Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-06-06


made general holiday, it being Deriy Day
This race Was started in 1880, to hn run by
three year.old horses, ana va, Won by Sir
Charles Bunbury's hay colt Diomed. 1t has
decided on "Wednesday will he the ninrtieth A
writer adds =
There is no event that excites such intense
interest throughout all classes of Engish soci
ETY. as the Derby. When tho evcntiul day ar
1ives, the spectacle on Epson Dowos is the
most magnificent in the world. On an open
space of about seventy five acres are about half
a million human beings.
The race curse is shaped like horse shoe,
the upper or circular side being on considerably
higher ground than the lowtr. The horses,
starting at one end, race around, the distance
being mile and half. Within the semicirce
of the track is steep hill, on which the multi
lude assemble. Every kind of carriage under
the sun is crammed in on this crowded hill
On the grand stand the scene is less vacicga-
ted but eminently exciting. The betting ring is
cranmed full OF mass OF shrieking, bowling,
perspiriDg human beings-the betting men.
They rush about with frantic gestures, tumb-
ling over each other in their eagerness to bet
but when the bell rings for the beginning OF the
Dash, all is silence. AS the stceds near home
the shouting begins, and for about minute
the uproar passes all comprehension. When
the horses pass the winning post, the number
Of the winner is displayed, and in twinkIing
the news is flashed through the civilized world
The following is the report by Atlantic ca
bic of the first days races
London, June 1.-The Derby Of this year
has not been exceled by any OF its predeces-
sors. The day was fine, the crowds immense,
the race excited and closely contested, and
the result unexpected. At sunset yesterday
the people commenced moving to the sccle,
and up to noon TO- day the roads to the Downs
were filled with unending streams on foot, on
horseback, and in carriages. All the morning
London highway was packed with solid mass
ior four miles from the race course with We
hioles of every description.
The scene from the grandsstand just before
the start was one of unusual spiendor.
fringe Of carriages from five to ten deep lined
the entire circuit, and hundreds of thousands
If snectato1s were crowded between them and
The track. Present on the grand stand were
tho Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Leo
mold and the King Of Belgium, attended by q
large and brilliant throng OF the nobility and
sristocracy, also many members OF Parliament,
cabinet ministers, representatives OF the bench,
and persous eminent in oil departments OF
pubic life.
The track was cleared by mounted policemen
with difficulty, but not tar from the appointed
time the horses were brought out: The excite
ment of the spectators was wroughtto the high
est pitch by the appearance ofthe fifteen horses
entered for the race McGregor, the tavorlte,
was tremendously cheered. Betting differed
little from that last night. heing 700 to 400 on
McGrcgor, 7 to against Camel, and ~ to
against Kingcraft.
All being ready, good start was obtained,
and the horses dashed away. AS Mc(1regor
hegan to fall behind the greatest astonishment
was manifested. When kinCoratt took the
lead the excitement was most intense, and
reached its height when he came In winner,
With Palmcrstop second, and Muster close be-
hind. The race had hardly ended when
drenching shower fe which lasted tor few
moments and was succeeded by the brightest
sunshine Kingcratt won the race in 2,4o.
The following is the summary; Lord Fal'
mouths b. c. Kinccatt. ; w. 5. Crawford
b. c. Palmerston, 2; Lord Wilton's Muster. )
The Derby stakes were for fifty sovereigns
each, half forfeit, for colts stone ~ pounds
and fillies stone pounds, three years old,
the owner Of the second horse to receive three
hundred sovereigns, and the third one hundred
and fifty sovcrcigns out OF tue stakes. Fifteen
horses rem for the Derby stakes
The government of Paraguay has made q