DERBY DAY, The most important day in the calendar of English horse raeing events. The name is derived front the 'Derby Stakes' race, rim on the SI.r011(1 day ( of the Efi-oin Summer Ilbeetlng. whirl) takes !dace about the end of May. or. in rare in stances, at the beginning of dime. The race itself was instituted in 1780 by the Earl of Derby, whence the name. The I mile. 4 fur longs. and 29 yards in length: and. like all the great raee-courses of England. is eonditeted un der the rules and of the Jockey Club. Originally, the weights earried were 112 pounds for colts and 109 for fillies. lint after several changes they are now permanently set at 121i pounds for and 121 pounds for fillies. Entries are usually made when the animals arc yearlings. two years before the rare take!: plaee. The event owes its imporlam•(+ to the fact that the entries in the race rein-v.-era the high
Psi development (If nme-horse breeding. besides affording an indication of the probable winners of the stibsillient important rapes. The prox imity of the raee course Ili p.onl D Dens. Surrey) to possible the trcluemh,u. noel be(ern!.:Puemis gt1egtlaoce which is conspicin a feature of the rac.e. and which, together with if.: value as a sporting event. has given the day its pres•nt Varlion•ilt is atljonrnt'd over 1)•rby Day. tl tiligh of late not without Tiro test on the part of a few of its members, and business generally is •il-•eloied acs far as London is eoneeni.d. In ni•rie•s the term 1).•rbv by (lie name die 1r:101: or is frequently applied to the day on which the thief rave of the year t f -itch meeting is run for instance, the Brighton Derby, run nt 116-11 ton Rea,.11. See 11411t'.t : I It