view raw text
I ELLICOTTS BUFFALO DERBY. MADIGANS COLT EASILY BEATS MAIN CHANCE AT KENILWORTH PARK. The Abbot Finishes Last Nicol Wins With All His Four Mounts Big Crowd Attends the Opening. Buffalo, N. Y., June 15. Though the field was small and not of the highest quality the Buffalo Derby proved a strong attraction and brought out a large crowd to Kenilworth Park for the opening of the spring meeting this afternoon. There were eight carded in the race but only five went to the post. The fields in all but the closing race were small, but after tbe horses that have been racing at Montreal get in there will be more than enough to spare. The Derby proved an easy thing for J. H. Madt-gans Eilicott. He was ridden by Nicol, made his own pace and won easily by a couple of lengths from J. E. Seagrams Main Chance. Colonel Jack was third three lengths hack. He had all the bad luck of the race in that he was severely kicked on the off hind leg by Main Chance while at the post, and this delayed the start for five minutes in order to give the colt an opportunity to trot out of the lameness which the kick produced. In the race Colonel Jack was sharpIy cut off on three different occasions when Dugan attempted to squeeze through next to tbe inside rail. Under the circumstances the colt ran a good game race and with better luck might have beaten the winner. The Abbot, winner of the Latonia Derby, was last and beaten off. The colt evidently does not like this Jtraek, for he failed to run within several pounds of his showing at the Cincinnati track. Twenty-two books laid the odds as against forty-four on the opening day last year. There was plentiful business, however, and betting enough for as many more. Jockey Nicol was the whole thing in the riding line. He. had four mounts during the afternoon and landed every one of them winner by comfortable margins. The Derby was run as the fourth race. Main Chance, on the strength of his good races at Toronto and Montreal was made favorite and heavily backed, Eilicott being a strong second choice. The fact that Nicol had the mount on the latter was responsible for a large following. There was hut little call for Colonel Jack or The Abbot. Nicol, with his usual alertness at the post, managed to get his mount ,away running fast when the barrier was released and before they had gone a sixteenth, he was out in front with a lengths lead. He then took a restraining hold on Eilicott and rated him along in front at an even pace. Rounding tbe far turn MeDaniel made his move with Main Chance and when entering the homestretch, it appeared as if be might catch and pass tbe leader. Entering the last furlong he was at Ellicotts head and both were straight and driving. Main Chance could not maintain the pace, however, and when he quit Eilicott drew away and won in decisive fashion by a couple of lengths. Main Chance was second three lengths in front of Colonel Jack. The race had a guaranteed value of ,500. The wiuners portion of it was ,000.