2i6 THE BLUE RIBBON OF THE TURF. 



Avinning ticket in some of the larger organizations 

 taking as much as £200. It is no exaggeration to say- 

 that the number of sweeps got up in London far 

 exceeds the figure given by the inspector of police ; 

 one sporting publican, Avell versed in such matters, 

 thought there would be no fewer than 10,000, big 

 and little, ranging from the palatial clubs of Pall Mall 

 and Piccadilly to the ' free and easies ' of the working- 

 men in the various suburban localities of the ofreat 

 J\Letropolis ; while in many of the London cit}^ ware- 

 houses, shops, manufactories, and printing-offices, 

 Derby sweeps are annuall}' organized, Li the markets, 

 too, pools are got up over the great event, and in 

 the theatres and music-halls there is always sufficient 

 excitement to induce the artistes to promote a crown 

 or half-sovereign sweep — the servants of the stage 

 following suite with their go at 'a bob' for a ticket: 

 there are in London sweeps for all classes, at all prices. 



Some of the Indian and Colonial subscriptions to 



Derby sweeps attain to very large amounts. The 



T V , following statement, as will be seen, refers 



ludian and •^ ' '_ 



Coioiiiii to Ben' Or's Derby. 'The sweep this year 



Dcrl)y Sweeps. , , • i i 



was the largest ever drawn, with the ex- 

 ception of the one in 1877, when the first prize 

 amounted to over £15,000, over £25,000 having been 

 subscribed. This year 27,002 tickets at £1 each 

 had been taken, and the prize for the first horse 

 amounted to £11,153, for the second £5,576, and for 

 the third £2,788 ; £459 being divided amongst all 

 starters, except those who got a place, and £688 

 amonofst non-starters. As was stipulated beforehand, 



