ENGLISH

Our files of papers are full of Derby gossip, some of which I shall summarise as likely to be of interest It >a a noteworthy fact thafe although several filliea were entered for the great race, not one started, the 23 that went not to the front being all colts. Sir Bavys is the property of the member of the Rothschild family who races under the name of "Mr Acton." Mr Leopold Rothschild won ovor £20,000, including two wagers of £4000 and £200, just prior to the f*U of the flag. The Princo of W^s and Lord Roac-b-ry were also " on" Sir Bevya, aud the latter yon £17,000 byflbacking his colt Visconti for a place. The second hcrio, Palrabearer, had 100 to 1 offered freely agsunsb him, and 1000 to 30 for a plaoo. Sir Bevys himself is doscribed by the Field aa being a d*rk brown colt, almost a black, standing ab-ut 15.2, with excellent short leg 3 and great pjwer in his quaitara ; but plain, decidedly plain, and fche sort that in a good year attracts but little attention. His victory of all the cracks ia universally attributed to his formation and strenglh beiog favourable to his getting through the frightfully heavy course ; still there is no attempt to rob him o! the credit of his viotory, and that he is not despised may be judged from the faot that he is being

heavily supported for the St. Leger at 3 to 1, for which race Wheel of Fortune is firafc favourite at 5 to 2. In its notes on the race, the Field thus describes the salient points of the struggle: — "Coming round Tattenham Corner, Caxfconian held the lead, whioh, however, he had sooa to resign t» Palmbearer, who in his tarn was headed by Victor Chief. Coming into the straight the Duke of Westminister's horse flattered his backers, but it was not for long. To the Burpriae of everyone, Visconti challenged and beat him as they approached the Ball, and a loud cry of ' Lord Rosebery wins ' was heard above the din. Palmbearor was, however, sticking to him very closely, when 10, oa the upper ground, and coming from goodness knows where, appeared George Fordham on Sir Bevys. Full ef running, he came op hand over hand, and, easily disposing of Palmbearer and ViscontJ, won, amidst great cheering and enthusiasm, by three parts of a length. Ib was not quite a surprise, for, as we have said, anticipations of an outsider's victory were pretty general j the only question was, which outsider it should be. Sir Bev.rs, who is a slow beginner, was, as we have said, the last for some way, but Fordham bided his time, and, relying on his horsa's stamina, brought him at the critical moment." Paltnorston was completely overlooked by Meeting, only a few weeks before, won the Spring Handicap (6st. 61b.) and the Easterfield Handicap (Bat. 41b.) with considerable, ease. Visconti's running into a place must have greatly pleased the Rosebery party, independent of the money they won thereby for they had always affirmed that that colt'a running in the Two Thousand Guineas was not his best form.

Up to May 31at F. Archer had won 72 races out of 184 ; H. Constable, 31 out of 123 ; C. Wood, 27 out of 118 ; Pagan, 22 out 71 ; H Morgan, 17 out of 93 ; T. Cannon, 17 out of 75. '

On the Thursday at the Epaoai Meeting the Rossbery Handicap of 500 soys was run, and Count de Lagrarge's Phoenix was a hot favourite for it at 2 to lon him ; but just before the race the betting veered round in favour of Paul a Cray, the property of T. Jennings (the Count's trainer.) The result of the race was that Paul's Cray won in a canter, with Phceaix, who never challenged him, second. Some of the spectators raised a terrible hooting when Goater (on Phcenix) returned to scale, and, moreover, tried to get at Tom Jennings, who would have been very roughly handled but for the intervention of the police. The riot— for it nearly approached that dimension— waa disgraceful while it lasted ; it was what we had never seen before, and hope never to sea again at Epsom. As the roughs outside looked dangerous, Jennings and Jim Goater, were sent away in a cab quietly to the railway, and it is to be hopsd the affair will be forgotten. But these popular outbreaks are not pleasant ; they savour too much of that (by some people) regrettable institution, the prize-ring, and chow us what a narrow line there ia, even on our well-conducted racecourses, betwen Judge Lynch and Judge Law. The victory of the American Horse Parole in the Epsom Gold Cup was nothing to boast of, inasmuch as only two other horses started, and it was a weight for-age race, in which Parole carried 13lbs underweight — 10lb for being foreign-bred, and 31b for being a gelding.