view raw text
*— THE CROWD AND THE RACE. It was a monstrous, a magnificent, an overwhelming crowd that witnessed the decision of the sixteenth American Derby. It broke all local records, swept all precedents Into obscurity. On any racetrack, if you know the capacity of the grandstand, you have a reliable unit by which to estimate attendance. The Washington Park grandstand, seating and standing room, holds over 25,000 people. By that standard 75,000 persons were in the Washington Park grounds yesterday. Possibly more, certainly not less Packed in front of the grandstand and extending down to the head of the stretch was a quarter of a mile of people. In the infield, in front of the club house and extending down to the three-quarters post at the head of the stretch, and beyond, was another quarter of a mile of people. It was not a thin fringe in either case, but a big closely packed crowd extending far back on both sides of the track. The infield was a picture with its great mass of vehiclesTFril-"" Hant hued tents and great masses of varied color furnished by myriads of costly and beautiful costumes. The Club House, its verandas and grounds were thronged with all of wealth, beauty and fashion that Chicago can produce. Altogether the attendance was something that enforces on the Washington Park Club the absolute necessity of providing greater accommodations for American Derby days of the future. As to the running of the Derby, record breaking contest as it was, it can be truthfully said that the chart published elsewhere .gives as accurate a description as will ever be published.- From the time that Dick Dwyer dispatched the big field of nineteen on its momentous journey, it was a case of one flying colt out in front setting a heartbreaking pace and the others essaying as best they might to overhaul those space- J devouring feet. It was The Picket at the 1 stand, The Picket at the quarter, The Picket 1 at the half, The Picket at the three-quarters and never once in that last tremendous rush down the long homestretch was it anything but that great hearted colt out by himself, flashing over the velvety track with remorse less, unfaltering strides, the surest of sure winners, and in the fastest time ever recorded in the history of the race. It was a singular feature that in the race he should duplicate his remarkable trial at Harlem a few days ago. Such a race is seldom won by a leader from start to finish and the fact that such was the case in this instance served to largely distract attention from the gallant but ineffectual efforts of the colts engaged in a bitter struggle to overtake their leader. Claude made one of those great stretch runs that have served to endear" him to those who have seen him in action elsewhere and emerged from the race a greater * colt that he had previously been estimated to be by his admirers. Bernays was knock- r ed about from pillar to post, surmounted grave difficulties with the courage of a lion, and In his last grand rush fully justified the confidence reposed In him by "Rome" Res-pess. He is a good horse, destined to achieve notable triumphs »in. the future if all goes well with him. Savable was nofctdisgraced. He ran a grand race and finished with unfaltering courage. The* fortunes of the others can be gleaned from the chart of the race and the stories of the jockeys printed, .elsewhere. It vas a, race, long to be remem-* bered., mlfel
