138 A MIRROR OF THE TURF. 



(perhaps " stupidly " would be the better word) 

 continued to run against each other simply for 

 their own money, much to the profit of the 

 money-seeking Company which leases the race- 

 course and grand stand on Epsom Downs. 

 Not till within the last six or seven years has 

 there arisen a serious demand for the aug- 

 mentation of the money run for, and, curiously 

 enough, in most of the schemes which have been 

 ventilated, the Epsom administration seemed 

 alone to be thought of, even by men whom one 

 would have expected to be in sympathy rather 

 with those who provided the means of sport than 

 those who make an inordinate profit out of it. 



The concessions made by those who " boss " 

 the Epsom show may be held to be the outcome 

 of the more profitable stakes which have come 

 into vogue of late years. The conditions of the 

 race now read as follows : " The Derby Stakes of 

 5,000 sovs. for the winner, 500 sovs. for the nomi- 

 nator of the winner, 300 sovs. for the owner of the 

 second, and 200 sovs. for the owner of the third ; 

 colts 9 St. ; fillies 8 st. 9 lb., by subscription of 

 50 sovs. each, h. ft. if declared by the first Tuesday 

 in January, 1891, and 10 sovs. only if declared by 

 the first Tuesday in January, 1890; any surplus 

 to be paid to the winner. About a mile and a 

 half, starting at the High Level Starting-post. 

 206 subs., 41 pd. 10 sovs. ft. Closed July 16, 

 1889." 



The above copy of the rubric shows what the 

 movements made to reform the Derby Stakes 

 have resulted in — namely, the ensuring of a 

 fixed sum to the owner of the winner, as also a 

 gratuity to the breeder of the victorious horse, 



