Derby

dar'by, an English shire, town, and noble family. All these are eclipsed by the fame of the Derby horse-race, instituted by the Earl of Derby in 1780. It is held annually on Epsom Downs, an extensive plain near London, on the Wednesday following Trinity Sunday. The races are for three-year-olds. The course is a mile and a half in length. The colts carry a weight, jockey and all, of 126 pounds; the fillies of 121 pounds. It costs $500 to enter. The winner gets $25,000. Lord Rosebery had an ambition to marry the richest wife in England, to become prime minister, and--note the climax--to win a Derby race. He has succeeded in all three. The shortest time on record is that of Kettledrum in 1861. He ran the mile and a half in 2 minutes 43 seconds.

On Derby day London is forsaken. Suburban trains are crowded. Every private vehicle and carriage is out. Superb equipages, with outriders, sweep along the road; a thousand cabs are on the way. Workmen in clean jackets load down the drays. Bootblacks and newsboys, rags and gay ribbons,--afoot, on horseback, or awheel,--all London streams along to see the races. Social distinctions are almost forgotten as duke and newsy go mad in very ecstacy of joy when a favorite wins. The successful jockey is for the time greater than any crowned head of Europe.

See Horse-Racing