History of the Kentucky Derby, 1875-1921 Part 7

N. Armstrong's ch c Spokane by Hyder Ali--Interpose; 118 lbs., Kiley 1

Scoggan & Bryant's ch g Proctor Knott by Luke Blackburn--Tallapoosa; 115 lbs., Barnes 2

M. Young's b c Once Again by Onondaga--Black Maria; 118 lbs., I.

Murphy 3

Hindoocraft, Ca.s.sius, Sportsman, Outbound and Bootmaker, 118 each, also ran.

Time--2:34-1/2

Betting--10 to 1 Spokane and Hindoocraft, 3 to 1 Once Again and Bootmaker coupled, 1 to 3 Proctor Knott, 15 to 1 Ca.s.sius, 20 to 1 Outbound and Sportsman.

SIXTEENTH DERBY 1890

Rain fell heavily on Tuesday nearly the entire day, which continued throughout the night and nearly half the day Wednesday, May 14, which made the track a sea of mud and water. Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather and muddy condition of the track the attendance was extremely large, fully up to any preceding day. The Derby was the third race, for which a half dozen put in an appearance. Robespierre was the favorite, even against the field, but he was beaten by Riley and Bill Letcher.

Bill Letcher led off, Outlook second, Palisade third, other three bunched.

No change at the three-quarters, but pa.s.sing the stand Robespierre and Riley were head and head, Outlook third. Going round the turn Robespierre drew clear and led at the quarter with Outlook second, Riley third, Bill Letcher fourth. Before reaching the half Riley was in front, Robespierre second, Bill Letcher third, the race lay between the two. No change at the head of the stretch, Riley leading and running easy, Robespierre driving and Bill Letcher gaining. Riley won handily by a length and a half, Bill Letcher second and a length in front of Robespierre third, Palisade fourth, Prince Fonso, fifth, Outlook sixth. First mile 1:47, the race 2:45. Value to winner, $5,460.

SUMMARY

The Kentucky Derby for three-year olds, foals of 1887; $100 entrance, half forfeit, $10 if declared on or before May 1, 1889, $20 if declared on or before May 1, 1890; money to accompany declarations; with $2,500 added, of which $300 to second and $150 to third. 1-1/2 miles. 115 noms.

E. Corrigan's b c Riley, by Longfellow, Geneva; 118 lbs., Murphy 1

W. R. Letcher's b c Bill Letcher, by Longfellow, Ida Lewis; 118 lbs., Allen 2

G. V. Hankins's br c Robespierre, by Jils Johnson, Agnes; 118 lbs., Francis 3

Prince Fonso 118, Palisade and Outlook 118 also ran.

Time--2:45

Betting--Even Robespierre, 4 to 1 Riley, 4 to 1 Bill Letcher, 5 to 1 Prince Fonso, 10 to 1 Palisade, 20 to 1 Outlook.

SEVENTEENTH DERBY 1891

A cloudy and hazy morning, but still spring like day, lending the Louisville Jockey Club an aspect brighter than it has ever worn since its inauguration in 1875, combined with the great improvements made during the past winter and spring, there seems every hope of a pleasant, brilliant and successful meeting. We have had a remarkable season, rainy and wet during March, and when winter broke summer came upon us with a burst, there being as usual no intermediate season between winter and summer. The country is dry; and the track deep in dust, still the country wears a hue of green, the trees are in full leaf, and the pastures clothed with a carpet of emerald green. The crowd to witness the seventeenth renewal of the Kentucky Derby was the largest and most immense ever a.s.sembled on the course, except at the Ten Broeck and Mollie McCarthy race, and many thought the crowd larger. During the years of this race men have written lovingly of Louisville and its track, and sounded the praises of the great three-year old event. The crowd was so great that locomotion was almost impossible, and being a free day the inner field presented one ma.s.s of humanity from the head of the stretch nearly to the first quarter pole.

Derby only brought four to the post. The race for the first mile was merely a big exercising gallop, the first mile in 2:01. They ran from the half mile pole home in 51-1/4 seconds, and Isaac Murphy had to ride Kingman hard to win by a length. This is the slowest time a Derby has ever been run in.

The Kentucky Derby for three-year olds, foals of 1888; $100 entrance, half forfeit, $10 if declared on or before May 1, 1890, $20 if declared on or before May 1, 1891; money to accompany declarations; with $2,500 added, of which $300 to second and $150 to third. 1-1/2 miles. 83 noms. Value to winner $4,680.

Jacobin Stable's b c Kingman, by Glengarry, Patricia; 122 lbs., Murphy 1

T. J. Clay's b c Balgowan, by Strathmore, Trinkitat; 122 lbs., Overton 2

Eastin & Larabie's b c High Tariff by Longfellow, Christine; 122 lbs., Williams 3

Bashford Manor's b c Hart Wallace by Longfellow, Stephanie; 122 lbs., Kiley 0

Time--2:52-1/4

Betting--2 to 5 Kingman, 3 to 1 Balgowan, 10 to 1 High Tariff, 6 to 1 Hart Wallace.

EIGHTEENTH DERBY 1892

The eighteenth Kentucky Derby was run in the cold. The weather did not check the crowd, and fully 10,000 people watched the race from the grand stand and free field and cheered Azra and Huron as they pa.s.sed under the wire. It takes more than bad weather to dampen the enthusiasm over the Kentucky Derby, and only a positive a.s.surance of poor racing will lessen the crowd. Signs and predictions of the weather prophets failed, and instead of the bright May-day weather promised by the bureau, the air was chilly and damp, and the sky hung with leaden colored clouds during the greater part of the morning and afternoon. In the early morning the sun shone, and though cool the indications were that the afternoon would be an ideal one for racing. Instead, however, a cold wind sprang up from the northwest and turf lovers saw their dreams of a beautiful day fade into typical fall weather. There was enough virtue in the wind, however, to dry off the track, which, with the exception of a little stickiness, was in a fair condition. The officials of the day were as follows: Judges--Col. M.

Lewis Clark, R. A. Swigert and Washington Hessing. Timers--Norvin Harris, Van Kirkman and Lew Tarlton. Secretaries--Joseph Swigert and Charles Price. Starter--J. B. Ferguson. Clerk of the Scales--L. P. Ezekiel.

The third race was the Kentucky Derby, with three starters, Huron, Phil Dwyer and Azra. The betting was on the Corrigan pair, while Azra's few friends put up their boodle freely. Three minutes before the start the same persons who were most enthusiastic at the finish were repeating over and again: "Oh! what a farce the race will be. Three horses only to gallop around like the hippodrome races of a circus." The following is a description of the race:

From the first jump Corrigan's intentions may be read, Huron is to set a pace that will kill Azra, and Phil Dwyer is to win. Swinging the big colt to the rail, Britton gives him his head. Racing like El Rio Rey or Proctor Knott, he draws away from Azra, whom Clayton holds well in hand, and length by length increases his lead until five lengths of daylight lie between the green and light-blue jackets, Phil Dwyer, held in reserve by Overton, a length and a half in the rear. Nearing the first quarter the wrap on Azra is slackened a little and, though all go wide at the turn to seek the dryest going, Clayton takes ground by pa.s.sing nearest the rail.

Down the stretch to the stand they come, and it begins to be apparent that a stubborn contest is in progress. Huron's head is swinging, he is running easily, and as he swings along with his splendid action two lengths in the lead, a cheer breaks out. In every way he looks the winner, but at his heels comes one that will follow him with dogged courage till the last gasp. Under Clayton's good guidance, Azra is holding his own, though seemingly between two fires, for if Huron does not run away from him, there behind him is Phil Dwyer running under a pull and ready to take up the fight.

As the wire is pa.s.sed Huron again increases his lead, and rounding the turn is three lengths to the good, while Phil Dwyer moves up almost on even terms with Azra. So the quarter-pole is pa.s.sed and the critical moment of the race arrives. It is time for Britton to "feel" Azra. The colored rider looks back, and then for the first time urges Huron a little. Will Azra hold his own or will he cry for quarter? Has he been able to stand the pace? If so, Phil Dwyer must come to the front and finish the work. Will he quit? How quickly that question is answered. The moment Britton makes that move on the back-stretch Clayton loosens his wrap and Azra responds. Will he hold his own? He does not come with a sudden burst of speed, but foot by foot he nears the leader, his steady rating telling at last. Phil Dwyer's time has come. He makes no response to Overton's call, and is then and there a beaten horse. The race is between Huron and Azra. It is no longer a question as to the latter's lasting. The query is, "Will Huron quit?"

The last quarter is neared, Huron leads, but only by a little, that is steadily growing less. Azra is at his saddle, at his withers, at his head, gaining at every stride, slowly, but surely forging to the front. They are in the stretch and on even terms. Grandsons, both, of the great Leamington, the blood of the great race horse that flows in their veins has no taint of the coward, such as that of the colt that labors four lengths behind them. Azra is on the inside, and Britton has pinned him so close that Clayton can not use his whip. The boys knees must touch as the two colts race head and head. The crowd goes wild. Men yell the name, first of one and then the other. But for a moment the cries of "Azra, Azra wins," drown the others. He is drawing away. Clayton is climbing up on his neck and working like a demon. At the eighth pole he is almost a neck in front of Huron. The race seems over, Huron, after setting the pace throughout, surely can not come again. But he does! Britton has never ceased work on him, and at one bound lifts him back once more head to head. But that is all. The two are straining every muscle, the last link of speed is out in each, but as the fiery nostrils of the racers see-saw past each other with the swaying of the outstretched necks only for an instant is first Azra's and Huron's nose ahead. Not a whip is raised.

Hands are too precious. Britton is riding vigorously, but Clayton is outdoing him. Can not he lift his mount just an inch or two to the front?

The wire is there above them. Ten thousand people are yelling and Clayton puts out his supreme effort. It succeeds! Azra has won. Right on the post he gains six inches, no more, and by that distance stands the winner of the Kentucky Derby of 1892. It is a grand race, and victor and loser alike are cheered to the echo by the excited crowd. The value of the stake was $4,230.

The Kentucky Derby for three-year olds, foals of 1889; $100 entrance, half forfeit; $10 if declared on or before May 1, 1891, $20 if declared on or before May 1, 1892; money to accompany declarations; with $2,500 added, of which $300 to second and $150 to third. 1-1/2 miles. 3 starters. 68 subscribers.

Bashford Manor's b c Azra, by Reform, Albia; 122 lbs., Clayton 1

Ed. Corrigan's b c Huron, by Iroquois, Brunette; 122 lbs., Britton 2

Ed. Corrigan's b c Phil Dwyer, by Longfellow, imp. Encore; 122 lbs., Overton 3

Fractional time--:25-1/4, :51-1/2, 1:17-3/4, 1:45-1/4, 2:12, 2:41-1/2

Betting--3 to 2 Azra, 20 to 11 Corrigan's pair.