The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-21
Description and History of the
Course at Epson.
AN MENSE GRAND STAND
An Enormous Stone Structure Which
VIII Hold 10000 People-A Huge
Paddock-The Race Is the
Biggest in the World.

| from death, as well as the gameness
| of Holocaust, the colt which broke
his leg, were the subjects we'll dis
cussed. 1t would be q hard matter
| for any one who has not seen an Eng
| fish derby to realize what an enormous
and enthusiastic crowd assemblies on
| EPSON Downs to attend the anniver-
| sary of the turf blue ribbon. This
| crowd is usually estimated at from
| $4,000 to 100000. OF these 10000 come
| by rail, but fully 10000 drive from Lon
don and adjacent towns, while half as
many travel there on foot, some tramp
| ing more than so miles to secure their
share of the crumbs to be picked UP
| around the course on the eventful day.
The Downs, on which the great race is
run, are semi-public property, only the
commoners of EPSON and the lord of
the manor exercising any right over
them, SO they cannot be enclosed, and
the infield, as it would be called in
| this country Is free to all pedestrians.
| These crowd the rail 10 deep from Tat
| tenham corner to the stands, dis
| lance of nearly half mile, in a vain
| endeavor to obtain a glimpse of the
| contest.
Very many years ago the Grand
| Stand company, which has charge of
all arrangements from the commoners,
| obtained lease of an acre Of ground
| near the winning post for the nominal
rent of 95 year. In 1884 new owner
| succeeded to the immortal rights who
endeavored to stop the races, but after
| a long and stubbornly contested law,
| suit compromise was arrived at,
though the company was forced to pay
an increased rental, which has since
| been raised from time to time so that
| at present the management has to pay
| $4,000 year for the privilege of rae
| ing six days during the year, two in
| the spring and four in the summer.
| The modern grand stand, which re-
| placed the original modest structure, is
an enormous stone edifice, supported
massive columns and by walls thicker
than those of many a famous fortress.
1t need we'll be strongly built, for it
must support 10000 people. besides the
tons upon tons of drinkables and eat
able necessary to keep the occupants
in good humor. The building is erected
on the crest of a wide down far above
the sleepy old town of EPSON, which
is in hollow a mile and half to the
westward of it. From the roof mag
nificent view of the beautifully wooded
Surrey hills can be obtained while IA
miles away to the north the dome of
| st. Peters cathedral can be discerned
The structure which, with the lawn
in front and the driveway behind, COW,
| erS over two acres, consists of five Stor-
les The lower one is devoted to en-
frances, stairways and offices, the two
next to private boxes, and the two up
per ones are open to any purchaser of
stand ticket, who is lucky enough to
get there early, for every inch of these
as we'll as the spacious roof is packed
hot hp ina cDt far tbal nRi
sion of the great race. The occupants
of the stand can not obtain very good
view of the finish. for the north end Is
over 200 yards from the winning post,
while between 1t and the south corner
are the weigh ROOM press stand, the
royal box and the private stand re-
served for the stewards and members
of the Jockey club.
There are no elevators in the stand,
so visitors who want to see the race
from the vantage ground of the roof
must toll up five long flights of stairs
each time they descend to make a bet
but they are well catered for as far as
the inner man is concerned for there
are dining rooms and bars in the rear
of each floor. Beneath the building
are vast cellars, in which large guam
titles of choice wines are stored, very
| necessary precaution, for during the
summer meeting 10000 dozen quarts of
as dear as on an American track, cost
ing from $3.50 to So a bottle, according
to the brand. Half Of this is profit
however, so no wonder the original E5
of the Stand company are now worth
more than 10 times that amount.
But the profits from the refresh
ments are only a small part of in the
income of the company, for admission
to the stand on Derby day costs So,
while the freedom of the inner ring
and the paddock entails the additional
expenditure of a like amount. Few
people enjoy the full privileges this
second ticket confers, for, owing to the
impossibility of obtaining any ground
nearer that could be enclosed, the sad
ding paddock is considerably over
quarter of mile from the stand, while
the intervening space is filled with huge
booths, in which the outside mob may
obtain their refreshments, and through
their army of customers a visitor de-
sirious of seeing the horses put through
their toilets must fight his way.
Once reached, the paddock Is a COM
paratiye haven of rest, for though 10000
people enter it on Derby day, it is 10
acres in extent, so is the least crowded
spot in the vicinity of the course 1t
readily comes up to the American idea
of a paddock, for beyond few sheds
in the southwest corner and refresh
ment bar in the northeast one. it is de-
void of buildings, SO the majority of
the competitors are put through their
toilets in the open air. Nor is there a
single stall in connection with the
track, which forces the 800 odd horses
that compete during the summer meet
ing to seek accommodation in the
neighboring villages or in some of the
half score training stables which sur
round the downs. BY a taeit arrange
ment among their owners the charge
for stall is SIS a day or $25 for the
week
The only house anywhere near the
course is small inn with a stable yard
lin the rear. A former proprietor of
this, one Barnard, succeeded in olden
days in obtaining the grant of a quar-
ter acre of land on the east side of the
course immediately opposite the win
ming post. On this he erected a stand.
the returns from which al the present
day afford his descendants a, princely
income.
The course itself is laid out on