The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-02
Great Racing Event Was
Instituted in 1880.
Some of the Famous Prize
Winners Since DiOmed.
Parliament AdjOurns and All Lon
don Goes TO EPSON Downs.

| country is at standstill on account OF
the great race event at EPSON.
There are some races that have been
longer established, many that ara more
valuable, but none more widely known
than this one. When shortly before 4
| O clock on Wednesday afternoon the win
ner dashes past the post. his name will be
| flashed 10 almost every land under the
| sun for interest in the great race Is not
confined TO the English speaking people
| alone.
Nearly every country has its own Derby,
named after the great English race, nut
| none of them equals it in interest, so it
| still remains The Derby" In this coun-
| try there are no end Of Derbys. the oldest
| being tho Kentucky. first run for In 1910,
! but since the American, established in
| 1852, has been discontinued by force OF
| circumstances, none of them amounts TO
| much.
The Derby pronounced Darby Is not
| run at the flourishing manufacturing
| town of that name in the Midlan0s, but
| at EPSON, IA miles southwest OF London.
| It takes its name from the head OF the
| famous Stanley family the Earl OF Derby.
! The holder Of this title, at the time the
race was instituted In 1850, was an ardent
! supporter Of the turf. but neither he nor
any OF his descendants ever succeeded
| i'm winning the great race named after
| him, though the grandfather of the pres
| ent earl when prime minister OF Eng
| land, managed 10 get second with Oresfes.
| The presont holder OF the title maintains
a large stud; and, now that the Prince
| of Wales and Lord Rosebery nave had
| their turn. the success OF mis- black and
white coors would be more popular than
that of any other owners.
The First Winner
| The original conditions of the Derby
| were sweepstake for 3-year olds OF s2oO
! each. half forfeit $500 to the second; the
| third to save his stake-to be entered
when yearlngs. AS the initial race at
| tracted but 36 entries, nine only OF which
| went.to the post so the first winner
| Diomed, netted his owner, sir Charles
Banbury only $4,000 At the ripe age oi
| ~, according to the English records-22
| according Co the American-Diomed was
brought to this country, where he lived
till 1868 doing yeomHn service, as from
| him through Sir Archy-T -Timoleon and
| Boston, Lexington was descended.
The race grew somewhat slowly In favor
at first, for il was not till 1881 that the
entries reached the Tooth mark. During
the next twenty years, however, they
rapidly increased in number, for the first
time exceeding 200 in lS4S when Surplice
| proyed better than sixteen other starters.
The greatest number of entries ever vet
reached was 27S, in 1873. But quantity,
not quality, was represented, Tor the best
of the twenty three that west TO the post
pro red to he Mr. Rotbschid's Sir Bevis,
undoubtedly the worst horse that ever
won the race, while the moderate Palm
bearer was second and Lord Rosebery Z
selling platter. Visconte third.
The following year the conditions,
| which had remaiCed the same for "a cen
turv. were modernized, the management
| Inc q - a
| which S25. 600 goes 10 the winner, $500 C
his nominator, $500 10 the second, and
$1,000 To the third. Under the new con
ditions, entrance, which must be made on
the second Tuesday in July. when the
animal entered is n yearling, costs S25,
the only liability, If struck out the first OF
January following. II this is not done, 9
forfeit OF 500 is incurred and, ii still left
i'm after the next first of January Sla'
moresmust be paid. No farther payment
is required to start. In event Of doing sc
colts must carry l26 pounds fillies five
pounds less. The exact distance is mile
and "a half and twenty nine yards.
IL is not the money value of the Derb,
that makes IT. such "a coveted prize, fo
there are over score of more valuable
races in England, while three at least ar,
worth nearly double. but the historical
associations that surround il. While th
fact that the winner, owing To the mature
]
opposition, must prove himself AN eXcep
tionally good horse III every particular
mnkes every owner ana breeder NOR
, anxious TO secure "tho blue ribbon tina;
/ any of the more valuable turf prizes.
The Old Town Of EPSON.
During the eighteenth century, es
| pecially the early part OF Ii the old tnWl
I OF Fpsom was a very fashionable water
ing place The London quality iiocke'
there i'm swarms 10 drink the waters
which were supposed To have wonderful
medicinal qualities. While this prosper
Gus season lasted racing on the noarb
downs was carried OH TO large extent
: | When improved roads and Increased trav
cling facilities brought more desraDl
, health resorts within reaching dlstanc
. OF the metropolis, EPSON was soon de
serted by the beau monde, though IL
= proximity TO London prevented the rae
] course being abandoned.
The town stands in hollow, the grand
stand being built on the summit of
st,ep hill. u milo and half from IL. %
the far side Of this stand lies the course
situated on "a horseshoe ridge that enciI
I cles the head of a valley stretching ava
e 20 the south. The downs consist of chalk
4 overlaid with "a thin covering OF graNoll
d sml which reduces thick coating {
. turf that Will stand good deal {
IL y
= the moisture. In oarly summer when Oh
= great race is run, II the weather Is war;
y and dry. the track becomes terribly hare
> ( while I'm the wCttest seasons considcrab
70 bone can always bc found In IL by
!. horse going at racing speed. The ground
are partly owned by the Grand stan
Company, and partly leased from the lor
of the manor and the commonors of III
som. the rates paid 20 the town for II
= tonciit Of tho latter exceeding Sl1. 900 y,
r. annum pretty stiff rent alone, consi,
y oring that but six days racing year al
), given.
y The New and Old Courses.
: Fer n hundred years the start toe
place I'm hollow, which Obliged q
= horses 20 run uphill Tor the first six IA
n longs Now the starting point has hoC
Il moved to higher Lowell. and the fir
four furlongs are nearly Hat At the mi
post the new course rciOins the old on
so the next two turlOags are still up
comparatively stCen hill. lhe -crcsL-
n tTc DOWN boIng thcn reached, the me-
.r quarter dcscCnds slightly around gra
Il t.l Ia.4.. IL