8 777^ BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF. 



lacking in the year 1780, can all be utilized to adorn 

 the necessary article on the Derby, which might also 

 embrace the social changes that have occurred in the 

 course of a hundred years. 



The popularity of the Derby as a sight for the 

 people, as has been indicated, was of slow growth. 

 The century was advancing before it began to 

 attract the attention of non-racing persons, and when 

 it had to some extent obtained the notice of the mob, 

 it was preached against and denounced as a scene of 

 sinfulness, the crowd gazing on the race being stigma- 

 tized as a o-atherim? of unmitisrated blacksruards. Not 

 till many years after the race had been established did 

 thirty thousand persons gather on the Downs of Epsom 

 to witness the excitins? stru^fRle for the ' Blue Ribbon of 

 the Turf.' Now five times that number, it is said, 

 assemble to witness the Derbj', and the * House ' 

 adjourns for the occasion. The visit of her Majesty 

 and Prince Albert the Good to Epsom on the Derby 

 Day gave a tillip to the attendance in future years. The 

 Queen having set the example, tens of thousands of her 

 loyal subjects followed in her wake. Persons who had 

 previously thought ' the Derby ' to be a very vulgar 

 institution, after her Majesty's patronage saw it in a 

 different light, and followed up the royal visit with 

 great assiduity, some even of the ' utterly re- 

 spectable snatching a fearful joy in beholding the 

 mighty assemblage of Epsom Downs. As the various 

 lines of railways were constructed, additional tens of 

 thousands were borne to the race-course, and from 

 about 1840 the annual attendance began to be largely 

 augmented. The cheap newspaper movement gave the 



