Shadow Derby

The King and Queen were there. Otherwise, the third wartime running of the Derby at Newmarket last week was just a shadow of England's beloved annual spree.

Dwindling gasoline rations, fear of police checkups and painful memories of what happened last year, when an army convoy clogged the Newmarket road for three hours, kept thousands upon thousands of Derby regulars at home. Those who planned to go by rail found all special trains canceled.

Compared to the milling half-millions of pre-war years, or even the 50,000 who went last year, the 10,000 who succeeded in getting to the Heath last week were a cozy little standful. Women, crowding around the Royal Enclosure, had a chance to gawk at the Queen's pale lavender costume, with hat and shoes to match. In the paddock, folks got a good look at the King, noted his more than usual good humor. For the first time in the history of British horse racing, the Royal Stables were on the verge of winning all four of England's classic races for three-year-olds.

Sun Chariot, a saucy little filly, had flounced off with the Thousand Guineas and the Oaks. Big Game, a rugged, easygoing colt, had taken the Two Thousand Guineas. Now it was up to Big Game again, and loyal Britons made him the hottest Derby favorite since 1918. With Imperial pride, the crowd followed the royal colors: out in front at the half-mile, the mile, the mile-and-a-quarter. Then suddenly the purple & gold seemed to stand still. In front at the finish was the Earl of Derby's Watling Street.

The King lowered his binoculars, the Queen pouted. Loyal Britons are still trying to figure out how Big Game finished sixth.

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