The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-08-03
THE DERBY.
THE MOST IMPORTANT RAGE OF
 THE YEA R.
How and When It was Founded.

The question has often been asked, (which is the most important race ot the year?" The answer may be given without doubt--the Derby. Newly in vented races are worth more to the owner of the winner, but the Derby still maintains the pride of place. and the majority of the owners of racehorses would rather win the chief race at the Epson summer meeting than any other race which appears on the calendar. The Epson Course, too, in spite of it's disadvantages is very popular with both owners and the public. In every part of the empire all who care about racing await with interest the intelli- gence as to the result of the Derby, which is flashed all over the world as soon as the horses have passed the post. Some of my readers in distant places may perhaps be surprised to learn that Epson first came into mo- toriety through it's mineral waters, and they were discovered quite by chance. An Epson farmer found spring on his land, but noticed that his cattle would not drink the water 1t was a little bubbling up place, and the cows preferred to walk some distance to pond to drinking from the spring which was in their pacture. Later on some haymakers, while returning home, quenched their thirst at this identical spring, when the medicinal properties of the water were at once discovered, and Epson became a noted place.
 Long before regular races were held took T119RP there, impromptu horse races being interpolated between foot races for men and women. At last, horse racing was regularly practised on Epson Downs, and in 1779 the Earl of Derby in- augurated the Oaks Stakes, when his horse Bridget, ridden by Godison, won. The race derived it's name from a small public house which stood on Banstead Downs, and on being bought by General Burgoyne was virtually re- built and turned into a hunting box. Its next proprietor was Lord Derby, who made extensive alterations, and the place retained it's name, "The Oaks' Then, having founded the race of that name, the owner of "The Oaks instituted the Epson Derby, which, from it's beginning, came to be regard ed as the greatest and most important race of the year.
 It is now 121 years since Diomed won the first Derby, but when we come to look at the newspaper reports of the time we find that the race was dismiss ed in two or three lines, and any further details had to be gathered as best they could. At the present time columns and columns are devoted to the race and its surroundings; but though a goodly number of people go down by road-there are inclosures for members of the Four -in-Hand and Coaching clubs-the glory of the road has departed the majority or people finding it much more convenient to run down by train, See the Derby and reach London comfortably in time for din- ner. How many people are congregat- ed on the downs on Derby Day is question which has often been asked, and the popular idea is that each Der by is witnessed by about half a mil lion spectators, or, more properly speaking, it is supposed that the above number of persons are on the course. Not that they all see the race, for. un-
 
 business meeting, Epson has varied attractions, and the journey down, the fun of the course and the ct ceteras make up day of pleasure which com nhends itself to great number of the people who are present on the Derby Day.
 It is about sixty years ago that MT. Dorling, clerk of the course, went to Lord George Bentinck, then power on the turf, and regretfully told him that unless some more money were forth coming for the maintenance of the Ep- som summer meeting it would decline, if. indeed, it did not come to a speedy end At that time of course, there was no spring meeting, and no Metropolitan or City or Suburban Handicap. Lord George Bentinck listened to MT. Dor ling's plaintive story and lent him G5- GOO. sum which at that time he could not very well spare, for what with training bills, forfeits and expenses generally, to say nothing of betting, he had his hands pretty full. How ever, he found the amount for MT. Dor ling. whose first step was to secure the services of some trustworthy men, 1n- cluding a few friends of his own, to mount guard at the different gates to preyent the trickery of which ticket holders had formerly been guilty, This wise nrecaution resulted in an increas- cd revenue. and the Epson meeting took new lease of life, the spring meeting came into existence, and Mir. Dorling and his family made their for tune.
 In order that the Derby should not lose it's place in the list of important races, it was determined in 1890 that the event should be worth guaran- teed minimum of G5,000, but in that wear d. very small field took part i'll The race, there being no more than eight starters. On that occasion Sainfoin was the victor from Sure foot but if the last named had been stout hearted horse he should have won. The making of this guarantee has without doubt given the necessary flllip to the Derby Stakes, for there is mo sentiment in racing" and though the Derby could for some time afford to live on it's reputation, the more val uable prizes to be won would probably have done it no small amount of harm in time to come.
 A whole book might be written With out half exhausting the interesting ln- cidents surrounding the Derby, but with limited space at ones dlsposai "