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GOVERNOR GRAYS DERBY TREMENDOUS CROWD SEES SON OF GARRY HERRMANN BEAT THE NIGGER. Whiter Meeting at Jacksonville Comes to Closo Under Auspicious Circumstances Prospects for Further Racing at Moncricf Good. Jacksonville, Fla., April 1. Coming from behind with a brilliant burst of speed Governor Gray, the Garry Herrmann colt tbat Oapt. .T. T. Williams brought here, today won the rich American Derby, tin; most valuable race run bcre tills winter. Governor Gray was ridden by jockey Byrne, trailed his rnpany until euteriug the homestretch, then moved up in resolute fashion and, wearing The Nigger down, got up in the final strides to win by a scant halt length. Tho mile and a quarter was run in i-tOlJ. representing a new record for the distance over the Moncrief Park course. A tremendous crowd turned out to witness the running of the race. The fact that it was the closing day of the long winter meeting and also that it might be the last opportunity for witnessing tin; raeiug of thoroughbreds in this state, furnished additional incentive for race-goers to turn out. Long before the horses wen; called to the post for the first race the big grandstand was -tilled, and before the running or the Derby, the management found it necessary to permit the overflow to go into the iufield so that they might be able to get a better view of the struggle. There were live starters. The Nigger and .Star Charter were the pair that carried the major portion of the money wagered on the race. The Nigger opened favorite, but finally the Schorr colt held the post of honor. Starter Dade cautioned the boys when they reached the post and they gave him but little trouble, the field being sent away to a splendid break after being there two minutes. The Nigger, showing good speed, dashed to the trout and in the run around the first turn drew into a lead of a length. Dr. Duenner sliowiug second a neck ju front of JStar Charter. When straightened out on the backstreteh, Bran-noif shook up Messenger Itoy and the colt, showing a surprising burst of speed, moved up to the leader without much effort njd at the half mile post was lapped on him. KTbeTialr" raced like a team around the far .turn and into the homestretch. Then The Nigger again drew clear, but just as he appeared lo have the race well in hand, Governor Gray loomed up as a factor. . The latter closed with splendid courage and, gaining steadily, got up to win going away. Although beaten. The Nigger ran a splendid race, as did also Messenger Boy. There were some who thought that tho latter would have won had Brannon waited longer witli li Is mount. With the running of todays program the long winter meeting at Moncrief Park came to a close. The season this year was two weeks shorter than that of last winter, but at that extended over 111 days of racing. There is much speculation here as to the future of the sport in Florida, but the chances are that the horsemen will be here again next winter for a much shorter season. Tho outlook seems much better for the sport than it did a few weeks ago. The local people have gotten together and are working in unison. Regardless of what action tho Florida Legislature may take, there will be racing at Charleston next winter and also at Havana. The Charleston proposition is being backed by some substantial men and II. D. Brown, who is behind the plan to re-establish racing in Havana, promises to build a fine, modern track at Alnian-dnres. As to the racing here this winter, it was good. Incept in a few instances, the sport was free from scandal and the phenomenal success of the favorites enabled the public to win. It is doubtful if more than three or four of the many layers who have booked here quit winner oil the season. Some of them lost small-sized fortunes. Of the big operators. V. It. Kllison is reported a good winner, although lie has not been as successful recently as he was earlier in the season. Phil Hymes lias been exceptionally successful of late by sticking to jockey T. Koerners mounts. The latter has been riding many winners and Ilymes has profited handsomely over the victories of some of them. Joe Yaogcr has been in had form all winter. Jack Sturgis quit a bit winner when he departed for Hot Springs a couple of weeks ago. Frauk Kittleniaii has been winning with a regularity that has disgusted some of the layers. Tom Shaw lias had a disastrous winter, as have also M. Wolfgang. Peter McGrath and K. J. Callahan. Joe Hose has been successfully makiug a big book since his arrival from California. Little Pete" Christensen and Joe Haymau are among others that have found It profitable here. The financial results of the meeting have been , highly satisfactory to the Florida Live Stock and Agricultural State Fair Association. Despite the i admission fee. the crowds have been large and the chances are that the nrofits will be equal if not exceed those of last winter. The management has been liberal with the horsemen and the purses have been uniformly good. The starting lias been excellent and all the otlicials have performed their duties well.- Harry White, tho local paddock judge, has arranged for special trains from here to various racing points. He has succeeded in obtaining forty Arms horse cars from Chicago and they will go to make lip the tliree specials that will leave here next week. There were 9GI horses quartered here this winter and about 830 are still on the grounds. The first special that will pull out will leave for Norfolk at 31 oclock Monday morning, and will arrive at the Jamestown Jockey Clubs chute Tuesday noon. It will be made up of fourteen cars and will include the following stables: W. P. Austin, I. B. Bradfield, It- Long, R. Bauer. G. A. Bronder. Bev-trwvek Stable. J. Rosw, Balicock and Gardner, M. Burns, A. J. Goldsborougb. Tommy Burns, N. K. Deal, W. P. Burch, If. Bowen, J. Cahill, N. B. Davis, C. II. Davids, G. Doyle. P. J. Fox, E. L. Gaffnev. S. F. Hyman. James Hewitt. Hal Kon-uedv, "P. M. Walker, W. P. Kuchen, F. D. Weir, William R. Midgley, C. L. Mack, A. Molinelli. It. T. McKeevei, Miss A. M. Marrone. J. E. Nash, E. Peters. F. C. Piper, J. W. Paiigle. W. T. Ryan, Frank Friable, Harry Shannon, A. Simons. J. K. Thompson, T. It. Condran, Mrs. W. G. Wilson and It. E. Waters. A special for Louisville will leave Tuesday evening at ." oclock, and will arrive at Churchill Downs Thursday morning. It will be made up of ten ears and will include the following: T. Abadle, 11. J. Akers, -T. A. Adams, W. M. Adrians. M. Burton, J. At. Barker, T. F. Bornman. C. E. Brown. J. M. Brown. 0. D. Chenault, W. V. Casey. W. V. Con-ran. R. H. Clark, W. F. Cisco. J. DruiinnOnd. W. II. Frey. W. IL Fizer. F. Goring, Sr., W. Gcrst, .T. E. Gloss. Mose Goldblatt. Walter House. A. L. Holter, J. 0. Holder. F. .1. Pons. T. Hatfield, Wayne O. Jopltn. L. Johnson. O. Johnson. A. .L. Kirbv. !. H. Knvln-lkamp. Luke Le Blond," C. K. Lvmaii, Louis Martine. Hugh McCam-u. it. G. Martin, J. S. Ownbey, C. A. Ross, II. B. Rcethers. Continued ou second page. GOVERNOR GRAYS DERBY, Continued from first page. John W. Schorr. H. II. Selby, W. E. Scott, A". G. Woodman, W. E. Suggs and Woodford and Buckner. The Lexington special will be the last to leave and will pull out on Wednesday. The following have arranged to ship on this train: T. C. .McDowell, Gallaher Bros., J. S. Hawkins, C. D. Chenault. T. P. Hayes, Mode Nieoll, W. J. Young and Chinn and Prey. R. 1. Williams has reconsidered his plans for shipping his horses east and will instead ship to his farm in Oklahoma. S. A. Clopton will ship to 1 Denver and a couple of other owners will go with 1 him to Colorado. If T. It. Condran dues not acquire the contract on jockey Loftus, that rider will go to Kentucky with .. I.. Kirby. Because of the doubt raised by Governor Manns anti-bookinaking pronounciamento, some horsemen who had been planning to race at Norfolk have de-. elded to ship to Kentucky for the opening at Lexington April 29. The officials who have served here departed tonight for their homes in different parts of the country. Joseph Murphy went to St. Louis and A. B. Dade to Henderson, Ky. H. I. Brown will leave for the north tonight and Francis J. Pons will go to his farm near Nashville, Tenn. C. C. Campau, who is secretary of the three half-mile tracks at Montreal. Que., announced today that horses and jockeys participating in the meeting at Pensacola would not bo permitted to take part in the meetings given under his management. Starter Murray has also been notified to this effect. Mr. Campau announced that seventy-five horses would be shipped from here direct to Montreal some day next week. A big delegation of turf followers and layers left tonight for Norfolk on two specials.
