ASTONISHING DERBY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13656, 27 July 1908, Page 7

ASTONISHING DERBY.

A SURPRISE WIN.

A London exchange in describing Derby Day (June 3rd last) says: A beautiful summer day, an open race, and all the associations of an historic contest made a combination of attractions which London could not resist, and consequently Epsem was the general rendezvous. \ ery eariy in the morning the roads leading to the cotuee were given up to the traffic making for the downs. There was the coster and his donkey andi the rich man with his four-in-hand, and. the various degrees of the middle elassts came /m between with motor-bus.s and private cans. , The main feature of the day, however, was the prevalence of ' the motor. The taxi-cab was constantly in evidence; the motor-bus, the electro-bus, the private car, followed; one after the other, and it was beyond question a motor Derby. All records of traffic were surpassed, and many began the journey in the early hours of the morning, when the sun had barely risen. From that time onward the stream was continuous, and tho scents on the road were suggestive of the brightest days of this classic meeting. The niggers, who pretend to walk dottn, were constantly placing themselves in the forefront of the groups at the gathering points, and the cornet playeis, whose sKia is in the-'lesser ratio to their lung power, were almost bla/tant in their vigorous address to the instruments which thoy no geuerally abused. But there was one original genius who adapted himself most inventively to the strange circumstances of the day. Arrayed in a thin jersey, with a pair of trousers sustained by a belt, and his feet encased in a pair of running pumps, he chased up and down the road, bearing on his head an inverted stone jar; Whin he saw- a conveyance .passing by with faces beaming svmpathetical.y, he rushed after it, still sustaining the strange burden which he carried overhead, and gathered nil his coppers with perfect nonchalance. RECORD-BREAKING CROWD.

And so we came to the historic downs, and found an amazing and record-break-ing crowd assembled there. Whether it was the glorious weather, or the glorious uncertainties of the principal race of the day, or the traditional desire ofall good Britons to participate in the circumstanct.6 of this'elm sic meeting, the famous heath, was almost impassable. For years pa&t there has be-'n no such gathering at Epsom. On ihe popular side there was all the fun of the fair. The jellied eels had quite) utmecuVary prominence, because the heat, gave them a very doubtful sanitary certificate, and the meat pies were equally questionable, because the virtues of the hot gravy which was poured out of a watering-can were hardly to be. accetptjLd en the recommendation of the vendor, who declared it to be "sweet and fresh." The tipsters who professed to be inspired from "the'horses' mouths" wero offering their advice at a prepoi terously small fee, and the acrobats and other entertainers were making the best of a very favourable occasion. In fact, Epsom repeats itself, whether it hi wet or fine, vear by year. It was a great popular carnival, and there was no sign of anxiety on the part of the populace to discover the • distinguished visitors to . Epsom. Probably veiy few were.aware that the King and Queen Alexandra, with Princess Victoria, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchtfs of Connanght, Prince Christian and Princess Victoria of Schles-wig-Holstein had: gone down from Victoria by special train, and were watching the racing. The first race, "for the Caterham Plate, was won by an outsider, and the omen was accepted by some as being indicative of the tendencv of luck in the day's sport; but when, after the luncheon inttrval.the candidates for the palm of victory in the Derby Slakes reined up before the starter " Uhero were few who imagined that the issue would be left to horses to which the public Bad given little thought. A GENEROUS CHEER. Norman 111. and Mountain Apple were jointly favourites, but the race was destined to be iull wf surprises. When Signorinetta, a filly which had hardly been thought, of in the betting, was seen to be coming oufc with a winning lead about a quarter of a mile from home a singularly cold silence fell upon the throng gathered on the downs, and it seemed 'as

though the victory, which was by that time inevitable, would be unpopular.

But the success of an outsider was such a sportiDg finish to a classic race so full of uncertainties, that when the Chevalier Ginistrelli, an Italian millionaire who had been a consistcst follower of sport on tibe Englkh turf, went forward, very pleased and very excited, to lead in the winner, there was a generous cheer from the assembled crowds on the Stand side of the course. The winner was f-;o 'little " fancied" that she was returned at 100 to 1 in the betting, and the vast multitude, after it had overcome the first consf.einaion at the extraordinary issue of tho race, was disposed to be genial and happy. And thus it was that when the distinguished visitors had left the course the typically British crowd went home, by road, by rail, by motor-bus, and by horsed carriages, with the full conviction that a most delightful day had been spent. And in the evening, on the roads leading back to London, there was a brilliant illumination which proceeded from the lamps which every wayfarer deemed it his duty to attach to the vehicle which was bearing him home. FALSE PROPHETS.

The perils of prophecy were never more fully brought home to the prophet than by this year's Derby result. For weeks past the men who study th" " form" of horses and keep an anxious betting public informed of the prospects of the various runners have been delivering, their souls on the subject. - They have had their little differences of opinion, but that did not prevent each of them speaking as with the voice of authority. Some of them, to their credit let it be said, were different and, on the morning of the race, gave alternative winners. But twenty-five prophets, who uttered their verdict of anticipation, in twenty-five different journals, were unanimous in ignoring the winner of this year's Derby. Signorinetta! There might never have been such a hcr.se even entered. And as for Primer, who followed Signorinetta to tho winning-post, that gallant horse was singled out only by ttie "tipster" of one paper, who erred by giving it first instead of second place. Llangwm, third in the great race, earned the confidence of another prophet to the extent of second place, and was awarded an undefined place by yet another.

After this, who will doubt the wisdom of the saying "Never prophesy unless you know." But if this injunction were acted upon, the occupation of the sporting prophet would be gone and the bookmakers might close down their business." ■i They went home rejoicing, for the prophets had put money in their purses. Five of them gave Perrier first place, and those who did not back the King's horse on then." authority did so, perhaps, from a certain sense of patriotism.

The other favourites were Sir Archibald, who also was signalled out by live seers, and Norman 111., Mountain Apple, and White Eagle. Not one of these horses even had. a place.