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.
>>> Manchester United Targets Tottenham Captain Cristian Romero for €65M Transfer
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.
