FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF THE RACE FOR THE 

 'BLUE RIBBON.' 



I. 



It is not a little surprising- that a period of over a 

 hundred years should have been allowed to elapse 

 without those who for so loner a time have derived a 

 handsome profit from the running of tiie Derby being 

 peremptorily called upon to augment the stakes. 

 Year after year owners have generously continued to 

 enter, at considerable cost to themselves, from one to 

 ten horses. The purse so obtained has, of course, at 

 times been pretty well filled, as on several occasions 

 the sum run for has amounted to £6,000, and even as 

 much as £7,000, not one penny of which was provided by 

 the Grand Stand Company. But, impelled no doubt 

 by the force of public opinion, the authorities of 

 Epsom have so far accommodated themselves to the 

 spirit of the times as to have ventured on a new de- 

 parture in respect of the monetary and other conditions 

 which shall in future govern the great race. The new 

 rules come into operation this year (1890); and what 

 has been conceded may be gathered from the following 

 copy of the terms on which it is to be run : 



'Epsom, 1890 — Wednesday: The Derby Stakes of 



2 



