THE RACE-COURSE AS IT WAS IN 1819. 289 



collapse. A sporting authority (the Morning Herald), writing 

 in 1 8 19, says, that the races at Epsom had fallen into such 

 low repute, owing to the ill condition of the course and the 

 scanty accommodation afforded, that it was thought they 

 would be given up on the death of the then Lord Derby. 

 " How changed," exclaims the writer, " from the days of 

 O'Kelly and Eclipse!" Defaulters, too, seem to have been 

 very plentiful at that time, collecting every guinea they could 

 obtain from their honest associates, and levanting with the 

 sum so received, whether big or little, ;^ 10,000 or £10, 

 without paying a farthing of their losses. These and other 

 discreditable acts, which are substantially the same as found 

 in the newspaper referred to, had brought racing to a very 

 low ebb. Here is what is said on some other points : — 



" These were not the only unfortunate circumstances at- 

 tending the races held at Epsom that year, for we are further 

 informed that they were greatly attended by ' thieves,' and 

 other bad characters. The Races this year had the honour 

 of being particularly patronised by the ' borough gang,' 

 who committed unheard-of depredations : one day Mr. Bolton 

 w^as attacked by upwards of thirty men, near the course, 

 and, as a matter of course, they relieved him of his watch ; " 



After describing how others were robbed, it is added, 

 that a gentleman who was looking at the races had his 

 pockets turned inside out, and a constable, who, seeing the 

 act, seized the rogue, was surrounded by about 200 thieves, 

 who knocked him down and kicked and beat him with 

 sticks. The bare recital of these barbarisms is sufficient to 

 show the improvement made in our day in the proceedings 

 on the course, and that it is not without reason I affirm that 

 the racing authorities deserve praise for successfully carrying 

 out many difficult reforms, 



U 



