The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-05-26

l IpSOH DOWIS. LOnOOn, May ZO.-ll
 took more than simple rain storm
 to dampen the ardor of the fans that
 wanted to see the Derby run today
 and the crowd that is now packed about the track is one of the largest
 in the history of the course. The exodus set in sbout midnight and | from that hour on the IS miles of roads | that stretch between London and the Downs has been black with people. Every conceivable method of transpor- tat1on has been pressed into use and big high powered automobiles have been followed by the donkey and cart of the London Coster who hold Derby Day more dear than any ether event. 'Arry and his 'Arriet logged along muddy roads arm in arm exchanging g repartee with the occupants of the ve- hicles and having the time of their lives. Incidentally there was wide criticism of the officials who had staked their reputation on, the forecast of fair weather and which had caused the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the members of the Royal household to decide to motor to the track. The big cars had just been drawn up in front of Bucking- ham when the rain, which had been light until that time, became a regu- lar downpour. The auto trip was at once abandoned and the Royal train, which had been held in readiness for the emergency, was pressed into ser vice.
 The scene in and about Bosom Downs was fully as unique and pie turesque as ever. Every conceivable brand of fakir was there with his catch-penny device to corral the small change of the multitude. And they got the money. The crowd was there to spend the savings of the year and there was little complaint so the knife games, the cane rings. the Punch and Judy. shows and all of the hundred and one propositions that are so dear to the heart of Britain, all had their share of patronage and reaped the golden harvest.
 On the hills behind the starting line crowds were gathered as thick as flock of birds as soon as morning dawped. The gypsy men whose wo- men were gathered about the Downs fortune-telling, hangers-on- of the sta- bles and idlers who talked of this and that congregated by the thousand.
 Great crowds were gathered about the stables where the runners in the big race were stabled but. police were in evidence and there was no disorder. A big crowd was backing the Kings bets and the bookies who sprung up in the midst of the crowd were rushed with business. While this was going on, however. the Americans were busy backing Sir Martin and there was world of money sent into the big en- closure on Lord Carnarvon's Valens, WnOSe OQQ$ crun1Df6u 1dplQly DeIOTe the onslaught of the big money.
 At noon Secretary Darling posted the list of the official starters It showed that H. J. King had withdrawn Carroussel while w. Rapae1 had add ed Brooklands as a sta ble mate to Louyiers. He has Jockey Blackburn up and will set the pace for the first
 nile- The official list of starters and jockeys was:
 King Edwards Minoru, Jockey H. Jones.
 Lord Carnovaon's valens, F. w. Wooten.
 A. Barriers Bayardo. Danny Mahr.
 J. B. JoelPS Story, WalgriggS. Duke of Portlard's Phaleron Earl.
 w. Rapael, Loi1viers. Stern.
 w. Rapa aei's Brcoklands, Blackburn.
 J. Buchanan's Diamond Stud, Hal
 Louis winan's Sir Martin. skeets
 Lord Mitchelhams' William the Fourth, Higgs.
 GT1ggs.
 A. H. Ledlie's Electric Boy, w. Bray
 c. S. Newton's Sandbath. Keeble.
 R. Mills Prester Jack, Rockford.
 Captain Northey-Hopkins' St. Min nian Trigg.
 At noon Minoru was tine favorite at to with the price holding firm and much money being placed on his chances; Sir Martin had gone back to
 
 of Valens and a report that Sir Martin will not extend himself fully on a heavy track; Valens was third choice at to l. with that price generally shaded outside of the enclosure; Lou viers was quoted at 19- to 2 and Bay ardo at 100 to 9, with all others held a t fancy prices ranging from as high as 800 to l in some instances.
 The big five decker grandstand was filled to suffocatiOn at Il o'clock and at that time the carria ges and auto mobiles formed continuous stream from Epsom to London. It was nec- essary for them to proceed at a snail's | pace owing to the congestion and the | crowds which were making the jour | ney afoot. The first party of Amerf- | cans to put in appearance was | Clarence H. Mackay and his party in | the Vanderbilt coach, Venture. In the l coach were J. P. Morgan, Frank J. Gould. Charles Carroll, Mrs. May of | Washington and MT. and Mrs. Walter | derbilt tooled the coach- 9;s5 Behind it | came the' other Vanderbilt coach, Vim | ming, in which were MT. and Mrs. l Harry Payne Whitney, Herman Doug-i James M. and Larry Waterbury. MT. | and Mrs. L. E. Stoddard and Thomas Phelan.
 Hundreds of other Americans were in the throng. Richard Croker and | Andrew Freedman occupied a box, | while lowering about the former chief | of Tammany Hall was Tod Sloan and l Kid Mccoy. Starter Willoughby made trip to the jockey house before noon and called all of the boys who have in the big race about him. He warned them that he would hold -hem responsible for the. conduct of heir mounts at the start and intimat- d that anyone who tried to beat the gate would draw a lengthy suspen- ;ion- r
 Despite the fact that the Derby has ,een run 130 times. this not taking. in