New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-15
ENGLISH SPORT.
TILE PRINCES DERBY-A DEMONSTRA-
rrON OF POPULAR LOYALTY.

,.oor,s Derby was royal sport. indeed, for
r,.,,,oo of Wales won the blue ribbon Of the
h' aocoration with which nothing in the gift
'u' o,san could be compared He is a charac-
% rnglishman in his love of sport. and dur
oert wears probably has had no higher am
', than the honor OF being enrolled in the list
yrhv winners. The new Royal Victorian
" -, and all the other decorations, which nave
. his "a the heir TO the English Throne. were
N-,uriacant in comparison with the glory OF
ling the greatest race OF the year. That was
thing which did not belong TO him as his
''.hr,qht 1t was an honor to be earned by ex-
'.orca and Judgment in breeding and training
,r,nner Success has at last crowned a ca
- unon the turf which has been laboriOus and
n.onnoInting until the last two seasons For
s.. erst time in a century the royal colors have
"a ., the Derby post and not after a scrub race
~s,h moor field. The Princes Derby was one
=, tho best contests ever witnessed, and was won
y, .ho fastest time ever recorded at EPSON.
oct wear went TO the Derby In the traditional
NV drove down to Epson in comfortable
..h with lunch hamper on top. a block of ice
.,dar the box and a joviai companion in the
-.., beside me behind a barrier of green netting.
r.,s year was more economical Of time. going
- rain TO the Downs driving two miles TO a
,'.,,ohle mansion for luncheon. and reaching
-. ,ourse barely in season to have good look
:, ,bs crowd before the great race came on. The
~ ,',r miles of country road through private es-
..,.. which had the finished beatty Of land
,o ert WILDLY reminded me of tie glorious
,L. ~ the previous year. There has been
-..,,o drouth this season. and the verdLre of
....s and meadows lacked the deepest tones Of
n their hest
o.. Yellow laburnum was seen in Its full splen-
-. and the hawthorn was in blossom. Love
w. ~ all countries is England in early June,
.s there are no more picturesque roadways, no
@ ..,.,,er mansions. no broader sweeps Of meadow
,a,,sd ND with yellow broom and no finer oaks.
,nrches walnuts and beeches than are TO be seen
n.,b,n few miles of the Epson course.
THE EPSON CROWD.
r,o crowd as saw II from the grandstand
.,.mad larger than that Of the previous year.
-ss was not due to more favorable weather, for
e vas close depressing day. with only a
-sagre dash OF rain and no breeze to temper
4. heat A better race was expected, and il is
eood snort that draws the crowd to the Derby.
Moreover. there was a general impression That
N. Princes horse would beat the favorite ana
that an unparalleled scene Of enthusiasm ana
,,.r r.o,,,d he witnessed Hundreds Of specta-
,o,s who are not ordinarily at Epson were on
the ground in the hope Of seeing the Prince LEAD
l.. ,ho u;,n,ne horse and of hearing the thunders
a. anplause which would follow the victory OF
persmmon. Both the sovereign and the half
sovereign Enclosures were densely thronged' ana
the central arena was surging mass OF goou-
humored but noisy pleasure-seekers pent upon
having a good outing and all the FUN there was
NJ the fair Veteran rHCe-soers. whose lmpre@-
sions OF the Derby are Increasing in staieness
with each recurring year. are In the hapit on Sd!
ing that there are fewer equipages on the road;
smaller crowds within and outside the inclosuree
fewer booths houses wheels and sideshows
and increasing signs Of a decline Of popular in
terest In this democratic holiday. The most pes
simistic Of these observers never venture 70 sug-
gest that there are fewer bettng-stands. Some
of the minor amusements may be disappearing
along with the holiday horseplay. but the bet
ting is steadily ncree sing. and that is an unfail-
ing indication that public interest in the Derby
snU declining
TIE Epson crowd Is one Of the sights OF the
ndern world. What distinguishes the Derby
from every other great race Is the vastness and
representative character of the asserbla5e.
Princes. Dukes and Earls, the leaders of fashion
and politics are in the upper tiers of the grand
stand and Aunt Sallies and Jim Crows are anus
Ing the poor clerks and jolly coctermongers In the
inner circle Highly privileged sightseers are
drinking champagne in the club Enclosure. and
roaring trade in sandwich and oranges Is
going on outside 1t is a day when old clothes
are worn and conventionalites are relaxed and
when good fellowship reigns and high above the
chatter of the grandstand and the uproar Of the
great throng Of pleasure-seekers is heard the
shril call Of the bookmaker he plies his
trade at the betting-stands. That is the common
tie that binds together this vast assemblage Of
Llgh and low degree-the pleasurable excitement
Of betting the Derby.
There were two contests before the great race,
but little attention was paid to them An Ameri-
can horse Mr. Wishart's Helen Nichoi. won the
Epson Town Plate by the closest possible finish,
with Reiff the jockey. well on her neck and
startling the crowd with his method Of riding.
The Stanley Stakes was lively scramble Of two
year-olds, with another exciting rush at the
finish
HOW THE RACE WAS RUN.
Then there was long pause, during which
eight Of the eleven Derby starters walked by the
grandstand and the club Enclosure. while the
OlNcr tIftc the frlilceS colt dilIpllb lllfH WIZ
allowed to dispense with this preliminary parade,
being saddled al the post. The eleven finally
started. in place Of fifteen last year but from
beginning 10 end Il was a more exciting strug-
se-a more inspiriting race. Tho winners time
"" two minutes fOrty-twO sccOnds-a brief In
'e'Va. indeed. into which TO compress the pleas
urabie excitement Of Il vast multitude Of sight
seers; but 50 unobatructed was the view that
every relative change Of position in the moving
pageant with its bright bits Of color in the
!ocHeys uniforms. could be clearly dscerned.
ine horses ran well together three fourths OF the
way The pair between which the final struggl"
was 10 lie being In the rear, while the rest were
Deating one another one by one. and falling back.
quarter OF a mile from home ST. Frusquin the
'a'orite. took up the running, closely followed
W rersimmOn 1t was the supreme moment OF
!ne race for which a breathloes assemblage was
"a "