dionociatittios of Frenchmen, who
room ; and in the apace which the course encircles lead 'me tot __,_E.1111141401 et.Purthasserem °mut.:
like an emerald girdle, and where a pin might be umarsaa.moray 47.L0m if maw j,.ag ahead Rpm= fat
dropped among the bonen beads and never reach dm km time. wore is as efferameeet medicos of emit..
the ground. Bad Xerxes been there he would meet, sod not • Betio bewildered at • segos which has as,
have wept a pailful, but neither he nor any of his parallel on the Ccintinett. The avenues in the rear at Um
family was at the Derby. With the vast crowd the stands were th-nt leleaseibilniabiasiemeda°l21at
present was everything, the Estero nothing, always ira* twaiatim ortho:shme soasse tty.."'hsiTts 6.;72
excepting those who bad beta on the race, and who Gladsome and Duodenal's, the layer of the edam sou
formed a very small per onstage indeed of the great okapi*, that °Wile( but the favourites ware braked, sot-
holiday gathering. It was a great pralinnuary wititeteediee their "Pdetted of the oeWdare.
sight when the royal procession of peerless horses eP Ceti" Le/ atanalne mom matkatorelb* Rued ff.
all kinds of uhkdse cuMnted to entre as tie Drus,
Set off for the Paddock. We could tell the the =derby be of the earalems vaa oder, red whom
likvenrites without looking at the surd by the alma ma.o.iaoany "hot seats.,' „me to the km
hundreds who=iottely and admiringly followed sad moms trip ham Leads*. The Penes orWalea, weep
their train. Them bad a numerous ohm, as Pow, the peke Ceedtvldra sea the Dohs di Mal
!ammo a highlander of Ms eminence, but wise . Idf......"mtiarmabev.,,B"Rld_sbeesadt
people objected to his cleenst colour, as indieating Roo.' ifirZhowo n'tioo,„,rdod ;rd. sod"'"'dol.'Y'C'''wtase we'
weakness, and his rather large knees as sot Lodi- , tot esddtisg .1 the sompolikem. Keck mod
eating speed. But for Ghdeltr; whe VMS that eteeted icy the sepearmes or the Mon is Hsai
looked the eeltquertr, Skews wall OM universal •°Le !!!_v_ 14, fad matbet" the lelesee, hit ado
Amnia of admiration : • auk bay lime of peat
' 674;ii. sod Mas
ss was maw
staters aad • preemies, law. meek, coma lictha mass AO* ,ameleadele
bead& .41 !W'! fin 4 see tied. skier' ,gab maw 4e.
• . - . • • • ..