New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-15

observation-disclosures MIN WHO WERE THERE
THE RACE.
RRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE
LONDON, June 2.-lf Mr.. Disraeli had turned
Mr. Gladstone out OF Office yesterday the public surprise
and CONSERVATION could hardly have exceeded what was
felt when Kngcraft beat Macgegor at 20 minutes past
5 on EPSON Downs. The great prize OF the Turf was
booked moral certainty for Mr. Merrys horse The
point ne had reached in the betting was per
haps unprecedented. There never was 80 hot a
1aVorlte. After standing for time at to g.,
Macgrcgor advanced the day OF the race till he was
freely backed at to for moderate amounts and one
noble lord, who did not know how otherwise to get rid Of
MS money offered $4,000 10 10000 MacgTegor with
out finding taker. Very likely you don't understand
this jargon wish nobody did; but it is impossible to
live In England without absorbing unconscousy little
or the elementary knowledge about racing An English
boy takes to it as a South Islander takes to the
water. The intelligent traveller in Polynesia OBJ
serves with surprise mere babies Of three or four
years swimming through the surf as securely many
fishes The Intelligent traveller arriving in England on
about the first of June may learn from the first boy
meets not yet out Of petcoats knickerbOckers who
is the yOrto for the Derby and what the state Of the
odds. There class Of contributors to the newspapers
known as sporting prophets, and nearly every paper
keeps at least one They apply their minds to the doc
trine of probabilities and before each important
they communicate to confding public their coectures
about the winner They seldom agree in their opinions
and suspect there is kind Of agreement to disagree
that they may not all be wrong at But this year.
IA happened also two years ago. they unanimous
and all went wrong together. If you ventured TO doubt
that Macgegor would VIM If you thought it preposerous
TO bet to that specified horse would beat Is; If
you did not back Macgregor did back anything else
you did it in sheer defiance of public opinion
You might not believe that in race where
accidents are common, and where cheating in
shape another is always attempted,
that the chance OF any one animal could be several
hundred times good that of all the But if you
,aatl.,,
they said, had spoiled the betting, for nobody much
cared Ia lay against him 10 back any other horse If
that be my sympathes all with Macgregor, and
sorry for his defeat Racing used 10 be defended
improving the breed of horses which begin to believe,
that OF them has improved enough become an
enemy TO betting But heard anybody urge that
1t improved the breed of Those who backed the
tavOrte yesterday got lesson which will last them some
fime-say till the next race.
Macgregor did the further service Of lessenng public
Interest III the race, though that would follow surely
enough from there being less betting than usual People
who 60 to the Derby for holiday might be expected TO
60 usual but they did not People who go to
ting and who for in proportion to its
tantes less eager to struggle OF which the
result was thought be settled beforehand. daily
journal which is of the most faithful supporters of
racing mourn1uy declares that the Derby of 1870 like
every other great in the present year. is indicative
Of decay in great national sport" That would be
good news II it true and perhaps 1t is cannot
compare this years with last years which did
not see it certainly thronged than the Derby
Of 1865 there anything this year TO compare with
the dramatic interest which hung the event of that
race for which Lady Elizabeth was strong favorite |
Her victory counted to restore the ruined for
vines the Marquis of Hastings Her defeat drove him
from the turf killed him in six months Perhaps he
might have lived six months longer had he won might
have died with fewer stains proud name irretreva-
bly, dsgraccd; might have done less 10 shock honest
men with the loud scandals which in the last year or
two have shaken the turf The public has hardly yet
done discussing the causes of that defeat suppose
nobody doubts that the horse was drugged for there
were men who had sworn the Marquis should not win
and capable Of keeping their oath by the help
Of any Of rascalty No doubt the ruin OF three or
tour young nobemen essened the popularity Of racing
Il helped the Government to prosecute the betting
bOuses-wth the ridiculous result of driving them from
London to Edinburgh, where they in full blast AS
they do their business by correspondence they can do
o. well in one place in the other. The Post Office is
the friend Of the book-makers and whoever loses
Mr.. sCudamore wins.
Every year. fewer people go TO EPSON by the road
There was a time when nobody thought Of going any
pther way Then You could hardly be said to have
the Derby unless yOu had that long spectacle OF con-
fusion which stretched in the early morning from Lon
don 10 EPSON, and again in the evening from EPSON TO
London There is still enough of it left TO attract and IL
duly described every year in almost the same
terms in every journal. One year differs from another
Yesterday might have been peculiarly favorable day
y those who like the dust and discomfort Of twenty
niles drive at about five miles hour i'll the morning.
perhaps three in the evening. There has been no
rain for weeks. AS before, thought 1 should do my
duty conscentously enough If / went by ran. There
are. believe two three lines which have stations
somewhere near the Downs One may be as good as an
ytheT the Brighton line has the advantage IN lpu
Hence. 1t advertises itself the only route TO
he race, which so charmed me that 1 chose
for mine There is always something attract
NE in railway management great days Victoria
station reminded Of the cattepens that used to be
put up on the common in Worcester once year. The
hiyers this occasion the police uniform They
allowed 10 buy tickets best we could, some hund
reds Of us struggling at the same time to get close 10
yicket struggling Just desperately TO get out
The interest Of the police in fortunes did not
segn till We had committed ourselves by buying tickets
Chen they seized upon They opened door which
showed US the PLATFORM and series Of picket fences ana
bars and gates and trains Of railway carriages III the
distance, attacked by mob. The battle ragged before
eyes, ending in the conquest and possession Of the
main by one half, while the other half remained the
Held 70 go through the struggle the arrival Of the
Se1t detachment OF carriages the arrangements were
~eur$be The two pens placed side by side held each
about twice many passengers could carried at
Ince. We were admitted with many precautions into
hese pens, and when they were fun we turned out TO
2sh the same battle which had witnessed twice or
hrice before our turn came. The result of 10 far
- Huntington aud we're concerned that found our
selves Id carriage which outside had appearance Of
morse box IT. inside fittings were such as a well bred
oofSe would have rejected but managed 10 hold on TO
'ul seats III company with half dozen cockneys, male
SUI iense' I'll we reached what is called the EPSON
DOWNS stuon, a shed about three-qua rters of mile
foin The Grand Stand There we turned out into
inst han "a Uhi