EPSOM RecEs.
The two main features of Epsom races this year were, that the grand day was one of the most dismal weather, and that the great stake was won by an "outsider," which stood only twelfth in the betting.
The weather was forbidding, and the sport inferior, on the first day, Tuesday. A North-east wind kept the railway trains but meagrely loaded, and confined the company on the Downs toracino•° men,' and only the most enthusiastic of those who make up the tens of thousands of the ge- neral company on days of fine weather.
For the Manor Plate, on Tuesday, fifteen horses started. Mr. Magennis's 'The Heriot, (Freeborne,) was first ; Mr. Hill's Hothorpe, (A. Day,) second ; Mr. Payne's Catalpa, (Flatman) third ; there being only the space of a head in favour of each one over the next.
The second day, on Wednesday, was one of incessant rain from six 'o'clock in the morning down to the moment when the "great event" came off. The company was wofully thinned ; the carriages were but few," the names of the distinguished legislators and sportsmen fill but a short list, and there was "a remarkable falling off in the attendance of ladies," which deepened the elemental gloom. For the Derby Stakes of 501. each, for three-year olds, there were 181 sub- scribers, and 27 starters. The winner was Mr. Bowes's Daniel O'Rourke, ridden by F. Butler. The second horse was Mr. Bradshaw's Barbarian, (Hiett) ; the third was Mr. Dorrien's Chief Baron Nicholson (Kitchener) ; and the fourth was Mr. Merry's Hobble Noble (W. Sharpe.)
Betting at the Start-7 to 2 apt Little Harry (t), 4 to 1 agst Hobbie Noble, 11 to 1 apt Harbinger, 11 to 1 agst Alcoran (t), 12 to 1 agst Claverhouse (t), 14 to 1 agst Kingston (t), 16 to 1 agst Stockwell, 20 to 1 agst Alfred the Great (t), 20 to 1 agst Womersley, 25 to 1 agst Daniel O'Rourke (t), 25 to 1 agst Joe Miller, 25 to 1 agst Augur, 25 to 1 agst Orelio, and 40 to 1 agst any other. the Race. Little Harry got the lead, but the running was not remark- able for anything but slowness till they came to the turn ; the turf being in such a condition from therein, (one account says,) the weak horses could only just keep out of a trot. At the turn, the favourite Little Harry was evi- dently in distress; in a few strides further he gave way. At that point Bar- barian took a decided lead ; Hobble Noble and Chief -Baron Nicholson lying second and third on the lower side, and Daniel O'Rourke fourth, on their right. From the half distance the race was left entirely to this lot. At a few strides from the chair, Daniel O'Rourke came up with a rush, and won by half a length ; Barbarian being a length before Baron Nicholson, and Robbie Noble a head behind the Baron. "It was at first thought in the stand that Barbarian had won, and loud were the expressions of triumph amongst the Irish party ; and when it was ascertained that Daniel O'Rourke had first caught the Judge's eye, their delight was scarcely less enthusiasti- cally expressed—one noble Marquis throwing up his hat and betraying symp- toms of unrestrained gratification. Daniel O'Rourke, although by an Irish 'stallion, was bred in England ; he is the property of a gentleman who has bred two other Derby winners—Mundig and Cotherstone.
On the third day, Thursday, the weather was misty, the company again thin, and the sport not worth notice. The fourth day, yesterday, was the best attended of all ; but as the weather was doubtful the absence of the fair sex was sadly noticeable. Lord Derby himself was among the notables who showed. The Oaks Stakes of 501. each, for three-year-old fillies, (123 subscribers) won by Mr. John Scott's Songstress, (Butler) ; the second horse being Mr. R. Wright's Bird on the Wing, (Rogers) ; and the third Lord Zetland's Gos- samer, (J. Marson.) The winner had been the favourite in the betting, and the race was not very interesting. Frank Butler, who rode his first Derby winner on Wed- nesday, has now won the Oaks six times, and four times in succession! It is said that Mr. Davis, the leviathan book-maker, has lost 40,0001. on the Derby and Oaks.
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