The daily gazette., 1882-05-24
SH0TOVER'S- VICTORY.
THE DUKE OF WEsTMINsTER's
FILLY WINS THE DERBY.
GENERAL TELEGRAPHIo NEWS.
Rssult OF the Race To-day for the Derby
Stakes Over the EPSON Downs-shotOver
Wins.
tAssooiatqd Press dispatch to the Gazette. ]

tAssociated Press dispatch to the Gazette.l
LONDON, May M.-The race for the
Derby stakes was won BY the Duke of West
minister's chestnut filly shOtover.
The betting ON the Derby race yesterday
was as follows: Five to 2 against Bruce, IL
to against Shotoyer, IS to against Quick
lime, ! to against Dutch Oven, Is to
against Pursebearer, 10 to ! against Sachem,
16 TO against Executor; 20 to l against
Tendon, 25 10 against Gerald, 60 to
against Gareth., 100 to l against Satrap.
Only select few visited Epson Downs
yesterday morning to witness the Derby
horses exercise, and although the weather
is delightful and the Downs are well covered
with herbage; especially Ia the neighborh0od
of Sherwood, the morning work was some
what tame. Pincus, In charge of the Amer
ican team. was on the course shortly after
O'Clock. Gerald cantered over the Derby
course slowly and this was all the work he
did, His stable companion, Sachem, how
ever, greatly improved since he was last
seen in public, went over the Derby course
at his best pace, Comanehe, who joined him
at Tattenham Corner, bringing him along
the last half mile. This was one of the best
gallops of the morning. Sachem pleased
every one by his free, resolute style of going.
THE DERBY STAKES.
Below are given some interesting facts
with reference to the race for the Derby
stakes.
The race is the greatest sporting event of
the year, and was run to-day for the 103d
time. 1t is for the Derby stakes and the
honor now known all the world over as the
Blue Ribbon Of the Turf. The interest taken
in this contest by the people of the United
States is only second to that of the people of
the United Kingdom, and with us it has
recently become the greater, owing TO the
fact that American bred horses compete for
the prize, and that last year this great dis
tinction fell to one of our own thorough
breds, the peerless colt IrOquois. That was
regarded by all as a national honor.
EPSON, where this event annually occurs,
is parish in the County of Surrey, about
IA miles from London, on the turnpike
road to Portsmouth. When racing was first
established here cannot easily be ascertained
but Is is certain that for over one hundred
and fifty years racing meetings have been
almost continuously held in the place which
is supposed to derive its name from a Saxon
queen of the county who fiourished nearly
1900 years ago.
, Epsom's principal fame, however, dates
from 1779, when the Earl of Derby of thai
, age founded the celebrated stakes for yea
old FLIES known as the Oaks--thus namet
! after the trees that surrounded an old ale
house then standing on the downs-ani
when, year later, he established the Derb
! stakes for year old colts and tillies, name
!, In his honor, to win which entities the fortJ
nate subscriber to boast that he posseBse
the best 3 year old thoroughbred in tn
I world.
An analysis of the records of the 10
Derbys run since 1880 shows that In abou
one-third of them the first favorites hsv
won, counting Emilius and Flying Dutch
man as first favorites, although they starteC
only equal favorites to Tancred, who wal
, second to Emilius and Tadmor, who finished
third to Flying Dutehman. Twenty-Five o.
of the first favorites have finished second
including Gang Forward, who ran dead
heat with Kaiser; eight or nine first favorites
have finished third and about one-third OF
all the favorites of over century have
failed to get place.