Note in buried time capsule tells finder to back Epsom Derby runner ‘with a Santa-themed name’ – helping them win £2,500 after race was won by horse called Christmas Day
A secret message from the past helped four lucky punters win £2,500 by picking the winner of the Epsom Derby yesterday.
They put their money on a horse called Christmas Day following the recent discovery of a ‘time capsule’ letter buried 62 years ago; This letter encouraged the finder to support any runner whose name could be associated with Santa Claus.
This was the name of the horse that won the Derby ahead of the late Queen in 1964 and, eerily, until yesterday’s extraordinary coincidence there appear to have been no Santa-themed horse names in the race.
Santa Claus became Britain’s most famous horse when he won the most valuable race the country has ever seen, with the monarch watching.
Later, an emotional racing fan who seemingly backed the horse took another gamble, not knowing if it would work.
He buried a ‘time capsule’ in a park in Crystal Palace, south London, along with a letter and several coins encouraging the finder to bet on a horse ‘whose name may be associated in some way with Santa Claus’.
The writer signs off with ‘P Wright is from Paterson’ and the best of English luck.’
Wrapped in plastic wrap, the package, consisting of a £10 note in today’s money and four shillings and two half-crowns, remained undiscovered for another 62 years, beneath a bust of Sir Joseph Paxton, who designed the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851.
A secret message from 1964 helped four lucky punters win £2,500 by picking the winner of the Epsom Derby
The last time Santa rode a Santa-themed horse at Epsom was in 1964, when he rode to victory ahead of the late Queen.
This year, despite being a relative outsider on Christmas Day, he led the race 25-1.
Until construction workers uncovered it a few weeks ago during a park renovation project. And when it was handed over to course manager Josh Smalls, an Irish racing enthusiast whose uncle was a racehorse trainer, he knew what he had to do.
While briefing Bromley mayor Christine Harris on her find, which has now been donated to the local museum, she revealed with astonishment that an ‘incredibly’ horse had been found in the upcoming derby on Christmas Day.
The pair rushed to place bets on the race, with Ms Harris pledging to donate any prize money to two local mayoral charities.
And in a remarkable twist of fate, he returned home on Christmas Day despite starting at a relatively modest 7-1, going into the race with a 25-1 lead.
Miss Harris, 65, who won £390 with her £15 stake, said: ‘I’ve been telling everyone it must be a sign and I’m convinced [the horse would win]. ‘If this had been excavated two, three or four years ago, or almost years since he was buried, there would be nothing to do with the word Santa Claus.’
He was unable to watch the race because he attended a street party but received an ‘excited phone call’ on his way home.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Epsom Derby Cup to jockey Ronan Whelan, who won the Epsom Derby 2026 on Christmas Day
Sudanese President Ferik Ibrahim Abboud and his host Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth at the Royal Lodge in Epsom, Surrey, watching her favorite Santa win the Derby Stakes
And sons Elliott, 31, and Josh, 27, also placed bets yesterday, winning £1,200 and £500, although they ‘said it was crazy he was sure he would win’.
Mr Smalls was also confident the horse would come in and watch from the living room and make £500 on a £30 stake.
‘I was jumping when I got to the last part,’ he said. ‘I believe sometimes things are written in the stars and a lot of things go along with that, so I believed I had a chance.’
Ms Harris is now hoping for another chance: “we will find out who the author of the note is.” It would be great to know the story behind this; It must be someone’s father, uncle or relative and we want to know that.’
