The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-11 00:00:00

THE RACE Pali THE DERBY,

(From the Saturday Review).
It is curiotts to remark that the calculations which guide
the betting on this great race are almost always justified
by the result to a very considerable extent, but not entirely.
After all, if bets are to be made, the safest way to make them
is to observe and compare the public running of the horses.
But neither this nor any other method can attain certainty.
There is always something turning up which has not been,
and perhaps could not be foreseen, and thus the whole bet-
ting scheme gets disarranged. Thus, in looking forward to
last week's great event, it was concluded with something
like confidence that the Marquis could beat again the horses
which he had beaten at Newmarket, and with less confi-
dence, although not ttnreasonably, that he could beat Buck-
stone. Now, the se conclusions -Were justified to the very letter,
but then it happened that there existed among the more ob-
scure competitors for the prize a horso of undeveloped power
called Caractacus, who managed to beat the horses that had
been theoretically or practically demonstrated to be able to
beat all the rest. It was just the same last autumn in the
St. Leger. It had been said before that race that Kettle-
drum could beat all his known competitors, and he was
backed accordingly. He did beat them all, but he met an
unknown competitor whom he could not beat, and thus his
backers lost their money. The wonder is, not that the cal-
culations of the turf fail, but rather that they succeed. A neck,
or even a length, seems a very small difference upon a race
of a mile or two, and yet it suffices to mark a superiority in
the winning over the losing horse, slight, indeed, but gene-
rally adequate as a guide to the probabilities of future con-
tests. - _ _ _ _

Before entering on any description either of the compe-
titors or of the race, it is really a matter of duty to say a
word on an annoyance which disturbs the view of it. The
Grand Stand at Epsom is a positive disgrace to•the pro-
prietors who own and to the public which is content to oc-
cupy it. The access to the roof is by two narrow dark
staircases, up which people struggle, squeeze, and almost
choke. All round the mouths of these obscure conduit-
pipes the roof gets packed as closely as It can be, while to-
wards the top and sides everybody is sitting comfortably,
and the ladies with duly extended rebes. There is no
power to compel a more equitable distribution of the space,
and although it is known or suspected that there is
plenty of sitting or at least standing room still vavant, It be-
comes impossible, nearly so, to struggle through the dense
masses amid which the new-comers are disgorged from out
of the thronged and stifling passages. The accommodation
is inadequate, and it is managed as badly as it can be. The
more the railway and other facilities for reaching Epsom
are improved the more monstrous and intolerable becomes
this nuisance of the stand. The revenue derived from the
stand must be enormous, and might be considerably in-
creased if the getting and keeping a place upon it were
made less of a severe physical effort than it is. No doubt
those who come early are not disturbed, but it is impossible
for everybody to be first. Those who may have had busi-
ness elsewhere, but have paid for and struggled into places,
have a right to complain if a fresh onslaught is made from
the staircases upon their position at the very moment when
attention is absorbed in the horses which are cantering

down the course.
The state of the Grand Stand being such as to extort
from us the above protest, it may be conceived that the race
would be viewed from it under afflicting and distracting
circumstances. But before the race begins, let us take
our ease and make our observations in the paddock, which,
after all, is the most satisfactory place for those who go to
Epsom to see horses. On entering this repertory of equine
loveliness, the first horse that attracted our attention was
Neptunus, who, if beauty alone eould win a race, would
certainly not have lost the Derby. Nor was beauty his only
ground of claim to public confidence. His two-year-old
performances had been very good, and included a dead heat
with the redoubted Marquis. His perfect condition, glossy
dark-brown coat, light springy tread, and beautifully set •
on head and neck, made him a perfect picture of a racehorse,
but unfortunately rather in miniature. "Do you like him
better than Marquis ?" asked a bystander of a veteran racing
man. " Yes, for a park hack, but not to win the Derby,"
was the reply. The next to come under our observation
was Lord Stamford's Ensign. This was a tall handsome
horse, light and weedy. Speed he no doubt has; but the
Derby course is too severe for one of his build. He was sound
however, and in excellent condition ; and it seemed the
general opinion that he would beat more than beat him. A
general rush to the other aide of the paddock took place on
the entrance of John Scott's lot. There they were—,five
beauties, each surrounded by an admiring crowd. To look
at them, it seemed likely that even if the Marquis should
not win, the chances of the Whitewall stable would not be
bad. Ace of Clubs, a strong chestnut with a white face,

•
and a look of sedateness and wisdom beyond his years,

led the way. Then came thb Marquis, accompanied by
his particular henchman, James Perren, who openly ex-
pressed his confidence in the favourite's success. The
Marquis wore, as at Newmarket, blinkers and a sort of
hood, and his condition was as perfect, and his temper as
serene, as when he carried off the Two Thousand Guineas.
There followed close behind him Welcome, Malek, and
Vanguard. Why none of these horses were uneasy or frac-
tious, or had a superfluous ounce of flesh upon them, or ap-
peared too fine 'drawn or overworked, is a secret of the
Whitewall stable. Unwillingly turning our eyes away from
these five northern miracles, we looked at Sir Joseph Haw-
ley's pair, Argonaut and St. Alexis. It was impossible not
to call to mind the last Great Exhibitien year, when, on
nearly the same spot, we saw Teddington and The Ban under
the same cherry colour and black, prepared for the great
race and secure of victory. This year, however, the case
was different, for neither of these horses seemed properly

prepared. Argonaut, it must be owned, is a splendid

horse, but as Wells adjusted his saddle he kept up an un-
dignified whinnying and prancing, as if he did not rightly
appreciate the importance of the coming struggle. The
ineffaceable marks of the firing-irons on his legs showed
also that his youth had nat been altogether joyous. As
Lord Uxbridge had withdrawn Laughing Stock from the
race, St. Alexis had the advantage of being guided by
Rogers. But no jockey can win a race all by himself,
although they frequently contrive to lose them. We
thought, as we turned away from them, that the Marquis
had little to fear in that quarter, although it was reported
that Sir Joseph Hawley, who always knows what he is
about, had backed Argonaut for a large sum. Baron
Rothschild, being disappointed in Wingravo, who failed
utterly at Newmarket, now brought out Norroy, not
gaining much by the change. The horse, however,
made himself conspicuous by refusing to canter, and
showing an inclination to get into the Grand Stand
and watch the race from thence. Buckstone seemed
to us to deserve all the praise that had been bestowed
upon him, for he looked a Derby horse all over. He was
preceded into the course by the Knave, whom we thought
most appropriately named. He is a ewe-necked, ragged-
looking little horse, but with good substance, and excellent
quarters. As he was never intended to win the race, but only
to make running for Buckstone, it may be supposed he did all
that was required of him, for he would get off well and
quickly, where a large horse like Buckstone might find consi-
derable difficulty in making a start among a numerous field
of horses. We were not so discerning or so lucky as to recog-
nise the merits of Caractacus in the paddock, although
afterwards his cantering struck our fancy, and caused us to
note him as a horse to be looked after when the struggle
came. As his owner, trainer, and jockey were all equally
obscure, he received in the paddock much the same sort of
treatment as undiscovered merit does elsewhere in the
world. There were two other horses which we did particu-
larly observe, and we did so for the purpose of inquiring
why such crippled brutes were started for this great race.
Neither Gemse nor Maharajah could walk, and they did not
look as if they could gallop. It is too bad, considering
the difficulty of starting a large field, to encumber the
ground with animals which would be more in their places
in a knacker's yard.

Compared with noisy hill and Babel-like Grand Stand,
the paddock is a quiet, pleasant spot. Not that there is
any lack of anxiety or excitement within that enclosure;
but the majority of those who enter it come on business,
and use their eyes rather than their mouths. In the pad-
dock, backers of horses made up their minds at the last
moment whether or not to hedge their money, and owners
and trainers give their last secret orders to the jockeys.
Some idlers and sight-seers of course there are, and some-
times they do not carry away with them the most authentic
information on the all-important topic of the day. There
was, for example, an outside horse, called, we believe,
Ashford, who, without any other claim to notice, excited
great curiosity because he wore blinkers. lie was followed
by a large crowd of people under the impression that they
were looking at the Marquis, while the boy who led the
horse took particular care not to undeceive them. If the
Marquis had won the race, his backers ought to have re-
warded that boy liberally.
And now the horses have left the paddock and are taking
their canters past the stand. The Marquis goes beautifully
and looks the fiery perfection of a racehorse. Buckstone,
too, is admirable, and Caractacus compels us to take notice
to whom the light blue jacket and white cap belong. Argo-
naut will not do at all, although Wells sits him faultlessly.
After the Marquis has gone up the course there is some de-
lay in his return, and we begin to fear an outbreak of his
dreaded temper. But soon he comes swiftly and smoothly
over the turf, accompanied by the steady-going Ace of
Clubs, whose example may have a pacifying effect. The
31 horses enter once more into the paddock, and soon
emerge on the other side and take their places for the first
effort at a start. This effort has to be five times repeated
before the horses can be got off, and even then two or
three are 'eft behind, As 00911 as the hill is mounted, the

Marquis and Argonaut show well in front. Then the Mar-
quis comes away with a clear lead. It is seen that either he
cannot be held or his jockey is playing the dangerous game
of trying to cut down a large field. We asked ourselve4 •
whether even such a horse as that could venture thus to
expend the power which would be needed for the final
struggle, and experience forbad tig hoping that he could.
Between hope and fear, but much nearer to fear than hope,
we watchel the horses round that dreadihl corner. The Mar •
quis is still as full as he can be of running', but it is not yet
that the pinch comes. However, the pace has had the de-
sired effect, and the question almost is whether' anything
will live long enough to challenge Marquis. There is Buck-
stone just upon the same line in which Mr. Merry's
horses
ran last year and the year before, and there is that .11orsa
which made us look at him as he cantered. Bucks toile,
however, is already beaten, although he still runs gamey.
The obscure horse comes up on the Marquis's whip-hand',,
and now is the time to wish for a particle of that energy'
which was expended in cutting down the field. Ashman
calls upon his horse, who is not of the sort to need calling
on. He struggles as hard as a horse can, but it will not
do. Caractacus beats him by a neck, while Buckstone runs
without opposition into the third place. The beautiinl
Neptunus and another horse came next, and all the rest
were nowhere.
The opinion generally entertained by those who observed
the Marquis's performance at Newmarket was amply jus-
tified by his running for the Derby, although he had not L'he
luck to win the race, The horse is a thorough good one,
and, amid-the uncertainties of the turf, there could be
nothing nearer certainty than to stand to win upon the
Marquis. This was our opinion before the race, and if the
race could have been run again next day we should st`ilt
have backed the Marquis, with the proviso, however, that;
he should be ridden more judiciously. If the Marquis could
have been spared a little in the early part of the race we do
not think he could possibly have been defeated. His failure
must be attributed to undue eagerness, either in the
horse or jockey. No doubt he made awful havoc of
the field, for although Buckstone ran into the third place,
he had no chance of being either first or second; and
the remaining 31 horses might as well have been in their
stables eating oats. The Marquis had so exhausted him-
self that, although he struggled unflinchingly to the last, he
was just beaten by a fresher horse, and thus the honour of
the Derby was snatched from him in the last few yards.
But those who watched his running from start to
finish know that his owner has in him one of the most
valuable horses of the year. If the Marquis were to be sold
by auction at Tattersall's on Monday, it would be seen
how little his character as a racehorse has suffered by his
defeat at Epsom. It is certain that be is full of pluck; and
in this respect he differs from .the Wizard, who, like him,
won the Guineas and afterwards ran second for the Derby.
The Wizard has employed the intervening two years in
establishing a reputation for shutting up whenever a rival
fairly collars him. But we do not think there is a soft
spot about the Marquis.