THE ladies' day AT EPSOM. ' . 243 



"Which is the Derby dog?" a young lady 

 of the party innocently asks, as a retriever and 

 a nondescript brown creature trot down past the 

 stand, for the idea seems to be current that an 

 animal is kept somewhere on the Downs for the 

 express purpose of running up the course when 

 it should be alike clear of dogs and men. 



The portly police sergeant, on his well-trained 

 horse, disposes of the stragglers, and the cry, 

 " Here they come ! " is uttered on the stand. 



There are to be only eight runners for the 

 Oaks, for of the nine coloured on the card 

 No. 8 is an absentee. Led by the Duke of 

 Westminster's Adventure, with Mr. Jenning's 

 Japonica in attendance, Mr. Cookson's Coro- 

 mandel II. next, and Lord Falmouth's Leap 

 Year following, the runners for the Oaks 

 approach, and Leap Year displays a good deal 

 of what dealers call playfulness, and timid 

 horsemen temper. 



The favourite. Wheel of Fortune, is last but 

 one, preceded by Philippine and followed by 

 Amice, as they parade past the stand, and then 

 they turn to canter. Wheel of Fortune's mag- 

 nificent stride making those who have taken 

 liberties with her on the off-chance repent their 

 temerity. Philippine, however, comes in for her 

 share of admiration. She is pronounced to be a 



