The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-12 00:00:00

(ram ova sroanao oonlikaroNDENT.)

None of the characteristics of the Cup-day were want-
ing on the royal heath this afternoon. Brilliant
weather and the pageant procession attracted the
largest attendance ever known at Ascot, and though
the principal event of the meeting was reduced to
three runners, it created the greatest interest and
excitement, from its being contested by the first three
in the Derby, affording at once a true test of the Epsom
running. The road to Ascot was extensively patronised
by Luadonere, as was also the route by way of the Great
Western Railway to Windsor, and then a drive of six
miles through a very picturesque part of Berkshire. This
avoided all the crush at Waterloo, and there was a tre-
mendous crowd from early in the morning until after
12 o'clock. The arrangements of the South Western
Company were as good se could be expected under the
cirmunttancee. The scene on the course has been so often
described that consideration forour readers deters us from
detailing the incidents ; traffics it to say the carriage com-
mnyextended from the bend out of the old course to far
beyond the judge's chair, and in brilliancy it never was
exceeded, all the leading families of the neighbourhood
being represented. Within the royal enclosure the scene
was one of unparalleled beauty, the fair sex making a
most charming (Sepia y The royal party arrived shortly
before half-past one o clock, in five carriages. The Prin-
cess of Wales *Fein accompanied the Prince, and the royal
party was precisely the same as on Tuesday, excepting that
Lady Binghath occupied a seat in the third
They were cheered all along the route from the Ntinittle
to the stand, and cordially bowed their acknowledge-
ments. The Princess was heartily cheered when she ap-
peared at the window of the Queen's Stand with the
Prince and the Crown Prince of Denmark. As intimated,
the weather was gloriously flue until after the
decision of the Gold Cup, when the clouds
became overcast, and there were a few drops
of rain, on the appearance of which a moat
amusing scene took place. Everybody was, of
course, covered with dust, and when the rain began to
fall there was a general display of cambric handkerchiefs,
and for a few minutes the general occupation was hat-
wiping. Fortunately . the rain did not continue, nor
was it of sufficient weight to lay the dust. Racing com-
menced at half-past one with the 1001. Plate, which fell to
Madame Wright, who upset a great pot in Fakir • indeed
the ill-luck which had attended the backers on the iwo pre-
vious days did not leave them in their opening venture to.
day. The representative of the French stable, Neluako,
was fancied in preference to See Saw, Ironmaster, and
Tympanum, but again were the " talent" out of it,
as See Saw won cleverly by half a length from
the favourite, the non-staying Ironmaster finishing
in front of Tympanum, who it is now evident will
not turn out another Ely for Mr. Cartwright. The next
event was the race of the day, the Gold Cup, which, how-
ever, only produced three runners, and by a singular
coincidence, they were the first three in the Derby—Blue
Gown, King Alfred, and Speculum, Julius, who was one
of the post entries (Blue Gown and King Alfred being
the other two), was withdrawn, as was also Achievemen
the latter baying been struck out at half-past seven the
previous evening. Considerable excitement prevailed in the
paddock, where the throe were put through their toilettes ;
after which they were paraded In the royal stand. Specu-
lum and King Alfred looked the picture of condition, as
did also Blue Gown, but his style of going did not please
the "talent," who thought he went rather short in his
"preliminary," but when he got warmed down to the
work, he went all right over the ground, which was fear-
fully hard. Of course, the Derby winner was the
favourite, odds of 6 to 4 being laid on him, whiled
King Alfred was backed at a point lees than the iuke of
Newcastle's horse. The latter was ridden by Kenyone who
whenhad been engaged to ride The Earl, but when latter
was scratched he was enabled to ride for the Duke of New-
castle, as be did in the Derby. Cameron had a special re-
tainer for Blue Gown, and Peeks, who rode King Alfred
at Epeom in the Craven Stakes, steered "the King" to-
dey. Blue Gown took up the running a little over a
quarter of a mile from home, and having his op-
ponents settled within the straight, won in a canter
by four lengths, Speculum reversing the Derby
running by defeating King Alfred by a couple
of lengths. The race was supposed to test the
truthfulness of the Derby running, which it undoubtedly
mid we shall probably hear no moro•about Norman s
wild riding of Ring Alfred in the Derby. Sir Joseph
Hawley has won the Gold Cup three times—with Asteroid,
Teddington, and Blue Gown, bat on no previous occasion
has the Derby winner won this valuable prise as a three.
year-old. The Gold Cup will form an appropriate com-
panion to the Hunt Cup, which Sir Joseph won by the aid
of Satyr. The New Stakes produced undoubtedly the
best field of two-year-olds we have sera out this year,
and the winner, Balladrum, a colt by Stock-
well, from Catherine Hayes, was at once installed
the favourite for next year's Derby at 9to 1. The field
comprised the Vertumna colt, the IMOMfXlift filly, the Her-
mime colt, Idasaniello, the Crucifixion colt, and a host of
other& Balladrum was the favourite, and Fordham
landed him very deftly indeed from the Vertumna colt.
Laneret, the favourite for the All-aged Stakes, landed
that event much to the delight of the backers, who
landed a good stake. The Earl had seine difficulty in
beating Restitution for the St. James's Palace Stakes, and
it was entirely owing to Fordham's fine riding that the
Daneby colt won. Particulars of the day's sport are
appended:

A PLAT" of 100 eon. for maim hones that ham never received
100 sots. u second, 3-yr-olds and upwards; pmaMos and allow.
meg" •, winner to be *old for MD son. dirMley Course.
Mr. T. Golbes Madame Wright, by Votrode— Lady, 5
list
(Ferdberni
(mint Batt imrs Marken, 3 yaw, est 7lb 'Monis t
ter &mph Marrs Fakir, 4 re, est J. Adams t
Mr. naviles f by Iddratither—Vertumns, 3 yrs, tut Mb
t Maidineat) 0
Mr. Jos. Thivisco's Guy of Warwick, 4 yrs, Mit (T. Preach) 0
Betting kern on Fakir, sto I each agat Parlous and Madame
Wright 0 to 1 age Owy of Warwick, and too to 15 mat Vertaunna
filly. Furious jumped away in front, but to a few strides wee
way to Madame who we at down the hill with sales, Mad
of Furious, who was fuUswed by Fakir and Gay of Warwick Ms
rturnna 0117 bringing up the nwr until oliching the &Finley
mile. Mae Guy of Warwick drew up to Fakir, and the pair
laced ride by side just in the rem of POMO. No notetwoothy
cLamic occurred until rocking the rails poet, where the lot took
elt.e older. Madame Wright, however, entered the straight wftk
a slight kid ; Fakir immediately whoa in the hoe far hafts
ditivd leek, sliyhtly sod (iii y of Wai wick mid Furioue mule in
Forma of the mare ; but ;both were in diScaltieg at, the com-
mencement of the Rind enclosure. Fakir mining mg ein got. on
Ind tams with Furious, and-the pair ran a dcsd heat for *mond
*we, three-quarters of a length in rear el Madame Wright,
V. manna was km*, a Mod only in advance of Guy of War-
w. ick, last. The winner was eat claimed.

Ett'UND YY.Alor Tnr Elm. licw AIEnNIAL STARK% of 15 MVP.
eat+, I(4t, with 160 added for three and iota-1 r oldie ;
cod allowomera. &quad to reedy* 60 sore. oat of the stakes.
OM wale. tan rata )
Lord Wiltcrea &e RIM, by Biggar*, r—Maryoy flaw, 3
rr. Virt Clallowir) I
nand Lagrange', Nebula, S yrr, Tat 91b
rraditamr, bownintel, 14.4 416 . ,Slement s
lir. W. It.l'altwiighgleryntpanota, dr. 7lb ',''amz•ros 4
Betting : 6 to 4 fagot lielualto, t: tot apt Ace Haw, NO to al avat
7)0 !wavy., aml 20 to I spa Irunnurater. Scluako mods play with• alight lead of See Saw, who woo followed by Iloanouter, Tym-
panum bringing op tbc raw. Shia ardor they ran laddan
gle, separated by interval. of about a length, till teliching the
brick kibia, where the bead cram taken by Tympanum, See Saw
icing on sexed, sad awmeakil Thissimm. Withla the