Time Capsule Leads to £2,500 Win at Epsom Derby with Santa-themed Horse
Buried time capsule tells finder to back any horse with a Santa-themed name - helping them to scoop £2,500 after the Epsom Derby is won... by Christmas Day

Image: Mail Online
A time capsule unearthed in Crystal Palace led four bettors to win £2,500 by backing a horse named Christmas Day in the Epsom Derby. The capsule contained a letter urging the finder to bet on horses linked to Santa Claus, a theme that had not appeared in the race since 1964.
- 01The time capsule was buried 62 years ago and contained a letter encouraging bets on Santa-themed horses.
- 02Christmas Day, a 25-1 outsider, won the Epsom Derby, leading to significant payouts for those who bet on it.
- 03The letter's author, P Wright Paterson, urged the finder to back horses associated with Santa Claus, a theme absent from the Derby since 1964.
- 04Bromley mayor Christine Harris and site manager Josh Smalls both placed bets after discovering the capsule, with Harris donating her winnings to local charities.
- 05The discovery occurred during a park regeneration project, and the capsule is now housed in a local museum.
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A buried time capsule in Crystal Palace, South London, helped four lucky bettors win £2,500 after they backed the horse Christmas Day in the Epsom Derby. The capsule, which contained a letter from 1964 urging the finder to bet on any horse linked to Santa Claus, was discovered during a park renovation. This coincided with the first Santa-themed horse name in the Derby since 1964. Christmas Day, initially a 25-1 outsider, won the race, leading to significant payouts for bettors including Bromley mayor Christine Harris, who won £390 from her £15 stake. She plans to donate her winnings to local charities. Site manager Josh Smalls, who found the capsule, also placed a bet and won £500. Harris expressed a desire to learn more about the capsule's author, P Wright Paterson, hoping to uncover the story behind the buried message.
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The discovery of the time capsule and subsequent betting wins have generated local interest and support for community charities.
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