History of the Kentucky Derby, 1875-1921 Part 6

Betting--Ben Ali $500, Free Knight $370, Blue Wing $260, Jim Gray $115; field $140.

THIRTEENTH DERBY 1887

The morning was cloudy and threatening, and it rained all around but fortune seems to favor the Louisville Jockey Club, and only a few drops of rain fell during the day. The attendance was very large, the Grand Stand, betting grounds and inner s.p.a.ce were packed with people, so much so that navigation was almost impossible; the inner field was full of people and vehicles and the crowd lining the inner fence extended from the head of the stretch down past the Grand Stand and for an eighth of a mile around the first turn.

The Derby was a fairly good race, as the track was slower than many supposed. In our issue of last week we selected Banburg, Jacobin and Jim Gore as the three placed horses, and at the same time stated that the form shown by Montrose at Lexington was not his true form, but was unable to say what was the matter with the colt. We expressed the opinion that we thought Jim Gore would win the Derby if he did not break down in the race, and unfortunately his leg gave away at the half mile pole, so his jockey, Fitzpatrick, stated, and that he could not have lost the race except for the accident. Banburg could not extend himself in the race to-day; he neither had speed or bottom, from some cause, and did not begin to show the form he did at Lexington in the Phoenix Stakes. Montrose took the lead as the lot entered the main stretch, and was never afterwards headed.

Taken as a lot the Derby colts this season were inferior to last year, save and except Jim Gore, who is a real grand young horse, who struggled gamely and finished second, after breaking down a half mile away from the finish.

The start was a beautiful one, Jacobin in the lead, Ban Yan second, Banburg third, followed by Jim Gore, Clarion, Montrose and Pendennis.

Entering the stretch Montrose led a length, Ban Yan second, Banburg third, rest bunched. Pa.s.sing the stand Montrose led a length, Ban Yan second, Banburg third, Jacobin, Jim Gore, Clarion and Pendennis following in close order. No change at the quarter, but at the half Banburg took second place, and they went around the turn pretty closely bunched, Montrose still leading a length. Entering the stretch Montrose still led; Jim Gore who was seen to falter at the half rallied and took second place as they entered the stretch, but was never able to get on even terms with Montrose who held his lead, and won by a length and a half, Jim Gore second a length in front of Jacobin third same in front of Banburg fourth, Clarion fifth, Ban Yan sixth, Pendennis beaten a hundred yards, seventh. First half mile 52, first mile 1:45-1/2, race 2:39-1/4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WINNER

Montrose is a bay colt, blaze face and several white feet, has neat head and neck, rather light body but clean legs, by Duke of Montrose, out of Patti by imp. Billet, her dam Dora by Pat Malloy, out of Etta, Jr. by Bill Alexander, her dam Etta by Star Davis, &c., &c.

SUMMARY

Third Race--The Kentucky Derby, for 3-year olds, foals of 1884, $100 entrance, h f $10 if declared on or before May 1st, 1886; $20 if declared on or before May 1st, 1887; money to accompany declarations; with $1,500 added; of which $300 to second and $150 to third. 1-1/2 miles. 119 entries. 12 paid $10, 66 paid $20, 1 void. Value $5,920.

Labold Bros.' b c Montrose by Duke of Montrose, dam Patti; 118 lbs., I. Lewis 1

A. G. McCampbell's b c Jim Gore by Hindoo, dam Katie; 118 lbs., Fitzpatrick 2

R. Lisle's br c Jacobin by Jils Johnson, dam Agnes; 118 lbs., Stoval 3

J. D. Morrisey's b g Banburg by King Ban, dam Rosaline; 115 lbs., Blaylock 0

Fleetwood Stable's ch c Clarion by Whisper, dam Claretta; 118 lbs., Arnold 0

W. O. Scully's ch c Ban Yan by King Ban, dam Hira; 118 lbs., G.o.dfrey 0

Santa Anita Stable's b c Pendennis by Virgil, dam Persia; 118 lbs., Murphy 0

Time--2:39-1/4

Betting--8 to 5 against Banburg, 2 to 1 Jim Gore, 4 to 1 Pendennis, 5 to 1 Jacobin, 6 to 1 Ban Yan, 10 to 1 each Montrose and Clarion.

FOURTEENTH DERBY 1888

A more raw, cold disagreeable day can hardly be imagined than the opening day of the Louisville Jockey Club. It was cloudy, and a cold, raw wind blew directly across the track from the North; and as they have had no rain for the past fortnight or more, the dust blew in blinding clouds. The track had been watered on the homestretch which helped matters very much.

The track was slow, and deep in dust except on the homestretch. The attendance was very large, the people taking advantage of the free entrance to the inner field; the rails were packed, four or five deep, from the three-quarter pole at the head of the stretch to well around the first turn. The Grand Stand, Betting Ring and lawn in front of the Grand Stand was packed, making locomotion extremely difficult.

Only seven appeared for the fourteenth renewal of the Kentucky Derby, and the Melbourne Stables Gallifet and Alexandria were even against the field.

The race is described elsewhere but a few comments are necessary here.

Gallifet though the day was raw and cold frothed and fogged greatly between the hind legs and on his neck, showing him to be soft, and not keyed up to concert pitch. Still, notwithstanding his condition we think him the best colt and should have won. He made the pace hot, 51 for the first half mile, was ridden in the deepest and meanest part of the track.

With a good jockey he should have won. The Chevalier made an unaccountable bad show and Macbeth made a wonderful improvement on his race at Lexington. He swerved badly at the head of the stretch and seemed like he wanted to go out, but won quite handily at the finish. On Macbeth's running at Lexington we could not recommend him for a place and selected Gallifet, The Chevalier and White for the placed horses. Gallifet was second, and White third.

The Chevalier led off, Gallifet second, Autocrat third. Entering the main track Zeb Ward led, Alexandria second, White third, rest bunched. Pa.s.sing the stand Alexandria led Gallifet a head, followed a length off by The Chevalier, White, Autocrat and Zeb Ward. Gallifet took the lead after pa.s.sing the stand, and led Alexandria a length at the quarter, The Chevalier third. Coming to the half Gallifet led Macbeth two lengths, who was head and head with The Chevalier third, Autocrat fourth. They ran in this order round the lower turn, White moving up to fourth place entering the stretch. Half way down the homestretch Macbeth took the lead and won quite handily by a length, Gallifet second, three lengths in front of White third, Alexandria fourth, The Chevalier fifth, Autocrat sixth, Zeb Ward seventh. Time--quarter 26-1/4, half 51, three-quarters 1:18, mile 1.44-1/2, mile and a quarter 2:11-1/4, race 2:38-1/4.

SUMMARY

For three-year olds, foals of 1886, $100 entrance, h f $10 if declared on or before May 1st, 1887; $20 if declared on or before May 1st, 1888; money to accompany declarations; with $2,500 added; of which $500 to second and $200 to third. 1-1/2 miles. 95 noms.

Chicago Stable's b c Macbeth II, by Macduff, dam Agnes; 115 lbs., Covington 1

Melbourne Stable's ch c Gallifet by Falsetto, dam India; 118 lbs., McCarthy 2

W. O. Scully's ch c White by King Ban, dam Heglaz; 118 lbs., Withers 3

T. J. Clay's br c The Chevalier by Prince Charlie, dam Miss Haverley; 118 lbs., Lewis 0

D. Gibson's b c Autocrat by Prince Charlie, dam Blomida; 118 lbs., Hamilton 0

Melbourne Stable's ch c Alexandria by Falsetto, dam Patrimony; 118 lbs., Jones 0

G. M. Rye's b c Col. Zeb Ward by Hindoo, dam Galatea; 118 lbs., Blaylock 0

Time--2:38-1/4

Betting--Even money Melbourne Stable's pair 3-1/2 to 1 The Chevalier, 10 to 1 each White and Macbeth, 12 to 1 each Zeb Ward and Autocrat.

FIFTEENTH DERBY 1889

A more disagreeable day for racing could hardly been imagined. It was intensely hot, and the dust so thick you could almost cut it with a knife.

The track was watered during the night, but with all the water it did not lay the dust, still it was a great improvement. The attendance was the largest ever known on the Louisville track except the Ten Broeck and Mollie McCarthy match. The crowd was so great that it was really uncomfortable and almost impossible to move about or get into the betting ring. The free entrance to the field attracted an immense crowd of people and vehicles, the home stretch being twenty or more people deep for its whole length. Notwithstanding the discomforts of the day, it was great racing, and it will be a long time before we shall see such another field of high cla.s.s three-year olds. Just imagine over a deep dusty track, not fast, for four three-year-olds with 118 lbs., up to a run a mile and a half as good as 2:34-1/2, and you can at once appreciate their high cla.s.s.

It is our conviction that with a stout armed jockey up Proctor Knott would have won the Derby. There is no complaint against Barnes's riding as he did the best he could under the circ.u.mstances. Proctor Knott is a tremendous big stout colt, heavy headed and no ninety pound boy can hold him or keep his head up. Before going a quarter of a mile he overpowered Barnes, nearly pulling him over his head, and before the race was half finished Barnes was exhausted pulling to keep his head up. With such a jockey as Murphy, McLaughlin, Hayward or Fitzpatrick up we do not believe he could have lost the race. His future racing will tend to prove our opinion. He made all the running as will be seen for a mile and a quarter and then swerved to the outside and lost enough ground to have made him win by two open lengths. We would not detract from the merits of Spokane, the winner, as he is a great race horse, but we think Proctor Knott the greatest youngster we have seen in years.

The eight went away on pretty even terms, Hindoocraft first, Bootmaker second, Spokane third, followed by Proctor Knott, Sportsman, Once Again, Ca.s.sius and Outbound. They had not gone fifty yards before Proctor Knott rushed to the front and led by three lengths as they entered the main track, which he increased to five as they pa.s.sed the stand, Hindoocraft second, Sportsman third, closely followed by Spokane and Once Again.

Proctor Knott held his lead past the quarter, but it was reduced three lengths at the half, Sportsman second, Hindoocraft third, rest well bunched. Coming round the lower turn Spokane took second place, and when they neared the three-quarter pole Barnes was unable to control Proctor Knott and hold his head up, bolted to the outside, and looked like he was going up the chute for a moment. This lost him some three or four lengths and before he could be straightened, Spokane came next to the rails and took the lead. Inside the sixteenth pole Proctor Knott came again, and after a driving race home in which Spokane swerved to the inner rail he managed to beat Proctor Knott on the post by a short throat latch, Once Again two lengths off third, he a head in front of Hindoocraft fourth, followed by Ca.s.sius, Sportsman, Outbound and Bootmaker, in the order named. Bootmaker broke down, pulling up quite lame. Time, first 24-3/4, half a mile 48-1/2, three-quarters 1:14-1/2, mile 1:41-1/2, mile and a quarter 2:09-1/4, mile and a half 2:34-1/2.

SUMMARY

The Kentucky Derby for three-year olds, foals of 1886; $100 entrance, half forfeit, $10 if declared on or before May 1, 1888, $20 if declared on or before May 1, 1889; money to accompany declarations; with $2,500 added, of which $300 to second and $150 to third. 1-1/2 miles. 94 entries. Value $5,520.