BRITISH TURF. 317 



Tuesday, and continues till the end, of the week 

 jDreceding Whitsuntide, and until 1838, the 

 Derby was run on the Thursday, and the Oaks on 

 the Friday. Now however the Derby is run for on 

 Wednesday, which is a most judicious change in 

 several respects. By this alteration, the public 

 have a day given them to recover from the turmoil 

 and excitement of the Derby, and are thus enabled 

 to enter with greater relish into the more quiet but 

 not less pleasurable amusements of the Oaks' day. 

 As a proof that this change is appreciated, it is 

 only necessary to refer to the attendance on the 

 second Friday, since it has taken place, it being 

 well known and generally remarked at the time, that 

 the company, both in 1838, and the past season, 

 very considerably exceeded the average of former 

 years. A day's interval is also of service, to those 

 who may happen to have fillies in both races — 

 which occurred at the last meeting, with Deception 

 (backed to a considerable amount for each) the 

 second for the Derby, and the winner of the Oaks. 



The old course, now seldom used except for the 

 cup, is two miles, of an irregular circular form ; the 

 first mile up hill. 



The new Derby course is exactly a mile and a 

 half, and somewhat in the form of a horse shoe. 

 The first three quarters of a mile may be consi- 

 dered as straight running, the bend in the course 

 being very trifling, and the width very great ; the 

 next quarter of a mile is in a gradual turn, and 



