The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-23 00:00:00

EPSOM RACES.

The morning, early yesterday, appeared uniformly
and thickly overcast with clouds, and a few large
drops of rain falling as we were about to leave
London gave indications of a wet day. Getting clear
of the metropolis, about nine o'clock the clouds began
lazily to disperse, making room for the appearance of
the sun, which shone pleasantly for intervals during
the greater part of the day ; its heat being every
now and then tempered by large masses of clouds,
and by a cooling breeze. On arriving, about ten
o'clock, at. Epsom, we were informed that a large
body of police, horse and foot, had marched
through the town a short time previously, with
all the parade of regular infantry and cavalry, as if
they were going to take the race course by storm.
Arrived upon the course, we saw the aforesaid body
drawn up in military array, a little to the west of the
police station, receiving orders from mounted and
armed superintendents and inspectors, and soon after
moving off and taking up the various stations as-
signed to them in different parts of the course. These
military movements were made to carry into effect
the notice for the suppression of gambling booths,
suddenly, and in the opinion of many persons, ungra-
ciously, if not unjustly, issued by the Police Corn-
missioners on Monday night. The issuing of the
notice alluded to took place without consulting on
the matter the local magistrates of Epsom, who
for thirty years have managed to keep in order
the vast assembly of persons drawn together by the
Derby and Oaks, and who during that period have
discharged their functions in most cases successfully
for the protection of the public. To say the least of
it, those who have authorised these new regulations
have been guilty of a great breach of courtesy to-
wards the Epsom Magistrates in not making them
aware of their intentions. The feelings of the inha-
bitants respecting this last, we think we are justified
in calling it, arbitrary proceeding of the Police Com-
missioners, may be gathered from the following
memorial :

To the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Home
Department.
The Memorial of the Inhabitants of the parish of
Epsom, in the county of Surrey;
Showeth,—That your memorialists have just heard
that it is the intention of her Majesty's Government to
suppress gaming in the booths at the present races at
Epsom. That your memorialists have no desire to de-
fend gambling of any description, but they feel that the
peculiar circumstances of the present moment justify
them in addressing you on the subject of the notice
issued last night only by the Commissioners of Police.
It is notorious that, for many years past, the keeping of
gaming tables at the various races round the metropolis
has been indirectly sanctioned; and the keepers of those
places, not being apprised that a different course would
be pursued at these races, have spent large sums
in hiring the ground and fitting up places for the
entertainment of the public, and which sums have been
appropriated in making stakes for the different races now
running on Epsom Downs, and if they are not allowed to
proceed, hundreds of persons must be reduced to a state
of destitution—many having travelled from all parts of
the United Kingdom. That, bearing in mind, as your
memorialists have heard, that within the last week large
sums of money were paid in the presence of the police to
the Earl of Verulam, at Gorhambury, that a similar
practice has prevailed with the Duke of Richmond, at
Goodwood, and at Ascot, Moulsey, and other places,
your memorialists hope they may be excused for sug
gesting to you the propriety of permitting the
present races to pass over without interference, and
of giving full notice that gambling of every description
will be suppressed at future races, in which case your
petitioners would be happy to co-operate with her Ma-
jesty's Government in giving full effect to the law, but to
do so at the present moment would be a flagrant act of
injustice, and be opposed to every principle of justice and
fair-play, to which the humblest criminal is said to be
entitled.

Signed, on behalf of a meeting of the inhabitants,

JOHN-B
AILE Y, Chairman.

A deputation of the memorialists promptly-pro-
ceeded to the Home-office, and had an audience with
the Under-Secretary, Mr. Manners Sutton who told
them that the prayer of their memorial could not be
listened to, as Sir James Graham's determination to
suppress gambling on race courses was irrevocable.
It is useful, though at the eleventh hour, to know
this, since the keepers of gambling booths will for the
future know what what they have to expect, and be
enabled to avoid the consequences of the sharp prac-
tice on the part of the police, by which they have
been such severe sufferers at Epsom.
Possibly, we have seen more crowded meet-
ings to see the Derby run than that of yester-
day, yet for all the purposes of gratifying the eye
with a multifarious variety of specimens of huma-
nity, from the peer to the peasant, the immense
assemblage of yesterday must be deemed suf-
ficient. Until about 12 o'clock the arrivals were
comparatively few, and they chiefly, consisted of per-
sons who had performed the greater part of the jour-
ney by the London and Croydon, and the Southamp-
ton Railways, which ran, the latter to Kingston, and
the former to the " Stoat's Nest". station, every 20
minutes, first starting at half-past seven in the
morning, mid bringing each journey, on an average,
300 persons, who had to make their way to the course
by all Sorts of conveyances, many preferring the sure
and steady locomotion which nature bestowed upon
them. From noon to two o'clock, all the roads open-
ing on the course kept pouring in an incessant stream
of visitors, in every species of carriage, from the aristo -
cratic four-in-hand to the heavy, surcharged, plebeian
van. At the latter hour, taking a bird's-eye view of the
course, it might be seen thronged inside the ropes
with a moving multitude of each sex, from the win-
ning-post to Tattenham Corner. Outside the ropes,
all along each side of the course for the space just
indicated, were the usual double and triple files of
carriages, occupied chiefly by the fairer and better
part of the creation. The side of the hill, just beyond
that part of the course opposite to the Grand Stand,
had a very lively appearance, crowned, as it was, with
a dense mass of dashing equipages and animated occu-
pants. The Grand Stand, from portico to roof, was
well filled with rank and fashion.

The instant the bell rang for the clearing of the
course, all persons upon it retired promptly, and, we
might say, spontaneously, without any interference
on the part of the police, who had not the slightest
trouble in keeping the course perfectly clear, the vast
concourse of people settling themselves down quietly
where they might best see the race. The unfortunate
persons who had hired and paid for ground for their
gambling booths, did not create any disturbance ; and
we have heard that the reason they did not was, not
so much from fear or deference for the police, as re-
spect for the local magistrates; their conduct yester-
day has created sympathy in many quarters on their
behalf; and we have heard persons of high standing
and influence in society deprecate the treatment
they have received. After the usual notes of pre •
partition, the spectators on the Grand Stand, and in
the vicinity of the winning post, were made aware,
by the cloud of horsemen that were to be seen issuing
from behind Sir G. Heathcote's stable, and careering
at full speed across towards Tattenham-corner, that
the start had taken place, and that the exciting con-
test was begun. From the spots just mentioned the
competing horses were first seen in a body as they
passed the betting-ring on the hill. They were then
invisible for a few moments, when they were seen
again rounding the corner in gallant style. In an
instant afterwards, as they were crossing the road
that intersects the course a little westward of Tatten-
ham-corner, riders and all were enveloped in a cloud
of dust; emerging from which the race began in
earnest—that is, a struggle was made to catch the
rider in white, who for some time was having it all
his own way, but in vain. Running Rein maintained
his lead, and won easily by nearly a length. Thus the
two favourites, who ran so closely to each other in the
betting circles, and who stood for so long a time in
public estimation at so extraordinary a distance from
their compeers, were most disgracefully beaten. Ugly
Buck by four horses, and Ratan by six ! So much for
the judgment of the initiated. Running Rein will not
be allowed to wear his honours quietly, Colonel Peel
having claimed the race for Orlando. The matter in
the first instance will be brought before the Stewards,
but the general opinion at present is that the race will
have to be run over again—in the narrow precincts of
Westminster-hall. We will now detail the amuse-
ments of the day.