The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-23 00:00:00

(111051 GU& SPORTING CORREsPONDENT.)

Snow on the Derby Day' Since Bloomsbury's
year (Isan there has been no such visitation, and not-
withstanding the extraordinary vicissitudes of the weather
recently, the descent created the greatest astonishment,
exemplifying the often repeated quotation of Campbell—
" Winter lingering chills the lap of May." The morning
opened brilliantly tine, giving no indication of the stored.
nese which afterwards succeeded, but a couple of hours
before noon alight sleet fell, and even this was remarked
upon with so much emphasis, that it was apparent that
the Hermit's year was already registered alongside that of
1839. when the snow had to be swept from the Derby
Course as far as from Tattenham Corner. The sur-
prising change which took place at noon was
still more remarkable, as a dark cloud gathered
over the town, and the visitors by road came in a moat
anomalous manner, their summer clothes and conventional
suits being plentifully sprinkled with snow, which, while
it lasted, brought back the recollection of the severest days
of the late winter. The idlers of the town at once beat a
retreat into yards and under shop awnings, and stared
with as much astonishment as a child dues at the trans-
formation scene at its "first pantomime." Even one re-
solute Londoner, who heal come down evidently bent on
the usual wild enjoyment of the Derby Day, absolutely
wished himself back in London. The influx of visitors
commenced almost at daybreak, and the customary revelry
seemed to have been engendered en route, but they
were, if anything, of a more humorous and ex-
traordinary description than on previous anniver-
saries, combining all the customary grotesque de-
corations and extravagant fripperies. False noses and
red whiskers, with scarlet beaver bats, seemed more in
vogue than ever, and there was the samo fixed determi-
nation for enjoyment carried even to a reckless extent.
In London during the early morning the scene was of the
customary animated character, the preparations for the
journey by road occupying the attention of the intending
passengers as well as those who were of necessity corn-
pellet to adhere themselves to business applications " in ,
the City." It may be premised here that the attendance
altogether was one of the smallest witnessed for I
some years, many doubtless being deterred by the
cold and wet from making the annual excursion
into Surrey. The failure of several of the favourites, and
the apparently forlorn prospect of the cracks, destroyed •
great deal of the interest that would otherwise have cen-
tered
in the race. Country gentlemen and others had been
so extremely unfortunate over the contest in • betting
sense that in the minds of many the great race was regarded
with indifference, and something which without much
exaggeration might have been designated disgust. The
fluctuations in the market, as our readers are well
aware, were of an extraordinary description, anti
curiously enough the two sensation or " sanguinary"
representatives were Hermit and The Rake, one of
whom, a fallen favourite unheeded and unhonoured,
beat all the ostentatiously paraded candidates very cleverly
indeed at the finish. while the Two Thousand winner and
Fordhain encountered the Diophantua fate, and were no II
nearerthanthird. ThePerby day of 1867 will long be rernem-
bered by all turfmen, not only by reason of the astounding
vicissitudes in the betting, but for the triumph of " poor
Hermit," as he was derisively called only a few days
since, when his chance seemed forlorn indeed. The air
on the Downs from noon was at times piercingly raw and
cold, and the holiday makers were suggestively silent
by the time they reached Epsom. In fact the " third
winter" evidently froze the genial current of the cockney
souL Coloured wreaths and paper decorations appeared
grimly out of place, and even the wayfarers seemed to think
so, and looked gloomy and abashed, as if conscious that for
once they had made a mistake, and satirised their own
vagaries, as provincial penny-a-liners say, "in consequence
of the inclemency of the season." Beyond all doubt the
Derby day of this year, as far as company was concerned,
was one of the most singularly dull and dispiriting on
record, and the forest of umbrellas that cropped up in
ivory direction showed that the visitors had sensibly
come prepared for the worst. Lea gaiety, less excitement,
and less fun was never witnessed on any Derby day, and
those who had not come well provided against the emer-
gency of the weather had cause to regret their misplaced
confidence in our variable climate. Spectators who stood
about for any time got fairly chilled, and in the saddling
paddock those waiting the arrival of the favourites buffeted
their hands for warmth, and thus accelerated the circula-
tion of their blood. The first race, the Bentinck Plate, was
set for two o'clock, and for some time previously the ceowd
had commenced to group in that characteristic manner which
suggested to Frith his national painting of " The Derby
Day." H►mpers were unpacked, and the pie-nicking,
under cheerless circumstances, became general. In no
particular was the decided decline in the attendance more
observable than at the famous " hill," where there was
one patch of green really unoccupied, and green and brown
umbrellas seemed to prevail like mushrooms. The first
race, the Bentinck Plate, as usual, like the opening piece on
Boxing-night, wasalmost totally disregarded, and was won
after a desperate finish by • heed, Jemmy Grimahaw com-
mencing his seconds for the day, for he as nearly as pos-
sible won on Salliet. The Derby was set on the " correct
card "for three o'clock, there being no fewer than thirty
left in, but No. 9, " poor Plaudit" was scratched at 10.73,
and his place was taken conveniently by Distin, who was
the only one not inserted in Dorling's list of probable
runners. The coming of the " cracks "in the meddling
paddock was eagerly anticipated, but the crowd therein
was by no means so large as on many previous occasions,
and as usual all thoughts seemed concentrated upon the
great favourites.

While the speculators were awaiting the decision of the
gre tt race, immense clouds cast their gloom ever the
Downs, and a heavy snow-storm set in, intermingled with
sleety hail, some of the flakes being as large ma sixpenny
pieces. Added to this the air was wretchedly cold and
cheerier, and the appearance of the course was a wonder.
ful contrast to former years, as crowds of people were
huddled under their umbrerin or crept under the friendly
foliage of the trees for shelter. Vauban, Uncu, and
Distin were paraded around, with young John Day and
several other Danbury attaches at their sides, monopolis-
ing almost all the attention of the spectators. Hermit
who was by himself, was almostentirely disregarded. &la
seemed to shiver with the cold. Apropos of the winner, •
few people asked, " What's that!" and when
informed it was Hermit contemptuously observed,
"Oh!" and passed on. Though the majority of the
public entirely overlooked the knocked favourite, Cap-
tain Machell (Mr. Chaplin's confederate) was quietly
giving instructions to Johnny Daley, who is one of the
most respectable jockeys of the day, and is well known as
Baron Rothacbild's second horseman, and was put on by
Captor Machell, 3001. if he were one of the first three,
and 3,0001. if he won, to which Mr. Chaplin added 5,000/.,
making in the whole 8,0001. Some changes occurred in
the jockeys for the various candidates to what were
previously put down. Hermit was one of the few
coloured on the card without any jockey, and being any-
body's mount, the fortunate but very deserving
rider John Daley tumbled into the " good thing."
In the paddock nothing looked better than the
Palmer, Vauban, Fits Ivan, and Van Aniburgh. We
may here mention that Mr. Fleming, the owner of
VanAmburgh, wee so seriously ill that he could not be pre
sent to witness his " best horse in Europe" run. The
Palmer was in superb condition, though somewhat " pea.
cocky." His party were wonderfully sanguine, and such
was the furore for the horse, that when Wells took off his
top-coat and displayed the cherry satin he was greeted
with immense cheering, an incident quite unusual at
Epsom. Many persons were present in the enclosure for
the express purpose of inspecting the fallen Rake, but he
was not in the paddock, being saddled and mounted near
Sherwood's cottage, where he has been located. Marks-
man also was saddled elsewhere. Altogether the inci-
dents prior to the start were of • very tame description
compared with former years; and though the country
stallion-looking Grand Cross occupied some attention, he
was obviously " big," and it may be mentioned as a novel
feature that over the light blue and white stripe jacket
Norman wore a black silk band on the left WIZ, in
mourning for the late Lord Exeter, the former owner of
the horse. Thirty horses went to the post, precisely the
same number as in Gladiateur's and Blair Athol's
years, and four mere than in the peat as-