The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-14
AMERICANS WERE
 CONSPICUOUS AT
 GREAT DERBY MEET
British Sporting Event of Year Attended by Great est ThrOngs in His
 tory of Racing
By Associated Press


 London, June 5.-Hundreds of American soldiers and sailors will 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 world s greatest racing classic, and every officer and man who had the day free joyfully seized it.
 Tn popular interest, the derby is to England what the annual baseball ,ham- pionship series is to the United States. But no national event over there is any thing 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, beginning with the long, gay pilgrimage from London to Ep- som Downs, and including public picnic and carnival on the grounds, that the only thing one can faintly compare 1t to in the United States Is what barbecue day used to be during a big race meet at southern county fair.
 It is a great festival shared 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 remark able The war-worn people seized upon it as an opportunity for a kind of peace celebration. For weeks they talked about it and read columns about it in the news papers The feverish excitement prob ably was due to the pent-up nervous emotionalism generated by the war. But derby day was the safety valve.
 Never in the history of the race has there been such huge attendance. An old bookmaker who hasn't missed a derby in 20 years said that the number of ve- hicles alone was not only record. but "a record twice over"
 The Victory derby differed from the derbies of other years not only in the size of the crowd but in the presence of so many men and women in military uniforms. Tommy Atkins was all over the picture Also demobilzed ATTY, wearing his silver service badge, with 'Arriet on his arm. Their was large sprinkling too of the dominion troops. particularly Canadians and Australians, and not a few French and Italian uni forms were in evidence.
 None enjoyed themselves more thor oughly, however, than the American sol oiers. For one thing. the derby was more of a novelty to them than to their overseas cousins, and their interest was piqued in a hundred ways. They were a trifle awed perhaps by the immensity of the thing. Only London could fur nish such a crowd. Almost as far as the eye could reach the great sweep of the downs was a surging mass of peo- pie.
 Sixteen big stands and the mammoth grandstand, which were all packed and running over, held only fraction of the enormous gathering. 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, swarming like ants among the gaudy tents Of the slde shows, the bookmakers' booths, gypsy caravans and vehicles of all descriptions. oL,a md cy1f limousines to Irish jaunting carts and costers' donkey barrows.
 By 1 o'clock it seemed impossible to squeeze another wheel in'so the vast tangle, but the roads from London con tinued to spout their endless stream or traffic into the enclosure. With horns blaring their melodious call, the smart coaches and drags dashed up the long hill. and with shrill cries of mock alarm the pultitude scattered to escape the fly ing hoofs
 Good nature reigned Even the cold, driving rain that set in about noon ana lasted until the time for the derby failed to daunt the crowds high spirits
 The humble folks eyed with respectful curiosity the grand folks from May fair Munching stale sandwiches con- tentedly, they watched the lords and ladies and millionaires attack the tempt ing cold collations spread by servants on the coach tops. One particularly in viting luncheon of lobster, salad and ctampa gne claimed the attention Of hun dreds of eyes.
 "A fair old tuck-in they're 'aving," re- marged the father of large flock di- recting the children's eyes to the feast wish" he added wistfuly, T could squeeze into a beer tent
 The English equivalent of the American tcut is known as a tipster. He doesn't edge up to you softly and whisper in your