FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF THE RACE. ig 



mnae that proposals for the financial reform of the 

 Derhy were ventilated ; and with the view of ' iniprov- 

 inw * the conditions, and making the race a ' big thing,' 

 fome remarkable suggestions found their way into 

 J rint. 



It was at one time suggested, for instance, that the 

 Jockey Club should be called upon to take action, and 

 determine the amount of a bonus which ought to be 

 added to the two great Epsom races, or to say how 

 they ought to be so remodelled as to admit of the 

 owners of horses obtaining something more than their 

 own money from a company which was reputed to be 

 making £20,000 or £30,000 per annum by means of 

 the Derby and Oaks being run over ground which 

 they had leased from the lord of the manor. 



In view of contingencies, a change of venue was 

 even proposed. One writer on the subject enunciated 

 the following views: 'The Derby is a name that is 

 still potent to conjure with. This is not, however, a 

 sentimental age, and the rose might, as Shakespeare 

 has suggested, smell as sweetly as it now does, even if 

 its name were to be changed; and even so the "Derby" 

 might flourish if it were not run at Epsom, and the 

 funds derived from the various sources of revenue were 

 devoted to other uses than the enrichment of the 

 jiersons who own the Grand Stand and lease the race- 

 course. Moreover, it is beginning to be asked if any 

 particular person or body of persons have "the right "* 

 to take nominations for the two classic races run at 

 Epsom ; and if so, from whom that right is derived ? 



' The race, as is well known, was instituted in the 

 year 1780, and named in honour of the Lord Derby 



, . 2—2 



