1887 VRC DERBY
Age (Melbourne, Vic.: 1854 - 1954), Monday 31 October 1887, page 5
V.R.C. SPRING MEETING.
DERBY DAY.
The Derby day, quoth on Englishman half a century ago, is an illustrated epitome of the history of English sports, manners and society. He declared it to be a national scene, and one so peculiarly and completely national, so identified with the very nature of Englishmen that it showed more of the national character to a foreigner in a few hours than months of residence and inquiry could furnish even to an industrious and judicious investigator. Although we have altered, if not improved on, the day of the fete which marks the great event of the sporting year, the prestige of Derby day with us has by no means departed from it. It may not be the peacock au naturel of our feast, but it is the appetiser which is to lead up to the demolition of that crowning glory of the Victorian caterer. Apart altogether from old associations it engages attention as providing an important series of contests affecting it may be the rest of the year, and certainly those of the meeting, and it has a popularity only second to that of the great
