At Epsom Downs

For weeks sporting England has been worried over the drought that frizzled the British Isles this spring. It threatened to spoil the ancient St. Andrews golf course for Britain's No. 1 international sporting event of the year (see below). More distressing, it threatened to parch the turf at ancient Epsom Downs for the nation's No. 1 fiesta, the Derby. With loving care the grass of the irregular horseshoe course was watered every day for ten dry weeks. Then, on the eve of the race, a torrent fell.

Undaunted, 500,000 Britons jampacked Epsom Downs last week. As the field of 22 three-year-olds pounded down the curving hill into Tattenham Corner, Pasch was leading and looked as though he might be the sixth favorite to win the Derby since the War. But suddenly, smack in front of the grandstand, a mysterious horse shot out from behind, passed Pasch, passed Scottish Union, streaked up the hill to the wire, four lengths in front. It was Bois Roussel, a French-bred 20-to-i shot, owned by Hon. Peter Beatty, son of the late great Admiral Lord Beatty and grandson of Chicago's Marshall Field. Owner Beatty, who received $46,140 first-place money, was as surprised as the rest of the world. Bois Roussel, whom he had bought for $40,000 two months ago, had won only one previous race, the Prix Juigne at Longchamp last spring.

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