THE WORLD’S NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8178, 20 July 1912, Page 9

THE WORLD’S NEWS

ENGLISH DERBY DAY

jREAT RACE RUN IN A BLAZE.OF SUNSHINE. MULTITUDE GREETS KING AND QUEEN. EPSOM, Juno 7. ‘‘Tho grey maro is tho best horse, after nJU" Derby Day was Ladiiw’ Day, and it was '‘ladies first” all tho way. Tho beautiful Tagalii; won the great rare with all the ease and consciousness of a fine lady leading her admirers across Hie groon. She never faltered, never lor nno moment was her supremacy indoubt, ’i'ho flag feH, tho historic “Derby roar,’ “They'ro oil went up in the glowing sunshine with the excited sob ol tens and tons of thousands at tho tail of it, and tho bravo little lady horse, with proudlynrehed neck ami sweeping tail, went away and up tho hill liko a haro. Sho was tho only filly in tho race, and a grey one at that. They were all saying in tho Stand around mo this morning that a grey horse novor had won tho Derby, and never would 1 So there j'ou are 1 Tagalio not only won; sho was supremo through every moment of. the raoo —every inch of it. Very, very soon, nineteen gentleman-horses, with tho right spirit of tho trno equine aristocrat, acknowledged themselves Tngal'.e’s faithful servants and followers. Most respectfully, and yet ardently, they galloped in her train. All tho way she was shelving them nor heels, a clean pair of them, silver-plated, flashing like summer lightning. A BEAUTIFUL SETTING. There never- was '■ a prettier race for tho Blue Riband of tho Turf. After all, tho weather was perfect. One little spatter of rain fell just before lunch, and then the sun mine out and shono most gloriously in a glorious heaven of blue. At tho caressing touch of a southwest wind little white clouds romped across tho sky, liko lambs. The air was sweet, tho turf was green and soft—soft enough for tho most tender-toed filly that ever cantered —and tho scene on tho Downs was bright enough to stir tho cold blood of melancholy to antics of emotion.

The crowd was tremendous. Ur Henry Chaplin, who won the Derby with Hermit in 1867, and who was here to-day os bluff and ns hearty as' ever, gazed across at tho Hill through his monocle and declared that ho never remembered such a gathering. Tho crowd stretched without a visible threat around tho whole vast circle of the course, with its concentrating points around die stands and opposite on tho UiU, where, as over, all tho fun of the fair raged and shrilled. At times tho clatter was almost stunning, and when, just' before lunch, tho King and Queen drove up Irom the Downs station tho entire seethe >f humanity burst out in a cheer of icarty greeting. IN THE ROYAL BOX. Tho King wore a morning suit and i silk_hat; the,Queen.a„amart grey cloth coat and skirt, with a pretty grey and white hat adorned with white feathers. The largo party in tho Royal b°s included Rrinco Christian and his elder daughter, Princess Victoria of SchleswigHolstein, tho Duka and Duchess of Teck. and tho Hereditary Grand Duke of Jleck-lenbulrg-SltrcLitr. A groat number of fashionable people wore present, but Epsom, unlike .Vscot, is not a “dressy” function; it is a popular carnival, full of the spirit and tho clamour of a go-as-you-please festival. , King Goorgo bad Pintadeau running in tho big race, and Pintadeau seemed to have as good a chanco as any other colt In what was very generally considered to be the most puzzling Epsom problem on record. In tho parade, which made the prettiest picture imaginable on this brilliant afternoon, tho King’s colt showed Royal mettle, and led tho glittering cavalcade most proudly, with tho purple, gold braid, and scarlet sleeves flaming richly in tho actinic atmosphere. A splendid kaleidoscope of colour followed, as the favourite (Sweeper II.) sporting green •hoops, and Tagalie carrying a Parisian creation of dark blue, scarlet-hooped sleeves, and a jaunty scarlet cap, came Into view. Among the rest rainbow colours gleamed, and when tho race began (with a whoop!) these tints, passing and repassing on the vivid green background with all the variations of a maypolo dance dazzled ns, composed us, charmed us. Watching this delicious pastoral and following with excited eye the magnificent motion of these wonderful horses, wo .could forgot, for tho (time, and pardon the sordid sea of humanity that heaved over tho downs in witnessing a thrilling and a splendid struggle. A RUNAWAY VICTORY. Well, what began in doubt" and turmoil was over and done with in the twinkling of an eye. They say that tho Derby of 1912 was won in a canter. But this was not* so. Tagalie, for all her charming little femininities, proved herself to be shod with lightning. Her pace .up the Hill ami all the way to Tattenham Corner was killing. She shot away from her brethren lengths ahead «s soon as the tapes flew up, and there was never a colt in the stream thunder ing along behind her that could catch her up. Like a grey rocket she '“shot” the famous Corner, and little Johnny Reiff, her jockey, never so much as raised his whip to her. And so she won. easily enough, with tho King’s horse unplaced, but a sturdy fourth, and the crowd. . . .speechless, and with hardly any heart to cheer. Of course, there was a shout, but it wasn't the Derby shout, and the scene was curiously reminiscent of that amazing afternoon when Signorinetta won the great prize for that interesting Italian *.ho Chevalier Ginistrelli. Tagalie’s proud owner led her in. He is Kir Raphael, a popular City stockbroker—a tall, well-groomed man in a tall white hat. He was overcome with the emotion of his victory—dazed and giddy as tho filly pranced lightly at his shoulder. She was fresh enough, and her neck was just as proudly arched as it had been in tho parade a little time before. And there was a saucy twinkle in her eye!