Long Shot at Epsom

Kerchiefed gypsies circulated through the crowd, reading palms and picking pockets. Touts cajoled reluctant punters, and billboards blandly offered bets on credit. Half of England was on hand last week for the 182nd running of the Derby at Epsom Downs--but not even Queen Elizabeth II, an ardent horsewoman, was prepared for what happened.

In the royal box atop the vast grandstand, the Queen fidgeted nervously as the 28-horse field nudged the starting tapes. The early favorites included two U.S.-owned colts: Mrs. Ralph Strassburger's white-socked Moutiers (7 to 1) and Mrs. Oliver Iselin's Pardao (10 to 1). Little attention was paid to Pardao's lackluster half brother, a British-trained colt named Psidium. "We're not backing him much. My husband has only a few bob on him," admitted Psidium's owner, Mme. Arpad Plesch. Bookies in London's newly legalized horse parlors thought even less of Psidium's chances. They offered pre-race odds of 66 to 1, and the Epsom Downs totalizator sent Psidium off at 90 to 1.

Psidium started dead last. But as the horses pounded through the tight arc of Tattenham Corner and into the stretch, Jockey Roger Poincelet, aboard Psidium, lazily swung his whip. The colt responded with an astonishing burst of speed that carried him into the lead and under the wire two lengths ahead of his closest pursuer.

Victory brought Owner Plesch a $96,734 windfall, second-biggest purse in Derby history. And to lucky U.S. plungers who held Irish Sweepstakes tickets on the winner, Long Shot Psidium brought even more: some $140,000 each.

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