“The Press” In 1865

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30947, 31 December 1965, Page 12

“The Press” In 1865

January 2 NEW YEAR’S SPORTS.—The rural sports with which it is becoming customary to welcome in the new year came off yesterday in Latimer Square according to programme, the proposed change of day to the 2nd having been found unadvisable, as few persons could admit of a further extension to the holidays, and both the entries and the attendance would have suffered accordingly. . . . There was the grand stand, a temporary structure, hastily put up, but very serviceable to those who wished to gain a good view of the sports; a row

of booths and stalls, at which, however, owing to the provident care of the Committee, nothing more potent than ginger beer was offered for sale; a bevy of mounted police, prancing to and fro to preserve order and keep the course, a roped and staked run in, with its two long wavering lines of eager spectators, between whom, to render the similarity more exact, the inevitable dog was chivied up and down as though assisting in his own time-honoured fashion to complete the necessary incidents of a real Derby day. But one thing was unaccountably forgotten; there was no band. This was a great oversight