374 RACEALONG 



punsters, and punters, sang or recited or wrote of 

 the glories of the exodus and return of the exuberant 

 crowds. 



The streets of London en route were generally 

 lined with joyous spectators to welcome home both 

 the winners and the losers, and frequently the lucky 

 ones would distribute largess to the sightseers in the 

 way of coppers and small silver, much to the delight 

 of the gamins and the small fry. 



London itself was always alive with flocking 

 gaiety, the theaters were crowded and the various 

 places of entertainment were filled to their utmost 

 capacity. John Hollingshead said that London went 

 mad on Derby Day to hear the result and George 

 Augustus Sala, though no racer, was equally 

 emphatic as to the enthusiasm of the crowds. 



In the days of Pierce Egan life in London was 

 rampant with excitement over the race, and, by the 

 way, it was about the time that Tom and Jerry 

 reigned in London, that sweepstakes came into 

 fashion. 



The Prince of Wales, before he was George IV., 

 was particularly fond of witnessing races of all kinds. 

 He generally had a smart company of great ladies 

 with him when he went to Epsom. 



In later years, when her Majesty Queen Victoria 

 came to the throne, she, with Prince Albert, visited 

 Epsom, and in 1840 Macdonald, the jockey, who rode 

 the winner — Little Wonder — on this occasion was 

 presented with a gold-headed riding whip in honor 

 of the royal visit. 



