New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-10-01
THE EPSON RACES.

Inns years Derby had q larger entry
than ever before; and of the 287 colts
and fillies nominated for it, forty were
OF foreign extraction, namely, twenty
seven French, seven American, seven
Hungarian, and three German colts.
Thus, it will be seen, that you foreign
ers are becoming more and more inter-
ested in England's principalrace as the
years roll by. When these races at
EPSON first commenced have not
been able with certainty to trace. Few
of the earlier writer's who mention the
district, no more than simply state the
fact, that $ horse races are annually
held at Epsom." Whether they were,
at first, periodical or occasional, I will
not presume to determine, though the
latter is the more probable.
Epson Downs Cor, as they are fire.
quently written in old writings, Ban
stead D0wns), early became the spot
upon which the lovers of racing in
dulged their fancy. I find that the
races here. from the year 1880, have
been annually held in the months Of
May or June. The races were, for q
long period, held twice in every year
spring and autumn. It was then Gus
eomary to commence at eleven o'clock
In the forenoon, and after the first or
second heat the company usually re-
turned into the town to dinner. In
the afternoon they again assembled on
the Downs, and the races for thu day
were then finished. This arrangement
has long been discontinued, and the
races are now annually held on the
Downs at certain time of the year, in
pursuance OF certain regulations agreed
upon for holding the principal races
in the United Kingdom. This has
been the practice here since the cele-
brated Derby and Oaks were first estab-
lished, the former in 1850, and the lat
ter in 1779.
The annual gala day at EPSON is the
Derby Day. Ever and always, no mat
ter what kind of weather may come at
Derby time, the race must be run on
the appointed Wednesday. Snow,
sleet. rain, whitening winds may bat
fle an army, but it will not put aside
the derby" Empires may rise and
fall, flourish and perish, wars be waged
and battles lost and won; but the run
Tor the blue ribbon of the English turf
must take place on the day; an unal.
terable, imperishable, eternal ceremo-
ny, ordained for the happiness Of Eu-
rope, America, Asia indeed, all other
quarters Of the globe, known or un-
known. and with which this Nation Il
not at war.
liberty days are pretty mucn allke.
Time was when everybody was COM
PEELED to travel by coaches, carriages,
carts and on horseback, or afoot, to
reach Epson Downs. Now we can 20
by rail, and as it is much the quickest
and cheapest, suppose we do so. Here
we are ct EPSON, and having walked
from the station up stiflish hill to the
Downs. I shall begin my description Of
the scene and race.
1t is 9 glorious sight, and for the
lover of nature and art the whole field
stretched out almost for miles before
me is city of canvas; q town Of SUIT
lers and shopmen, bakers and betting
men, and goodness knows what all.
The outer edge Of the course from-be-
low the grand stands to far beyond
Iattenham Corner is occupied By files
OF vehicles forty and fifty deep. and
the distance is fully three-auartere
of 9 mile. On the inside OF the course
and on the hill are thousands 81 other
vehicles. Talk Of the Olympic Gar.
dens! There are more chariiots and
horsemen to be seen in one swoop than
ever Greece possessed during it's whole
existence as an Empire! And il the.
carts and carriages have brought down
their countless attitudes, conceive
what the railroads have done to In
crease the immense throng 81 people,
now before Us. So -
K'rect keerds Of the race, are be-.
ing hawked about, old acquaintance.
are exchanging hearty SITUATIONS,
baskets and boxes are brought out and
hungry folks fall to lunching. Pres
emily the first bell rings, and now let
=us take 8 look over the race track it 3
salt. 5I.75s
The Derby course, It will be- seen, 4
8 about mile from !. eend "a eend 3:
and somewhat in the shape of s horse
shoe. Tho first three-quarters 81 8
mile may be consid cred straight, the
bend Il the course g Durand' Corner.
being very tritling and the width very
great The nsxts quarter isI IN 8 Rraiilu
alsturn1 and rms what = cilleds