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Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8269, 15 September 1888, Page 2

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JOTHNGB BY THE WAY BY J.K. j fjiian narwoßisr.] i On British soil I How charming is thy Tievr, ( Tby pleasures many, and each pleasure new. EPSOM RACES ON DERBY DAY. \ THE ENTRANCE TO THE COURSE. The main entrance to the course is i between the grandstand and a series of < small stands. There are, in fact, entrances < for foot passengers to the racecourse on each side of the large stand. I passed i along with tho crowd till well in front of i the centre grandstand, and, after pushing I among the crowd for some time, began to wonder where the course was, for I could see nothing but paople spreading sround • in every direction. Were there more at » •Epßom than attend the New Plymouth races ? you ask. Rather ! On either side the great stand are seven smaller stands, single floors, the underneath portion being used for booths. Every three ot these would hold as many people as two the size of the New Plymouth stand. There are seven of these small stands on each side of the great stand. The paddocks in front of each of these Bmaller stands would hold quite as many again as oould be crowded in front and around the New .Plymouth stand. . .^ , THE . GRANDSTAND. The centre of the grandstand towered up five or six tiers of baloonieß, with a roof gallery over all. There was no' roof over the top floor — all open. This seemed an immense affair. There were aleo long wings on either side of the tall oentre building, each of several tiets or storeys. In front of this immense vile of building wore paddocks of equal depth to the paddocks froating the smaller stands, sub-divided, a considerable space both in building and paddock being reierred for Royalty, although but a small portion in contrast with the length of building. Long before the races started all this immense flooring space was filled and the paddocking in front was crowded. From the fence bounding the CQ%Be the ground rose gradually to the lower floor of the buildings. Whether this hill is the natural form of the ground, or-has been artificially made, it could not possibly be better as a lookout around the course. After pushing my way through the crowd for Borne time I made the discovery that soon as I had turned and fronted the long range of buildings I was actual!/ walking the course, the railing enclosing the paddocks in front of the long ranges of buildings being the boundary on one side. THE COURSE. This was made dear v/ben the bell was set agoing for the course to be cleared. By that time I had wandered out of the dense crowd to a point beyond the renowned Tottenham Cornet, and overlooking the straight run home ; and from this point I viewed the clearing of the course, and witnessed the first race I have ever seen at Epsom. In wonderfully quick time this very wide course was oleared of the throug by which it had hitherto been covered, and its full dimensions disclosed. The coarse is somewhat undulatin?, and on higher ground at the outer circle than it is immediately in front of the run homo from Tattenham. It may not be over good in places for the racers, but it is a specially good course for getting good views of the running. The ground falls away sharply on what I suppose must be called the inner boundary of the course opposite the main stands, into what, in New Zealand, would be termed a gully. After crossing the gully the ground rises just as abruptly to a little higher level than the run home portion of the course, and this rise then continues very gently to the outer circle of the course. On the slopes, and continuing up to the higher ground the four-in-hands make a strong chow, followed up by cocoanut men with Aunt Sally's and numerous other games, winkle stalls, boiled eggs, and a very mißcel'aneouß collection of eatables and fruit, and toy, and other stalls, and table and basket hawkers. Between these miscellanies is a wide, clear space for traffic, the further side having nearly a quarter of a mile of hotel and a few temperance refreshment booths. All tbe front of these booths are let out to

professional betting bookmakers. In the endeavours which tbe hundreds of these professionals make (all in couples) to securo some distinctive dress or badge, you mny be sure there are Borne curious sights. About tbe centre of the booths on this side are two or three a la New Plymouth grandstands, the only difference being that they are enclosed with cnnvaß at the sides. The underneath portion of these Btands and small enclosures in front are used as refreshment boethsfor club and the four-in-hand coaching swells. It was a grand. Bight which first presented itself to my astonished gaze on first treacling on what lafterwardsdiscovered to be actually the raoecourse. It was a grander bi.ht, A after the course was oleared, aad during the preparations and actual running of the Derby to stand on the opposite hill, amid its own huge crowd, and see quite HALF A M[LB LENGTH OF UDM.VNIT7, with their faces gently rising from tho boundary rail of the course higher and higher on the rising ground of the enclosed paddocke, and then tier on tier of bilcoaies, with their final enormous top galleries, that of the centre pilo being largest of all and sky raking in height. It wanted nervo to mount this higher eminence ; yet it was crowded at £1 per head, the wings at 10s, and tho extreme outer stands and paddocks at 6^ and 5a each. A quarter of a mile in length of the centre wus of tolera')l> uniform depth. (Jutßiile the ranges of buildings came oanvas refreshment booth?, with, ns on tho leaser hill, all the frontages occupied by betting tnou on small Btands, and the genornl non-pa} ing sightseers in thinner lines, and then every possible description of vehicle. Away, again, above and or. the outer boundary of Tottenham Corner were other crowds. These partook moru of lmtturs and picnic parlies than sportiua people. Tho outing wns of tno fir>t importance to most of these, and the racing but an adjunct. Thti a , in knots, most of the high ground oucloB&d by the boundaries of tho course, which it may bo remarked is fenced nil round, was occupied, and afforded enjoyment to thousands. TUB OERDT RAO 3. There woo forty miauieß* delay in gotting away tho Perby roceri through

one of the animals being fraotious. Every time of attempted start or of a runaway, the whole sea of faoes on the lines of stands told the tale of something of interest moving. We wLo were posted only for the view of the run home, eaoh time of commotion on the opposite stands were i ourselves put in motion, and setting up to our tallest height to catch sight of the racers on turning the corner. Then there was a subsidence. This occurred again and a^ain. Yet there were no conspicuous demonstrations of imoatience during all this Jong and, as it scorned to me, weary waiting. All this time, shows, ooooanut sbootin?, and even stuffing was at a stand still. There was no mistaking when the horses were fairly started. The turning of faoes of the scores of thousands on the stands in following the horses round, and : the increasing excitement, and the general waving and swaying, told plainly enough that the great event would soon be deoided. I saw for a very brief spaoe a couple of horses obse Together at fall stretch, with the jockeys eaoh doing round arm thrashing, with another horse some distance away, then, as if by magic, there was movement everywhere, and the whole wide course which had for so long been kept perfectly clear, was swarming with humanitj . There was not a doubt but that the horses were run to win, and the favorite horse, and also a favorite owner, won the coveted prize. THB GIPSIES AND THB SHOWS. I tried to bant dp the gipsies, but after seeing their comfortable caravans, their well dressed women, and almost English* liko looking children and youngsters, I concluded that conformation to civilised ways had about played them out. There were a few shows, and these placarded "No females allowed." I spent twopence on one. The audiences were nearly all fullbloods, old, middle aged, and young, and the show I was in was a swindle. The few others on the ground were on tbe same lines. Once the swells are inside, every device ieused to extort more money, and as most know what they go in for they fork out, and come away with the very broadest of grins and pleasant faoes and so induce others to patronise the show and be similarly swindled. The Derby seems to be an all round fun dar, and the lords and ladies intermix thoroughly with the crowds of commoner! and do a thorough inspection, and some evidently enjoy a short sharp brush with a rough. I saw just a couple of instances, sharp and sweet. The crowds close and " aobo'ly knows nothing." There wera strolling playera, made-up darkies, conjurers, and performers and beggars of every degree. But they were lost in such an immense gathering. 1 had hoped to send newspaper estimates as to numbers* I have not, however, 86en any attempt to estimate the enormous crowds. The railways published returns, but there were quite ac many, if not more, by road. \To be continued.^