Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-08
TIE DERBY d Z,

IKE DERBY d L,
During the past three days a change has
come over the appearance of London. At the
railroad stations every incoming train dis
men, together with a considerable sprInkIinG
of very clean looking elderly gentlemen. hav,
ing slightly horSey air; and in adj ion to
shiny hats and light coored OvercoatS. The
clubs are crammed full, bets are at a premium
all over the town, and walters are worked %
ninety-eighth anniversary of the Derby, which
is always run on the Wednesday before Whit
sunday.
The Epson races came into fame throuob q
cans-Gen. BurgOyne. He had been accus-
toned to stay at the inn called The Oaks
when hunting and shooting in that then wild
district, where tits likely enough that he retired
when in disgrace on his return home from this
country: Taking fancy to the place, he
bought it, and few years later sold it to his
father of the present Earl. Lord Derby's sec
Ond wife was Miss Farren, a famous actress
to whose careful instruction the late Earl is
having become the first orator in the House of
Commons. and on the occasion of her mar.
pia ,sa B Surge composed wellknown poem,
nlI79 Lord Derby, delighted with the racing
facilities; offered by the Downs established
The Oaks Stakes, and in the following year
race is within two years of its centenary. The
Oaks. transformed by Lord Derby into a vast
hunting establishment, with fifty bedchamb-
present Earl cares for none of these things:
but his father was as notable on the turf as i'm
the Senate, and yet, like, his friend, Lord
time, was never destined to win Der w
he first winner of the Oaks (run on the Fri
day after the Derby was Lord Derby's Bridget
Charles Bunbury's Diomed. The most cele-
DRAFTED horse which ever ran at EPSON was
Eclipse entered when full five years Old, for
he Cuhoden Duke of Cumberland, SO named
tecause fOaled at the time of the great eclipse
o. ll64: He was bought when yearling by
history of the purchase is curious. Wildman
had friend in the Dukes stud who had given
linn tip as to the extraordinary excellence
- Eclipse. so, as soon as he heard that the
Dukes stud was to be sold he hurried to Win.-
;or, but didn't arrive until his object had been
knocked down for go, He found, however,
and forthwith protested and insisted that The,
lots be put up again. This was done and Wild.
man got him for five guineas more.
In 1863 Okelly, an Irish adventurer, who
mad an extraordinary career, bought a half
share of Eclipse for go guineas from Wldman
and subsequently completed the purchase for
LOO guneas mere. On the Duke of Bedford
asking in l779, how much he would take for
him, he is said to have replied, ''By the mass,
my lord, it's not all Bedford ievel'--a farm
tract worth some clQQOOa year then, and thrice
IL,
days O,kelly stated that he had made 1900
by the horse. Nothing comparable to him has
Eel known on the turf. He beat every COM
ietitOr with the utmost ease. Ia twen,y-three
ears his progeny earned for their owners
In l7SS Eclipse was removed from his owners
mouse al EPSON to Gannnns in van, and died
i'll the following February, aged >. Cakes
ma ale: were given at his funeral, aud he
les buried in very picturesque spot in the
a good case of bitter bit occurred at EPSON
Ill o:d Lord Derby day. A young foreigner,
great favOrite with the hunting men of The dis
net, was induced after dinner, TO back horse
IF his which had been easily beaten in for
,ner match by the mare Of a noted stable
keeper. The stable keeper fixed upon the ser
want OF a gentleman present as his jockey: the
foreigner selected his own groom. Two DAYS
however, before the match the foreigner
earned that his opponent had secretly engaged
4 regular Jockey, and mentioned this to a
''horsey'' Yorkshire friend adding that of
course his chance was now gone. The friend
iold him to go instantly to Newmarket and
hire Buckle: the first Jockey of the day. When
keeper and his friends in high spirits, and bet
ing heavily on The mare. The foreigner said
that his man would arrive in a few minutes.
chaise drove up, and Buckle perfectly equipped.
stepped out, was on the foreigners horse in a
rice, and by skiful riding brought him in the
winner.
The apartments in the grand stand at EPSON
were originally, it is said, designed for gamb-
ing rooms. When gambling became Illegal, a
Mr.. DOrling, whose "c'rect card of the race
was for years fea ure of the course took the
stand for twenty one years, and refused to al
low any gambling, although once offered 81, 900
tor corner wherein to carry it on. But if
there is no gambling in the grand stand, there
is plenty outside of it, The most notable
wrecks of late years have been the late Mar
quis of Tasting, who was completely ruined
bankruptcy court, owing $3,5OO,OOO. In 1887 al
London was Mortified by the suicide of the
Hon. Berkeley Craven, on the evening oil the
Derby day. He would have been defaulter
at Tattersalls to the tune of $4,000 through
recklessly backing Lord Jerseys famous Bay
Middleton.
Both at EPSON and Ascot there is ALWAYS
Police Magistrate in attendance at the grand
stand, and regular court rO0m clerk &C. so
that cases may be promptly dealt with, and
time and trouble sayed-a highly necessary
made these resorts a suburb of the great me-
tropOliS.-[N Y Sun.