8

EPSOM RACES.

BY THE EDITOR.

"I have observed that, in comedy, the best actor plays the part of the droll, whilst some scrub rogue is made the hero, or fine gentleman. So, in this farce of life, wise men pass their time in mirth, whilst fools only are serious."-LORD BOLINGBROKE.

THERE is a gem of philosophy for you! a moral jewel, cheap at four times the cost of the volume. It is Saturday at eve, and "Grisi," in the "Puritani," is succeeded by Taglioni, in "La Gitana." Never was Smellfungus, the paternal, in such a case of double-distilled spleen all the bile in his gall-bladder is in fermentation. "What the plague takes ye to the Opera to-night?" he interrogates, in tones melodious as the howl of a hyæna in the colic. Apply our dose of St. John as above, and, lo! he smiles upon your purpose, soft as slumbering infancy. "No Epsom, this year," comes forth, emphatic as the laws of the Medes and Persians; "twenty guineas for a sixteenmile trip! I'll not be let blood to any such tune by a rascally posthorse vampire." Now comes Bolingbroke's aphorism to the rescue of the trembling Julia; and, behold! her pretty page is the bearer of a note to Bob Newman, ordering his best team, coute qui coute, for the Derby and Oaks days. Let none persuade thee that care is the design of life, or sorrow the end of our being. Be thy heart joyous and grateful, and set thy beaver jauntily upon thy curls; albeit, Cantwell weareth his hair straight, and libels his Maker in his soul.

one.

Being of those who practise what they preach, the annual gala at Epsom is an event to which I ever look forward with pleasure. Though disappointment be so often the superstructure raised upon a foundation of hope, in all things touching the Surrey festival last past, there was good reason to be content. The season exhibited none of the caprice of 1839; the sport was average: all the arrangements infinitely better than in former years; and it was the first time that the Downs were ever honoured by the presence of royalty. With such appliances and means to boot, the natural corollary is, that the meeting was a brilliant Such, indeed, was the case; but before I proceed to the details of its business, it will be convenient to say a few words about the changes and improvements that have been effected in the course, and the general economy of the racing. Among the former, the most conspicuous and important is the terrace in front of the Grand Stand, a spacious raised lawn, reaching almost to the course, enclosed with a handsome iron railing, having wickets and keepers, for the purposes of admission and egress. The carriage entrance was removed to the rear, and thus, however great the crowd, all confusion and danger were amply guarded against. The accommodations, both external and internal, in this fine building, for the royal visit, were worthy the distinguished occasion, and in every way creditable to those by whom they were designed and executed. A portion of the Jockey Club-room, on the right of the grand entrance in front, and the balcony attached to

it, had been set apart for the use of Her Majesty and suite; the retiringrooms were splendidly fitted up; the balcony covered with a very elegant awning; and a most convenient covered approach, exclusively appropriated to the royal party, erected at the end, facing Tattenham Corner. The Queen's balcony, with the exception of its awning, in no way differed from that on the opposite side. It abutted upon the terrace, which was open to all the company in the Stand alike: and, to me, infinitely the most interesting and gratifying feature of the meeting was, to see Her Majesty thus mingled with her subjects-the proudest position any monarch can occupy-the legitimate place for the sovereign of a free people. On the summit of the hill, a very well-adapted ring was constructed, having a barrier for admission; the charge, five shillings for the four days. The centre was elevated about a foot above the natural sod, and a strong wooden railing defended it from all attacks of the cavalry. This was a most useful arrangement; and, as the stewards evinced so excellent a spirit in providing for the public convenience and accommodation, I venture to offer a suggestion for their future adoption, which I know would give very general satisfaction. The Derby is the great point of interest in Epsom Races, one of its prominent attractions being the horses in their preparatory canters. The free permission for pedestrians to enter the course during the saddling and ordinary preparations is a licence that I quite adopt; indeed any interference with it would, as I believe, seriously injure the interests of the meeting. But the indiscriminate admission of horsemen within the ropes is a very dangerous and a very vexatious nuisance. With the body of police which the authorities have under their control, nothing would be easier than to reform this altogether; I will hope to see such the case in 1841.

The unfortunate Tuesday and Thursday, in the Epsom week, are something in the condition of those tapers which we have occasion to light when the sun is streaming in at the windows, and pouring its effulgence upon the unhappy attenuations of ignited wax. The "shine" is utterly taken out of them; and their relish, compared with the Wednesday and Friday, is as that of the smallest of small beer, common to the dietary of the Yorkshire pedagogue, contrasted with the etherial bouquet of the vineyards of Burgundy, or the flavour of imperial Tokay. However, as it is necessary to the unity of design to commence ab ovo, it must be told, that Tuesday, the 2nd ultimo, with a lowering aspect, and a prefatory damper, ushered in the grand carnival of Cockaigne. The whole thing had greatly the air of a rehearsal upon a large scale. Though a certain matter was being enacted, you were made sensible that the event was yet to come; for the note and token of preparation met the ear and eye on all sides. The curtain drew up for the Craven Stakes-an affair of no interest, present or prospective. Still it was a race, the winner being a horse with the most impossible name to be found in the Calendar, from its commencement to the hour at which I write, inclusive. The Newmarket lads used to cook a tolerable hash out of CHATEAU MARGAUX; if Colonel Wyndham had only heard what some of the young gentlemen at Epsom made of PESTONJEE BOMANJEE, I think he would never run the risk of such an equestrian specification being again nuncupative within fifty miles

of Petworth House. The Woodcote Stakes were won, after a good race, by a bad horse; the Shirley, after a slashing encounter between two steeds of better repute, were awarded to Jeffy, who had the honour to run second to Crucifix for the Hopeful. The Epsom Stakes-heats Captain Gardnor secured, without an effort, with Barabbas; at a losing figure, however, as his nag was claimed; and such a bit of horseflesh is not met with every hour for £200 thus closed the sports of the first day.

THE DERBY DAY-dies albo lapide notata. With reverence, O compositor! handle the immortal type-the long primer-honoured beyond all cast metal, which shall hand down to posterity the name and quality of this most glorious of all the forms in which the twentyfour hours claim our love and admiration. It was a morning ordained for the occasion; and, as we make the best of a tedious passage from Kennington Gate to Ewell Corner, it may beguile the road to examine the various on dits which, peradventure, occupied much of the attention of that worshipful company which was flowing by a somewhat sluggish stream, towards the pleasant hills of Surrey. The engrossing topic, of course, was the great event of the day: how to arrange about its "coming off" was a question, not alone between two stools, but in the middle of a wilderness of dilemmas. "Vates," a clever and experienced turfite, who gives his occasional assistance to "Bell's Life in London," had foretold, and from unquestionably sound premises, that Theon was to be the conqueror: according to "Judex," a correspondent of the "Morning Post," Launcelot must win, and Pathfinder run second; while a writer in a sporting periodical, having enumerated Assassin, Theon, Scutari, Confederate, Songster, and Cormorant, diffidently added, "I think I have named the winner of the grand Derby race at Epsom, 1840." Considering the range of shot, one is surprised how the game escaped-but they did miss--and it was a Little Wonder.

As the warren was not to be opened, in consequence of its present owner annoying his neighbours for the glory of his Maker (may his shadow decrease till he goes about like a second Peter Schlemil), it was suggested that the saddling should take place in front of the Grand Stand. No doubt such an arrangement would have given satisfaction to the million, but I am not sorry the plan was not adopted. The stewards did wisely to let well alone: no feature of this unique festival should be changed-it cannot be improved-it might suffer the risk should not be incurred. Preparations for the great trial had advanced, and two o'clock had arrived, when four of the royal carriages passed up the course from the direction of Woodcote Park, attended by a few mounted grooms in scarlet liveries. Nothing could exceed the enthusiastic cheers which welcomed Her Majesty and her illustrious Consort to the merry Downs of Epsom. Shouts, with hearts in them, rent the air like a roar of artillery; it was such a welcome as British men should offer, and a British monarch receive-courteous, cordial, and honest. The saddling-bell presently gave note that the eventful moment was at hand, and His Royal Highness, accompanied by his attendants, rode to the starting-post to see the progress of this exciting operation. The crowd here was greater

than I ever remember it; and, as I have before remarked, a mob of cockney and rural equestrians rode inside the ropes with an easy effrontery, that threw their impudent self-sufficiency into a fine relief: this nuisance must be abated. A short time sufficed to bring out the Derby field; and, if the fact be required, it must be confessed it was by no means an imposing one. A more moderate-looking lot I have rarely seen assembled at the same spot, on a like occasion. As far as we have gone, this has been a bizarre season on the turf. The great favourite of the leading Spring races had been proved to be a flyer, and was backed for them with great spirit, and to a heavy amount. He shewed himself an impostor, and the backers of Angelica bit the dust. It is the afternoon of the 3rd of June, and the Derby race is on the tapis-Little Wonder is without a friend; 50 to 1 is going begging against him: his owner, even at these odds, don't back him for sixpence-won't take two pounds ten shillings to a solitary bob! Had this little nag any shadow of pretence as a racer-was there any line whence common reflection might draw a conclusion? Assassin is second favourite for the Derby; and Little Wonder for the Nursery Stakes, in the Houghton Meeting, gave that same Assassin eight pounds and ran him to a length. Was this little horse ever tried in his threeyear old form?—and did he exhibit no promise of the running so soon ascertained to be in him? There appears to have been some mistake somewhere; but if, as the papers state, his trainer won £18,000 upon him, there certainly "was no mistake about that."

The word was, now "to the post ;" and, as I galloped over to my accustomed "coigne of 'vantage," Tattenham Corner, the coup d'œil from the summit of the hill was a soul-stirring sight. Perhaps I had seen as good a numerical assemblage, but never anything like the brilliant trysting of that hour. The sun shone out in peerless glory; countless thousands were spread around on every side in the showy colours and gay attire of summer holiday costume; and the Grand Stand seemed a parterre of all things bright and beautiful! It was a moment to make an Englishman an egotist; and my heart beat quicker, and my cheek was flushed with other emotion than that caused by the exercise I was engaged in, as I mentally ejaculated, "Oh! that her enemies could see this thing." Much time was lost, and some confusion occurred, in the effort to effect a satisfactory start, which was not accomplished for upwards of half an hour. When they did go, the first off was Angelica, with the favourites-Launcelot, Melody, and Assassin-at his heels, so that they could not complain of being disappointed in "a clear stage, and no favour," at all events. The pace up to the turn of the hill was fair, but by no means first-rate, and the exhibition at this point made of Sophocles, Theon, Muley Ishmael, the Gift colt, and one or two others, told anything but a "flattering tale" (tail?) of this season's three-year-olds. As they dropped the fall for Tattenham Corner, the speed became very good: Melody leading, with Launcelot on his quarters, Assassin rather wide on the outside, and Little Wonder hugging the rails, looking an unequivocal winner. The field, with the exception of these four, had already done with it; and the less that's said about them the better. As the quartet party crossed the road, Assassin gave in, and the champions of the north

and south cried "havoc," for the honour of "home and glory." At the distance, Launcelot had outpaced Melody, and already beaten him; while Little Wonder, stealing up on the inside, was at Launcelot's saddle-skirts. Every stride now mended his chances at the Stand he was in front: kept improving his place thence to the chair, and went in a clever winner by a good length. The plan adopted this year, of causing the Derby horses to have numbers affixed to their names in the lists, was now called into operation, and "TEN," appearing in large white letters, on a black board, affixed to the Stewards' Stand, announced Little Wonder as winner of the Derby for 1840. The usual scene of ineffable disorder succeeded: human waves were tossed backward and forward like the tempest-vexed ocean; human voices were uplifted like the clamour of a hurricane: nor comes composure till the social business of the day commences, treading upon the kibes of the great race, and the vast multitude

"Implentur veteris Bacchi, pinguisque ferinæ."

Of the remainder of the day's sport more need not be said than will be found in another place. Minor passages should not interfere with the effect of the great catastrophe. No dull common-place should sully the lustre of the grand event; if it be legitimate to offer any kind of epilogue, the muse should be wooed to give it éclat, and something apropos (peradventure in this style) appended in form of a Pierian summary :—

THE DERBY FOR 1840:

A Familiar Pindaric.

We're off to the races,
With smiles on our faces,

Lobster salad, and champagne, and chat;
Prime Newcastle salmon,

And Westphalia "gammon;"

But there's no mistake about that.

All the world, and his mother,
Are jostling each other;

City madams are "cutting it fat,"
In silks, with their spouses,
In white hats and " blouses;"
There's no mistake about that.

Drags, "go-carts," post-chaises,
Come rushing like blazes;
Prigs, princes, the leary and flat:
Oriental pretenders,

And slap-up West-enders;

And no mistake about that.

Now, the Downs spread before us,
Sweet saints! what a chorus;

"Dorling's cards," "roulette," "All round my hat;"
Brave soldiers and seamen,

Bold thimble and pea-men;

There is no mistake about that.