Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-07-06
ALL ENGLAND
TURNED OUT
FOR VICTORY
DERBY RACES
Yanks Who Were in London
During Derby Day Will
Never Forget Biggest
English Sporting Event.

GUyilSII opUl lIIIY EVcIIl'
London, June 5.-(By the Asso-
eiated Press.)-Hundreds of Ameri-
Can soldiers and sailors have another
good story to tell the home folks
when they get back-the story Of
the Victory Derby. This was their,
chance to see the worlds greatest
racing classic, and every officer and
man who had the day free joyfully
seized it.
In popular interest, the Derby is
to England what the annual base
ball championship series is to the
United States. But no national
event over there is anything like it.
The race, of course, is the climax
and it focuses everybody's atten-
ton, but Derby day has so many
other elements of interest, begin
! ming with the long, gay pilgrimage
to EPSON Downs, and including a
public picnic and carnival on the
grounds, that the only thing one can
family compare it to in the United
States is what Barbecue day used
to be during big race meet at a
southern county fair.
S-t Day for King and Beggar.
1t is a great festival shored in by
all kinds of people, from king to
beggar. Interest in the Derby,
which was revived at EPSON this
year for the first time since 1914,
was nothing short of remarkable.
the war-worn people seized UPON it
as an opportunity for kind OF
peace celebration. For weeks they
talked about it and read columns
about it in the newspapers. The few
erish excitement probably was due
to the pent-up nervous emotional
ism generated by the war. But Der
by day was the safety valve.
Never in the history Of the race
has there been such a huge attend
ance. An old bookmaker who
hasn't missed a Derby in 20 years
said that the number of vehicles
dloHC was ilol olliN a iNSoANs cN*S q
record twice over"
Sixteen big stands and the NAM
moth grandstand, which were all
packed and running over, held only
fraction of the enormous gather
ing. The mile and a half course of
/ the Derby race was lined solidly
with spectators on each side every
foot of the way. Scores Of thou
sands congested the infield, swarm
ing like ants among the gaudy tents
of the side shows, the booknlakers'
booths, gypsy caravans and vehicles
OF all descriptions, from aristocratic
coaches and glistening limousines to
Irish jaunting carts and costers'
donkey-barrows.
Endless Stream of Vehicles.
By o'clock it seemed impossible
to squeeze another wheel into the
vast tangle. but the roads from Lon
don continued to spout their end
less stream of traffic into the en-
closure. With horns blaring their
melodious call, the smart coaches
and drags dashed up the long hill,
and with shrill cries of mock alarm
the multitude scattered to escape
the flying hoofs.
Good nature reigned. Even the
cold, driving rain that set in about
noon an blasted until the time for
the Derby, failed to daunt the
crowds high spirits.
The humble folk eyed with re-
spectful curiosity the grand folk
from Mayfair. Munching stale
sand hes contentedly, they
watched the lords and ladies and
nlillionaires attack the tempting cold
collations spread by servants on the
coach tops. One particularly invit-
ing luncheon of lobster, salad and
champagne claimed the attention of
Bawls Out Tip.
The English equivalent of the
American tout is known as a tip
ster. He doesn't edge up to you
softly and whisper in your ear that
he has the dope" direct from the
feed box" The tipster bawls out
to all and sundry that he knows
what's what. and that you can have
his priceless information for meas
1y 'arf crown. Much of his har-
sngue will be devoted to maligning
other tipsters in his neighborhood
"Tliev calls themselves tipsters," he
exclaims Indignantly. "Why, they
couldn't tip their own mothers out
3 of a wheelbarrow." And, after
drawing a laugh from the crowd, he
becomes very, very solemn and
talks in hushed tones about the
"stone certainties' you can acquire
from him for your beggarly two and
six.
The victory of the king. horse
in the second race raised the crowds
! spirits to pinnacle of delight. But
the defeat of the Derby favorite was
Il facer hard to endure. All the Joy
seemed to leave the crowd. Glumly
and silently they began the trip back
to London. =