While working on the £22 million regeneration of Crystal Palace Park in April, builder Craciun Marius Dorin uncovered a hidden time capsule beneath a statue of Sir Joseph Paxton. inside lay old coins and a handwritten note urging the finder to back a horse whose name echoed Santa Claus – a cue that now points to the entry “Christmas Day” in Saturday’s Epsom Derby .

£20 Bet Placed by Site Manager After Finding the Capsule

Site manager Josh Smalls, who received the capsule from Dorin , immediately placed a £20 wager on the horse Christmas Day, describing the coincidence as “spooky.” He told reporters that his family’s racing background made the tip especially tantalising. According to the source, Smalls hopes the bet will “make everyone a bit of money.”

Bromley Mayor Christine Harris Joins the Wager with Charity Angle

Mayor Christine Harris of Bromley also put £15 on Christmas Day, pledging any winnings to her chosen charities. The mayor’s involvement adds a public‑interest dimension to what began as a construction curiosity, and the source notes her comment that the find felt “like a piece of history.”

Historical Link: Santa Claus Trainer’s Surname Mirrors O’Brien Connection

Research by Smalls revealed that the 1847 Derby winner Santa Claus was trained by Vincent O’Brien, while this year’s entrant Christmas Day is trained by Aidan O’Brien. The shared surname suggests a possible familial link, though the note’s author never identified themselves.. The source reports Smalls could not locate any other recent Derby horse with a festive name.

Contents of the Capsule: Six Coins Worth About £10 Today

The capsule contained four shillings and two half‑crowns, collectively valued at roughly £10 in today’s money. The note explained the coins were winnings from a bet on the original Santa Claus horse, reinforcing the tradition of betting on holiday‑themed runners. As the source states, the money was meant to fund a future wager on a similarly named horse.

Unanswered Mystery: Who Concealed the Capsule and Why?

The identity of the capsule’s creator remains unknown, and the motive behind burying a betting tip in a park statue is speculative . The source offers no clues about the original author’s connection to the Crystal Palace site or to horse racing, leaving room for further investigation.