A construction site manager won a horse racing wager on Saturday after following a 62-year-old betting tip discovered inside a hidden 1964 time capsule during restoration work at Crystal Palace Park in south London.
Site manager Josh Smalls placed a £20 wager on a horse named Christmas Day, which won the Epsom Derby at 7-1 odds after staying on strongly to repel a challenge from Maltese Cross.
The capsule, unearthed on April 15 by contractor Craciun Marius Dorin under a bust of Sir Joseph Paxton, contained four old English coins and a handwritten note by P.
Wright Paterson detailing winnings from a 1964 horse named Santa Claus.
"It was very exciting. I was like a child on Christmas Day.
To find a piece of history like that - and for it to link up so well with the horse this year - it was kind of spooky," said Smalls, site manager.
The note advised future finders to back a Derby horse with a name associated with Santa Claus, prompting Smalls to check recent racing schedules.
"I looked through the rosters of the last few years and couldn't find any other horse with a Christmassy name," said Smalls.
Smalls, who grew up with horse racing in Northern Ireland where his uncle worked as a horse trainer, placed his wager shortly after the capsule was discovered.
"Hopefully he'll win on Saturday and make everyone a bit of money," said Smalls before the race took place.
The £21.8 million regeneration project by Maylim is relocating the bust of Paxton to the Italian Terraces, and the Crystal Palace Park Trust celebrated the victory on social media.
"What just happened? The park's time capsule prophecy came true," stated the Crystal Palace Park Trust.
The discovery was made by a Romanian contractor who noted a personal connection to the holiday theme of the message.
"I'm Romanian and Craciun in Romanian actually means Christmas - isn't that crazy?" said Craciun Marius Dorin, contractor.
The original note from 1964 provided specific instructions for the finder regarding the monetary value of the enclosed four shillings and two half crowns.
"These coins were planted in the year that 'Santa Claus' won the Derby.
When unearthed, the monetary value should be laid on a horse in the Derby who's name can be in some way be associated with 'Santa Claus'.
(And the best of British luck). P.
Wright Paterson," wrote P. Wright Paterson in the note.
Bromley Mayor Christine Harris also followed the tip by placing a £15 wager on the Aidan O'Brien-trained horse, which was ridden by jockey Ronan Whelan.
The mayor pledged all her winnings to local organizations, including Madlani Cancer Support and the Dyslexia Association of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham.
The historical artifacts, equivalent to about £10 today, are scheduled to go on display at the Crystal Palace Museum.
