Construction workers in Crystal Palace Park unearthed a waterproofed capsule buried in 1964 beneath a bust of Sir Joseph Paxton, the architect of the Great Exhibition of 1851. Inside was a handwritten note urging the finder to bet on a horse with a Santa‑themed name, signed by “P Wright Paterson .” The tip reached site manager Josh Smalls, an Irish racing enthusiast, who alerted local mayor Christine Harris: together, they identified a three‑year‑old colt named Christmas Day in the Epsom Derby field. Each placed modest wagers, and the horse won at adjusted odds of 7‑1, netting a combined £2,500 they plan to donate to charity.

The 62‑year‑old capsule under Sir Joseph Paxton's bust

According to the source, the time capsule was discovered during a regeneration project in Crystal Palace Park. Inside were a few coins worth roughly £10 today and a note that concluded with “the best of British luck.” The capsule had lain undisturbed since 1964, when the original Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Santa Claus won the Derby before Queen Elizabeth II. The find quickly made its way to Smalls, whose family has long ties to horse racing.

A 7‑1 victory for Christmas Day at the Epsom Derby

The Epsom Derby, held before King Charles III and Queen Camilla, saw Christmas Day surge ahead in the closing stages. Smalls, Harris, and Smalls’ two brothers each placed modest bets: Harris staked £15, her brothers £30 each, and Smalls £30. Their combined winnings totalled £2,500 — £390 for Harris, £1,200 for one brother, and £500 each for the other brother and Smalls. The soruce notes that the victory “echoed the triumph of the original Santa Claus,” the 1964 Derby winner.

£2,500 in winnings earmarked for local charities

Harris, 65, described receiving a phone call while at a street party as “a sign” that the buried message had been a conduit of luck. Her family, initially skeptical, now embraces the notion that “the stars aligned” for this extraordinary coincidence . The group plans to donate all winnings to local charities, using the windfall as a tribute to what the source calls “the serendipitous alignment of past and present.”

The search for note author 'P Wright Paterson'

Harris expressed a desire to uncover the identity of the note’s author. The source says she hopes the mystery “will shed light on a perrsonal tale of devotion to horse racing, perhaps a father, uncle, or close relative who imagined a future where his cryptic advice would one day inspire a winning bet.” The capsule itself is now housed in a local museum, serving as a tangible link between two generations of racing fans.

An echo of the 1964 Derby winner Santa Claus

The story adds a layer of folklore to the Epsom Derby,already steeped in royal tradition. The 1964 Derby winner Santa Claus — the namesake for the recommended betting theme — captivated the nation in front of Queen Elizabeth II. The source frames Christmas Day’s win as breaking “a six‑decade hiatus,” with the buried letter proving its worth in an unexpected way. The parallel suggests that superstition and coincidence continue to play a role in one of Britain’s most prestigious sporting events.