THE DERBY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17864, 4 June 1926, Page 4

THE DERBY.

DAY MARRED BY RAIN. ONLY THE BOOKMAKERS SMILE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and X.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, June 2. Sheets of rain swept the Epsom Downs from daylight. Hundreds who had camped there overnight were like drowned rats. Thousands arrived by train and found the place practically a great lake. Many re-entrained for home. The roads bore a gigantic procession of vehicles. Once in the grip it was impossible to turn back. The wheels chopped up the sodden ground, and buses and motors sank axle deep. Epsom Town was packed with miserable racegoers, sheltering in every available nook. The half-mile dash to the course really required punts. The whole course was a vast vista of dripping umbrellas and covered ’ vehicles. It was impossible for passengers to alight owing to the quagmire. Within an hour of the race it poured pitilessly, and at the moment of starting the downpour was intensified, and the course was enveloped in mist: Rain washed off the bookmakers’ odds, and the attempts to write them on the blackboards were abandoned. The conditions provided a most severe test of Londoners’ good humour, and it must be frankly admitted that they did not come out of the ordeal With flying colours. Conditions became worse late in the afternoon and heavy buses were bogged hopelessly. Straw had to be laid to facilitate their exit for the journey homewards. The only smiles were on the faces of the bookmakers, who are estimated to have saved £2.000,000 as the result of Colorado’s defeat. A little mongrel dog will long figure in the debates on the 1026 Derby. Just how far it affected the result is problematical. When the horses were thundering round Tottenham Corner the dog dashed across, barking furiously. It just missed the hoofs of Coronach, j who was leading, and came close to Colorado, who swerved violently. It is an open question whether this was due to fright. The dog sprang at several horses and then ran back to the crowd. Many blame the dog. but good judges say Colorado was beaten beforehand.