SPORTING. THE RACE FOR THE EPSOM DERBY. History of the Dead Heat.—Exciting Scene. (From our Own Correspondent. )

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 60, 26 July 1884, Page 5

SPORTING. THE RACE FOR THE EPSOM DERBY. History of the Dead Heat.— Exciting Scene. (From our Own Correspondent. )

London, May 31. Derby Day broke cold and cheerless, but tho weather had little effect on the attendance, which was, as is ever the case, " the largest on record." From eight in tho morning till two in the afternoon the J S miles of road between London and Epsom was one unbroken line of vehicles. The two railway companies despatched no less than 12S special trains from various stations in tho metropolis to the Downs, and in addition excursions were run direct to the course from all tho great provinci.l cities. Once again I was amazed at the orderly manner in which the extraordinary traffic on this day of days is managed. Arriving at Victoria soon after noon, I found hardly any crush to speak of. We filed on in line to the platform, where the train filled, and left in about three minutes, its place being immediately taken by another. Arrived on the course, 1 repaired to the paddock, where the Derby horses were having their toilettes put to rights. The three I fancied were Mr .Rothschild's Talisman, Mr Gerard's St. Medard,andMr Hammond's St. Gatien. Wood rode the latter, and that, in itself, was enough to make many people go "nap" on the colt. At a quaiter to three precisely fifteen runners were telegraphed, and a few minutes later Mr Long's Condor headed the parade and exercise canter, in which St. Medard and Talisman seemed to go best. The feature of the betting was the general decline of the favourites, who were all a point or two easier when the full strength of the field was guaged. The Derby Stakes of SOsovs each, h ft ; colts, 9st ; fillies, Sst fllb ; second received 300sovs, and tnird loOsovs ; about a mile and a half, starting at the New High Level Starting Post. 18« subs. Mr J. Hammond's b c St. Gatien. by Rotherliill or The Rover— St. Editha (C. Wood) . . t Sir J. Willoughby's brc Harvester, by Sterling—Wheatear (S. Loates) t Sir J. Willouerhby's eh f Queen Adelaide, by Hermit— Adelaide (if. Webb) 3 Also ran:— St. Medard (F. Archer), Talisman (T. Cannon), Loch Ranza (J". Watts), Brest (A.. Wainright). Waterford (J. Osborne), Bedouin (Giles), Richmond (C. Loates), Bcauchamp (C. Bowman). Borneo (W. Platt), Condor (H. Morgan), Woodstock (J. Goater), Hopeful Dutchman (G. Marks). The betting at the start was : o to 2 against Queen Adelaide, 6 to 1 against St. Medard, 7 to 1 against Talisman, 10 to 1 against Richmond, 100 to 8 against St. Gatien, 100 to 7 against Harvester. The field was sent away to a splendid start, the whole fifteen running well together for about a quarter of a mile. St. Gatien then showed in front, but Wood pulled him back, and Borneo took up the running, followed by Richmond and Waterford. As they swept round Tattenham Corner the colours of the former and Borneo were still prominent, Queen Adelaide lying in a comfortable place behind the latter, with Harvester and St. Gatien on the outside. By this time the chances of St. Medard and Talisman had been extinguished, and Beauchamp also seemed to be dropping behind. Entering the straight, Queen Adelaide was blocked by Borneo, who prevented her getting through, and by the time the latter compounded Webb had resolved to take the outside. Meanwhile St. Gatien drew well to tho front, closely pursued by Harvester, at the sight of whose colours in such a position the crowd literally yelled with mingled surprise and mortification. The pair drew right away from Queen Adelaide and Waterford (who assumed third and fourth places respectively), and then a race such as has seldom been seen even at Epsom ensued. Opposite the Grand Stand St. Gatien led by fully half a length, and loud shouts proclaimed his easy victory. Loates, however, was by no means done with. Ascending the hill he drew his whip, and administered a severe rib -binder to Harvester. The colt answered with the utmost gameness, literally seeming to leap forward, and the pair ran past the judge's box locked together so closely that no one save that sapient functionary himself could pos sibly say which was victor. For a minute the betting ring literally boiled with excitement, all sorts of wagers as to the result being taken and offered. Then the numbers went up 1 and 15 in a line with 2 (Queen Adelaide) third. The latter, I ought not to forget to mention, ran a great mare at the last. She was overhauling the leaders rapidly, and but for her ill-luck in being blocked would have been very near winning. Waterford was fourth and Brest fifth. The result did not please the populace, and very little cheering ensued when Sir John Willoughby and Mr Hammond elected to divide. St. Gatien was emphatically the " sharps " horse, all regular followers of the turf being on him to a man, but the strange doings in connection with Harvester made his part of tho success the reverse of palatable. Had Queen Adelaide or St. Medard won, the great B.P. would have cheered for ever. The time was unusually good— 2mins. 46secs. Value of the stakes, Jt 4, 600. Both Mr Hammond and Sir John Willoughby throw in for good stakes, though the latter has not exactly broken the ring as he hoped to, Toastmaster has again been distinguishing himself in England. At the Doncastei Spring Meeting he carried top weight, Bsfc,

81b., and won the Spring Handicap of swosovs. by six lengths from 13 other starters. It was a rather sensational victory, for when the horses assembled at the post Toastmaster suddenly jumped the rails, got rid of his rider, Watts, and had a gallop on his own account. At one time it appeared doubtful if Watts would catch the horse in time to get back to the post, and 100 to 4 was laid against him, but eventually the horse was caught, and as the starter gave him a little grace he cantered back and was sent off with the others. Long before reaching the distance he had spread-eagled his field, and ran the mile in the extraordinary time of lmin. 39secs., which is the fastest on record. From Australian papers to hand this week I gather that the Melbourne Cup handicap has been most favourably received in all quarters. Owing to the coursing and V.X.C. Steeplechase Meeting, the betting has not yet settled down, but two important moves have been made, Garfield for the Derby being coupled with Sweet William for the Cup to win £40,000, and with Maroney to win £15,000. Maroney is a Sydney horse, nominated by Mr J. Foulsham, and was got by Captivator from Meta. "Vigilant" in the '" Melbourne Sportsman " thinks the twelve best handicapped horses in the Cup are Sweet William, Warwick, Dirk Hatteraick, Jessie, Despot, Sir Garnet, Garfield, Boolka, Conjecture, Claptrap, The Broker, and Tremando. "Augur" has commenced an extended analysis, and down to 7st. 81b. he likes best the chances of Le Grand, Sweet William, Warwick, Bristol, First Demon, and Despot. In the " Town and Country Journal" "Martindale" writes as follows: — One that strikes me as being exceedingly well in is Ned o' the Hills, and the owner of Stockwell cannot complain. Wallangra at 7st. lib. should have a chance; and were Recovery to cotne to the post he would be well master of 7&t. Further down the list there is nothing very stiiking, and perhaps the best are King of the Gipsies, Lord Clifden, Cairngorm, Helena, Tremando, and Tomboy ; and the three I like best are Stockwell, Ned o' the Hillrf, and Reginald.