DERBY THRILLS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16458, 17 June 1924, Page 5

DERBY THRILLS.

FEVER GRIPS LONDON. DAY OF RECORDS. LONDON, June 4.—lf the Derby does not produce, a sensation it will at least be responsible for two records. Never lias the sweepstake fever affected so many people, and never- has there been so many charabancs engaged to take the parties to the Epsom Downs. Weeks ago all the charabancs in London and its suburbs were booked, and hundreds of others are already en route from the provinces. London motor ’buses are also popular, because the tops form excellent private stands. The General Omnibus Company hast employed a special staff to cope with the applications. Thousands of private motor cars, horse coaches, pony traps, donkey carts, and other miscellaneous only seen cn Derby day, will throng the roads.

Many magistrates throughout the country spent yesterday in hearing charges against sweepstake promoters. Four organisers of the Great Utley sweepstake have each been fined £SO, with £lO5 costs. The Epsom Downs are swarming with swarthy gipsy men and women, who have formed a huge encampment, with fortune-telling booths and other alluring sideshows. Overhead swings a great observation balloon, and circling aeroplanes write, advertisements with thin trails of colored smoke.

“W e are looking forward, to see a strange gathering of types and a glittering picture of the course, even more than the race,” said one member of an Australian, party.