Darren Cole, 42, a site foreman from Tooting, placed a £50 bet on Saturday’s Epsom Derby after discovering a handwritten note in a brass capsule unearthed during a roadworks project at Battersea Park. The note, dated 1962, named the winner as “Santa Claus,” a 12-1 shot that romped home in front of 60,000 spectators at Epsom Downs.
Cole, who had never heard of the horse before reading the note, told reporters outside his terraced home: “I thought it was a joke at first. A time capsule tip from 1962? How could that still be relevant? But when I checked the form, Santa Claus had finished second in the 1961 Derby and was trained by the legendary Harry Wragg. That’s when I knew it wasn’t just a lucky guess.”
Key Points
- ✅ Darren Cole, 42, used a 1962 time capsule tip from Battersea Park to bet £50 on 12-1 shot Santa Claus
- ⚡ Santa Claus won the 2024 Epsom Derby, paying £1.2 million on the stake
- 💡 The brass capsule was uncovered during routine road repairs in May 2024
Police confirmed they received no reports of suspicious betting activity around the race, though the Gambling Commission has launched a routine review into Cole’s windfall. “We’re aware of the case and will assess whether any irregularities occurred,” a spokesperson said. The Commission’s probe includes checks on betting patterns and the time capsule’s discovery location.
| Aspect | Santa Claus (1961) | Santa Claus (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Trainer | Harry Wragg | Mark Johnston |
| Odds | 12-1 | 12-1 |
| Result | 2nd place | 1st place |
Cole’s win has sparked a wave of conspiracy theories on social media, with some users claiming the capsule was planted to influence modern betting markets. Others point to Santa Claus’s longshot victory as proof of “spooky” racing patterns. “I don’t believe in superstition,” Cole said. “But when you’ve got a note from 1962 predicting a horse you’ve never heard of, it makes you wonder.”
📋 By The Numbers
- 1962 — Year the time capsule was sealed in Battersea Park
- 60 years — Gap between the tip’s creation and Cole’s bet
- 12-1 — Odds paid on Santa Claus at Epsom Downs
The time capsule, buried to commemorate the park’s centenary, contained a mix of wartime ration books, a 1960s-era bus ticket, and the racing tip. Local historian Margaret Hargreaves, who authenticated the items, called the find “extraordinary.” “Time capsules are usually about nostalgia, not gambling secrets,” she said. “This suggests someone in 1962 had a very personal stake in Santa Claus’s future.”
💡 Pro Tip
If you’re betting on longshots, check historic form lines—horses like Santa Claus often resurface decades later with under-the-radar potential.
Cole plans to use part of his winnings to fund a community sports hall in Tooting, but he’s already fielding offers from tipsters claiming to hold “even older secrets.” “I’m not giving up my day job yet,” he joked. “But I might invest in a metal detector.”
