GRAND PRIX DE PARIS. SPEARMINT'S POPULAR, VICTORY.

I Late English files just to hand give some interesting particulars of Spearmint's great victory in France. Years j have elapsed since the winner of the EngI Hsh Derby crossed the Channel to take part in the Grand Prize of Paris, founded under the Empire by the efforts of the .Due de Morny, for the purpose of establishing a comparison of merit between ths efforts of breeders in England and in France. St. Blaise and Merry Hampton tried for the dual crown which was worn jby Gladiateur, Cremorne, and Kisber, and might have fallen to Minting had be ! not had the misfortune to have met with an Ormonde at Epsom. The French ! stables have shown considerable improvement since then, and the possession of such sires as Flying Fox appeared during the last few years to place the race beyond the reach of visitors, although M, Edmond Blanc was not more fortunate ' with his different expeditions organised ' for the purpose of bringing homo another Derby such as that won by Count de Legrange in 1865. An unfortunate combination of circumstances warred against him last year, and Jardy was beajer by Cicero. The present year has been 7a bad one in a hippie sense for the French I stables, and the best horse, Prestige, had I no classic engagements owing to the un- < timely death of his breeder, who would 1 have been overjoyed had it fallen to his J lot to see such a good" horse run in his , colours. The French Derby was won jby Maintenon, a good, honest horse, ! and excitement grew keen among sports- . men when it was known,. after the decij sion in favour of Spearmint at Epsom, I that .he would cross the Channel and | carry, the same colours as Pretty Polly, I whose futile ' attempt to win the Prix dv Conseil Municipal two years ago was due I to an error of calculation on the part of j her rider. The excitement was increased, when the further announcement was made i 1 that the owner of Malua, whose race at' j Epsom was not deemed correct -form, would join issue with Spearmint in attempting to carry back the ten thousand odd sovereigns which go with the Blue Riband of the International Turf. It is said that the owner, supporting hio , confitJence in ths son of Carbine, invested £SUOO for the place and £2000 on thn winning chance of Spearmint, and his lead was followed so that the winner produced almost, the same result to win as for a place. ' that is to t say, 9 to 10 for a win and 8 to 10 for a place, while the returna from the side stands, where the majority I of the visitors are French nnd supported their own horses from a spirit of patriotism, were considerably extended, bringing in about 2to 1. There was a total of investments on the Grand Prix alone of over £90,000, as against £49,000 last year. Spearmint showed his superiority during the race, for Dillon '(the rider of Spearmint) took a good place on the rails at "the- start, and kept with the leaders until ho wanted to set a stronger pace, which told its tale on most of the Frencli horsfes.' Brisecoeur made a bold attempt to wrest victory from the grasp of Spearmint, who showed great courage when called on by Dillon, and Brisecoeur was unable to reach him quite, although as the couple passed the stands locked together cries of "Brisecoeur!" were raised, to, be I drowned a few seconds after by;_ loud hurrahs from thie English visitor? in the stands, re-echoed back into the paddock, the side 'stands,' and' out' on, the heath. The < victory of Spearmint ' was well .re-ceived-on every side, andhia owner, received 'the congratulations of all the French owners and' sportsmen, who deemed that ,the. success of the .'son of Carbine was. a fitting ' compensation for lhe disappointment with Pretty Polly. , Judging from the accounts published in the papers Spearmint had a narrow t escape from serious injury in returning' by i train, mention of which "was made in the j cable messages at tho time. The box in I which tho champion was being conveyed started from Saint Denis, and all went well until the Amiens station was reached at twenty-five minutes past one on the following morning. The train was to continue its run to Boulogne-sur-Mer at seven minutes after two, but for some reason or another the car in which Spearmint was travelling was in tho meanwhile separatod from the others, and «omo wagons which had been moved by mistake on to that particular line ran into it. So violent wag the shock that Spearmint's box was hurled forward, and would have gone right off the lino but for the wonderful alacrity displayed by the attendant in charge, who jumped into it and. assisted by M. Vccoville, the vice-president of the Club dcs Sports, who .happened to be passing by Amicna, applied the brake with such effect that tho vehicle was stopped in its risky career. As it was Spearmint's halter and girthband were broken, and he sustained HevC' ral bruises in the region of the left eye. Fortunately, it was no worse, and it certainly was a remarkable escape. Tho lad. was also hurt about the. head,