EPSOM RACES.
The annual racing festival on Epsom Downs has been celebrated this week. As usual, Tuesday was the first racing day ; Wednesday the Derby day ; Thursday an off- day, interesting only to the profession ; and Friday, sacred to the ladies and the Oaks. The weather has been most genial, and on the great day the Londoners flocked to the Downs in numbers exceeding those of any year, not excepting the saturnalia of 1851. For the general public, the interest is centred in the two races— the Derby and the Oaks.
The Derby Stakea of 50 sous. each, h ft, for 3-yr-olds ; colts, 8st 71b; fillies, 8st 31b; the second to receive 100 soya. out of the stakes. Last mile and a half. (224 subs.)
Mr. Merry's Thormanby by Melbourne or Windhound out of Alice Haw- thorne, 8st 71b (Custance) 1 Mr. Nicol's The Wizard, by West Australian, dam by the Cure out of Elphin, 8st 71b (A. French) 2 Captain Cluistie's Horror, by Wild Dayrell out of Sally, 8st 71b (Challoner) 3 Count Y. de Lagrange's Dangu by Fitz Gladiator, 8st 71b (car. fist 81b) (J. Quinton) 4 The following also ran :—Mainstone, Cramond, The Drone,Nutbourne Sutton,
Bentinck, Leprechaun, Sir William, Restes, Cape Flyaway, The Rap, Wallace, The Tiger, Man-at-Arms, Buccaneer, Tom Bowline, Lanchester, Vesta, Umpire, Bro. to Rainbow, Loiterer, Largesse, Winton, The Rising Sun, Ebony,High Treason. • Betting.-5 to 2 agst The Wizard (off); 5 to 1 agst Thormanby (t freely); 5 to 1 agst Umpire ; 7 to 1 apt Nutbourne (t); 100 to 6 agst Buccaneer (t) ; 20 to 1 agst Horror.
Tint RACE.-" At exactly twenty-five minutes prior to the time of starting, the numbers of the thirty competitors were displayed on the telegraph board. The horses assembled at the post with the utmost punctuality, and walked in a body to- wards the starter. Just before reaching him, however, Leprechaun, Bro. to Rain- bow, Tiger, Umpire, The Rap, and two or three others broke away, and the rank had to be reformed. This proceeding was soon accomplished, and the ringing of the bell announced the start, even before a large majority of the spectators were prepared for it, and the clamour in the Grand Stand enclosure suddenly ceased. The roar of excitement which was sent up as soon as the horses quitted the post became hushed in an instant, and, whilst every tongue was silent, every eye was strained to discover the positions of the favourites. Bentinck was the first to show prominently in the race, and he took a clear lead as the horses ascended the hill; following directly in his track were Man-at-Arms, Nutbourne, Rising Sun, and Restes. In the extreme rear were Sutton, Largesse, and Loiterer. Bentinck in- creased his lead half-a-dozen lengths on going up the bill, but before reaching the mill-post he disappeared from the front, and Restes, who bad been heading the ruck, took up the running, with Nutbourne, Horror, Rising Sun, Man-at-Arms, Buccaneer, Bro. to Rainbow, Thormanby, The Wizard, Dangu, and Umpire taking their places at the head of the ruck. On coming round Tattenham Corner, the front lot were in close company, Nutbourne next the rails, having, perhaps, a slight lead, with Restes, The Wizard, Umpire, Buccaneer, Thormanby, Bro. to Rainbow, and Horror well up in hie stride. On crossing the road, Nutbourne broke down and was pulled up, and soon after Restes was beaten. The Wizard then came to the front, and running:in the middle of the course took a clear lead, followed by Thor- manby, Dangu, and Horror. At the distance, Thormanby passed The Wizard., without an effort, and Horror took third place half-way up. From the moment that Thormanby's colours were seen is advance, however, the issue of the race was not in doubt ; he ran home an easy winnerhy a length and a half ; four lengths separated the second from the third, and four lengths third from the fourth. The ' run- ning-up ' horses were Sir William, Umpire, Buccaneer, Man-at-Arms, Cape Fly- away, and Restes, who passed the post nearly in the order named. Loiterer and Wallace were the last two. Thormanby was twice nearly knocked on his head, and Wallace had a narrow escape of falling the instant the Sag was dropped. The value of the stakes, deducting the money to be paid to the second horse, the judge, and towards expenses, is 8050/,"
The Oaks Stakes of 50 soya. each, h. ft., for three-year olds ; fillies, 8st. 71b. ; the second to receive 100 soya. out of the stakes ; the winner to pay 100 soya. towards the police and regulations of the Course, and 30 soya. to the Judge. The last mile-and-a-half to be run on the New Course. (158 subs.) The betting was 4 to 1 against Rupee, 4 to I against Seclusion, the favourites. Thirteen horses atarted, but neither of the favourites gained a place. The winner was Butterfly, the second being Avalanche.
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