The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-31 00:00:00

EPSOM RACES.

THE OAKS DAY.

The Epsom Races terminated yesterday, and, apart from the
two principal events, the sport they afforded was of indifferent
character, and the attendance, whether patrician or plebeian,
less numerous than usual.
For the inferior quality of the majority of the rases we can-
not easily account, and if we tried to do so our opinion would be
contested ; but we may safely impute the paucity of the com-
pany to the lowering appearance of the weather each morning
of the week. Few calculate, that though it may rain in town
it may be exceedingly f3ne a dozen miles distant, yet so it hap-
pened to be every day after the races execept on Thursday.
Notwithstanding we have rarely seen the Oaks run for with
fewer spectators. There were hardly two hundred vehicles of
any sort upon the Course. The line of horsemen on either
side the chains barely extended beyond the Grand Stand, and
in the balconies of that edifice, and at its base, we do not think
there were three hundred spectators, of whom about twenty or
less were ladies. When we arrived at Epsom about an hour be-
fore noon on the Derby day, we found it more than tolerably
thronged, and the Spread Eagle both within and without showed
a busy crowd of those whose "breath is the agitation's of the
race course. Yesterday the scene had changed, and the town
was quieter than it would be even on a well-attended market
day. On the steps of the Spread Eagle, and in the area in
front, there were only a few dozen persons, nearly all sporting
characters of high and low degree. An hour before the prin-
cipal race, the betting ring on the hill seemed to be as thickly
filled as on Wednesday; and business was carried on with an
energy that proved how comfortably the professional specula-
tors had got over the Derby.
At:two o'clock the bell for clearing the course rang, and the
numbers on it being so few it was speedfily cleared, and easily
kept so. At twenty minutes to three the careering of eques-
trians from the betting ring, and from behind Sir Gilbert
Heathcote's training stables in the direction of the " Corner."
announced the approaching start, and in about five minutes
afterwards, the bell told that it had taken place, and soon
those about the winning-post saw the competing cavalcade
swiftly crowning the hill, the colours of the jockey caps
and jackets sparkling in the sun. They were quickly
round the corner, ;down the hill across the road,
and in front of the grand stand there Refraction
darted like a ray of light from the second rank, and
snatched the Oaks prize from its compeers in the most gallant
style imaginable. It is a singular fact that she was ridden by a
brother of the lad that rode The Merry Monaroh.

Prince George of Cambridge and the Prince of SaxeWeimar
were present yesterday, and so were nearly all the noble and
distinguished individuals whose names appeared in our list of
spectators on the Derby day.
The following is a return of the sport :
The Oaks Stakes of 50 sovs. each, h ft, for three vrs old
fillies, Bst 71b each ; the second to receive 100 sovs. out of
the stakes, and the winner to pay I( 0 sons. towards the
police regulations of the course. Last mile and a half.
(128 Subs.)
Duke of Richmond's Refraction, by Glaucus ...H. Bell 1
Mr. Bennett's Hope ....
Major Yarburgh's Miss Sarah
Lord Chesterfield's Lady Wildair 4
The following also started, but were not placed :—Mr.
Worthington's Lancashire Witch—Lard G. Bentinck's Rose of
CashMere—Mr. Gulley's Maid of Orleans—Mr. Roger's Glee
—Mr. Armstrong's Venus—Mr. Liley'e Stamp—Lord Eglin-
toun's Plaudit—Lord G. Bentinck's Miss Ells—Mr. Bowes's
Heather Bell—Sir G. Heathcote's f, by Samarcand, out of
La fills mal gardee--Sir C. Monk's f, by Physician, out of
Castaway—Mr. Osbaldeston's Fickle Wild Rose —Mr. Hop-
kin's Event—Col. Wyndham's Caroline—Sir J. B. Mills'
Giantess—Lord G. Bentinek's Longitude—Col. Peel's Hersey.
Mr. Wagstaff's The Queen of Cypress was weighed for by
Buckle, but an objection being made by Lord George Ben-
tinek, was examined by Messrs. Barrow and Bartlett, pro-
nounced to be four years-old, and was not permitted to start.
The mare, we understand, was sold on Thursday to his Lord-
ship, but on a hint that she might possibly he above the uropc.r
age, her mouth was examined, and found to be a very suspi-
cious one; his Lordship, therefore, not only refused to ratify
the purchase, but immediately objected to her starting.
Betting-5 'to I agst Kent's lot, 7to 2 agst. Lancashire
Witeh-11 to 2 agst Lady Wldair-7 to 1 agst Glee-8 to I
agst Miss Elis-12 to 1 each agst Maid of Orleans and Hope—
IS to I agst Rose of Cashmere-20 to I each agst Refraction,
Longitude, Plaudit, and Stamp, and 2 to 1 agst any other. A
good start was accomplished at the first attempt, and, a novelty
here, not more than a quarter of an hoot after the time fixed
for running. The lead was taken by Hope, Lady Wildair and
Lancashire Witch following her, with, Caroline, Refraction,
Longitude, Miss Sarah, and Glee in waiting on them. They
ran in this way at an indifferent pace to the turn, where
Caroline and Lancashire Witch were beaten. At the road Miss
Sarah took the lead from Hope, and carried the running to the
stand, where Refraction went up, took up the running, in-
creased her lead as she went on, and won easily by a couple of
lengths, Hope, who had followed her, beating Mist Sarah for
second by a length ; Lady Wildair a good four, Glee fifth, Sir
C. Monek's filly sixth, and Longitude seventh. The others
were beaten off.