The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-21

ascends gradually to the starting post,
the level of which is nearly so feet
above that of the winning post The
slope of this hill is used as a carriage
ground, on which thousands of vehicles
ranging from the dog cart of the sport
ing publican to the four-in-hand of the
millionaire assemble on Derby day, the
number of the latter swell turn-outs
alone exceeding 600.
The downs consist of chalk forma-
ton covered with few inches Of grav-
ely soil, which produces a short, thick
turf. The course Is kept fed down by
sheep, is frequently rolled, and every
pebble that works to the surface care
fully removed, but, though. like all
English tracks, 1t is a turf one, such is
the nature of the soil that it is always
so hard as to prove fatal to any horse
not absolutely sound.
A short description will show that 1t
is also very trying In other respects,
though not so much as in the past, for
up to 30 years ago the start took place
in a hollow, forcing the competitors to
climb grade of so feet in half mile
to reach the mile post, which is the
highest point of the track. At the time
mentioned above the starting post was
moved to level 40 feet higher up the
slope, so now the first half mile is only
post the course continues fat and
straight for another 400 yards, from
which point a slight descent and grad
ual bend carry the competitors to Tat
tenham corner, very sharp turn, from
which the down dips SO feet, in less
than furlong, then comes a quarter
on the fiat, which only leaves a SIM
liar distance, considerably on the up
grade, to be traversed till the winning
post is reached.
Tattenham corner, being almost rec
tangular, Is very dangerous point to
pass at racing speed, so around it must
the English Jockeys swing wide to the
whip hand. Archer was an exception
to this rule, and Rugged the inside rail
80 closely with Iroquois that when he
went to weigh in his left boot was
! found to be cut in two ind the leg un-
! der it badly bruised.
! Edward Smith Stanley, 18th Earl Of
Derby, when the instituted the race lit
| tie thought that he was coming word
| that would be used by every civilized
| nation and by men whose civilization
! is very superficial, but nowadays der
bys are run in almost every land.
| Though the name of the County of Der
byshire is pronounced as though spelled
Darby, which is, therefore, the correct
pronunciation Of the name of the great
race and the well-known hat called at
ter it, This hat derived it's name from
the fact that fashionable ladies seldom
attend the Derby, so on that day the
swells are allowed to discard the silk
tile, which is Indispensable in England
at functions where ladies are present,
and wear any other headgear their
ideas of comfort suggest.
The Derby is by no means the most
valuable race in the world, for the
Grand Prix de Paris is worth nearly
twice as much, while the Newmarket
stakes, the Lancashire Plate and the
Eclipse stakes at Sandown each pays
$4,000 to the owner of the winner. At
present the Derby winner gets $25, 900,
his breeder $500, the second horse
$1,000 and the third $1,000. The general
suppostion that it is the Oldest race in
the world is also erroneous, as next
September the 124th st. Leger will be
run on the DoncaSter Moor. This race
is only second in Importance to the
Derby, and is often more interesting,
as in it the winners of the Derby and
Oaks generally meet. Only three FLIES
have ever succeeded in winning the
Derby, but in the Leger they have so
frequently been successful that Sep
TENDER has been dubbed 1.-The mare 8
month";
Though the Derby is the, saturnalia
of the masses, the winner is generally
owned by some peer or millionaire, and
the race has never fallen to an obscure
individual, though two bookmakers
have been successful in it, each taking
it twice. After many failures the
gaudy colors of the Prince of Wales
purple body, scarlet sleeves, black vel
vet cap and gold tassel were success
full in 1896. This was not the first royal
success, for his predecessor, afterward
George ", took it once, and his great
uncle, the Duke of York, twice
Mr.. BoWes, of Streatlam castle
Yorkshire, took the race four times,
but that eccentric millionaire was never
present to see the success of his black
jacket, for he spent all his time in
Paris Sir Joseph Hawley was also
four times a winner, and the Duke of
Westminster, whose Flying Fox took it
this year, had already captured il
thrice. Other lucky ones are the leader
of the liberals, Lord Roseberry, and the
Duke of Portland, both of whom have
two Derbes to their credit.