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AMERICAN IMPRESSIONS OF EPSOM. An American who knows, cables of English racing at Epsom April 21 in true American style in the Neat York Herald: "Down at Epsom I had my first impression of an English race meeting, and it seems to me to lie compose d mainly of a nice lot of inoffensive scenery and the inability of a majority of the spectators to tell whether a race was beginning or ending. "There was also a big crowd of people, estimated all the way from twenty to fifty thousand. Most of them seemed to be liookniakers. Those who were not bookmakers dressed as though they thought they were. "There was unite a sprinkling of Americans in the throngs on the lawn in front of the grandstand and in the paddock. Americans horses, however, were scarce articles in the races and did not do anythiug to arouse enthusiasm, to the eagle did not scream a little bit or even squeak. "Charles Klein, the American playwright, forged his way into the thick of things from an automobile. It was he first horse race he had ever attended, and so he lioughl admissions to all the reserved places there were. "Then, pulling out his race card and pointing his finger at a horse whose name caught his fancy, he told a bookmaker to give him two pounds worth of a bet on it. The bookie gave him a serious glance and said: That would hardly be fair to you. The race has been over for eight minutes and that horse Was last of the bunch. "Henry B. Harris was as busy studying odds as it boy learning the multiplication table. He discovered that on an English track twice two does not make four .inly three. "There was one bookmaker largely patronized by Americans because he looked like -Bob llilliard. To further the resemblance his name was Chester field Goode. ami he was dressed as llilliard would be at a high noon wedding. "hie enthusiastic and well-known New Yorker tried hard to get a bet down on a mounted police man who led the parade before the big race. He made a fuss over it. and some Englishmen took him seriously and marvelled at his crass ignorance. M.v word. said one. how can he fancy a constable could ever ride in uniform, and. besides, his horse isnt even entered. With the steady iurush of Americans to England that has. now begun, the coming races will undoubtedly be well flavored with Yankeeism. "The railroad that takes you to Epsom I refer to the pace track ami not to saltsl adopted a novel system of uncertainty iu running trains back to Loudon today. "When I had crossed the Downs, spotted with gorse just bursting into yellow bloom, and reached the railway station. I asked when the next train left for the city. One leaving right now. sir. replied the policeman at the gate. I asked again. It goes directly, sir. Yes. but when? Oh. quite immediately, sir." Nobody knew. It was held until there were passengers enough to satisfy the train dispatcher, and it started half an hour later. Meantime, ladies and gentlemen had run themselves out of breath and into perspiration and then waited. "Rei-olleet. Epsom is only eighteen miles from London, and extra fares are charged on these trains. "Such is the impression or an Epsom race uieeliug gained by an American onlooker."
