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: a CONVICTION GROWS THAT KENTUCKY DERBY IS AN OPEN RACE i . Lexington, Ky., May 0. Until Round the World ran so disappointingly here Thursday, there wer. thousands of people in all parts of the country win believed that tradition this year would be shattered ami that on Saturday next a lilly would be returned the winner of the thirty-seventh running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. There is yet a possibility that this daughter of Lackford and Nellie lily will win the great Kentucky race, but that possibility seems so unlikely that many conservative horsemen and turf followers have eliminated her from consideration and are concentrating their attention upon the relative chances of Meridian, Colston and Governor Gray. This triumvirate, after the elimination of the winner of the Juarez Derby, are now generally regarded in the public estimation as entitled, on past performances, present appearances and condition and recent running in trials or races, to first, second and third rank. But the rub comes in the process of separation. There are many who will favor Governor Gray partially upon his Jacksonville Derby victory and partially uimhi the knowledge that ho was highly tried as a yearling, worked a faster three-quarters than any two-year-old ever trained over the Lexington track, took sick before he had a chance to make his intended debut in the Breeders Futurity here last spring, and when he recovered won under conditions that at once stamped him as a good race horse. Others will give their supitort to Colston because of the fact that his present owner and trainer, for whom the colt was named, bought him at Fred For-sytlies dispersal sale last September with a full knowledge of his quality and merit: with the announced belief that he could win the Derby with him, and further because Colston has worked better than any of the eligibles now at Louisville and will go to the post witli the maiden allowance of 12 pounds, making his weight 110 pounds, a considerable advantage in a race at one mile and a quarter. There are still others who bellevu that Richard F. Carmans Meridian, son of Broomstick and Sue Smith, purchased last August from C. L. Harrison after his good race against Novelty, Iron Mask, Nausbon, Whist and Zeus in the Saratoga Special, is the best horse among the Derby eligibles and that he will win. Meridian was wintered at Belmont Park and there were good reports from that quarter of his early spring trials. He arrived iu Lcxingtou looking to be in excellent bodily condition, thoggh he had a touch of the shipping fever. He icon walked this out of his systehrr" ho"vevcrr"nd-ltas been galloping well this week. Louisville, Ky., May 0. In its thirty-seven years history, the Kentucky Derby seldom lias been re garden as a one-sided race, nor Is It so regarded this season. The Derby event will be decideu next Sat-uruay at Churchill Downs. Aside from tue situation growing out of the brilliant racing of Round the World at Juarez, Mexico, and Governor Grays victory in the American Derby at Jacksonville, au element of uncertainty dttacu.es to the outcome this spring. The record of the race shows that it lias been marked by numerous surprises, and its coming renewal may lurnish another. In the first Derby, Chesapeake, looked upon as a certain winner, and with the great rider Bob Swim upon his back, finished outside of the money. Aris-tules, his underrated stable companion, wou the race from the long-shots Volcano anil Verdigris. In 1S7JS so sure was the late Major B. G. Thomas that his eolt Himyar, would win the Derby that he told the starter not to break up a send-off if his colt was straight, since it made no difference how he got off he would win anyway. But Day Star beat him. The distance then was one mile and a half and the time was 2:371. the record up to that date. In 1SS0 Kimball was the warmest Kind of a first choice. Fimso easily defeated him. In 1SS2 came auother upset when Apollo beat Runnymede, a 1 to 3 shot. .Jim Gore was a hot tip in 1SS7. The Derby that season was won bv Montrose, at 20 to 1 iu the betting. In 1SSS Macloth II. defeated Gallifet. which was also a top-heavy favorite. It was in 1SS9 that the .greatest surprise in the history of the Derby occurred. Proctor Knott, the first Futurity winner, and a 1 to 3 choice in the Kentucky Derby, went down to defeat, conquered by the 10 to 1 chance. Spokane. That was the fastest Derby ever ran at the mile and a half distance. The time was 2::M4. Proctor Knotts downfall nearly broke the heart of his owner, Sam Bryant. Like all Kentuekians. Mr. Bryant wanted another race. The pair met iu the Clark. Stakes, at a mile and a quarter. Again Spokane-, proved his superiority. Once more the two clashed in the American Derby in Chicago and for the third lime Spokane triumphed. Spokanu was undeniably the best horse that ever came from Montana, unless Ogdcn, the Futurity winner, was his peer. Upsets came in the Kentucky Derbys of 1S97 and lSJS. Typhoon II., iu 1S97. defeated the miglity Ornament. The next year Plaudit finished in front of the hot favorite Leiber Karl. All Tennessee had backed Leiber Karl. Outsiders victorious in the race in more recent vears were as follows Judge Hiuies, in 1103, 10 to 1 in the betting; Elwood, at 15 to 1, in 1S94: Pink Star, at 7 to 1, iu 1007; Stonestrect, at 15 to 1, in 1908. Reviewing the surprises in the Derby, it is not strange that calculators without sentiment regard the race with uncertainty. This can be attributed to the fact that, iu recent years, there have been few races for three-year-olds before the running of the Derby that are at as long a distance as one mile and a quarter. Opportunities are scant for discovering their ability to go the route. In public trials three-year-olds have been known to work tlashily at the distance, but when asked to race with horses have lamentably failed. So it is that the question haunts the supporters of the various eligibles: "Can the horse go the distance;" This spring Governor Gray is the .only Kentucky Derby eligible that has gone one mile and a quarter iu a race. Owing to this fact many pin thier faith upon his ability to win. However, none of the other iligibles has been called upon to go this distance in an actual race. Round the World has won at a mile and one-eighth, the longest distance she has been sent iu a race. Beach Sand and Jabot have both won at a mile, the limit of the route they have heen asked to go. Colston. Exemplar and Sir Dawn havo all worked the full Derby route speedily. Meridian, as a two-year-old, won as far as ho was asked to go. Mud Sill and Colonel Hogan have both met all of the requirements of their trainers in trials at cither a mile or a mile and one-eighth. Colston and Rainazau are others that havo worked the mile ami one-quarter creditably. The conviction is growing that the 1911 Kentuckv Derby is not going to lie a two-horse struggle; that is. Round the World and Governor Gray will not be the only two contenders. It looks now as if one of the largest fields iu the history of the Derby will face Starter Mars Cassidy. Hardly an owner" of an eligible lias as yet declared his intention not to trv for the 1911.sh,000 prize. Rain or shine, a big field is almost assured. Notwithstanding Governor Grays supposed dislike for heavy going. Capt. J. T. AAii liams will send him to the post for tiie Derbv. Captain AAilliams owned Rams Horn, which great racer did not favor muddy going, but still the Cap tain sent the horse to the post iu the 1905 Derby, which was won by Agile. The improved condition of the Downs course affords assurance that no matter if it rains onlv a few hours before the time for running the Derbv it will be In good condition for the race. So perfect is the drainage system and so much care has been employed that unless there is a deluge the starters will make good time. If the track is fast it is likely that the Derby record will bo shattered and that the winner will be credited with the fastest mile and one-quarter, ever run on a Kentucky race course. Round the World, in her sole start in heavy going at Juarez, at a mile, was beaten bv Intrinsic, to which she conceded many pounds. W. G. Yanke her trainer, says she fancies a heavv track none too well. The good horse Pinkola, winner of the Latonia Derby and Einirejiy Handicap in 190S-Js.-lhought. ttf he dying of lung fever aT Churchill Downs. Up to two days ago the horse was training better than at any time since he was a three-year-old. hut his condition now is precarious. His owner. Ed Alvey, recently lost the valuable horse Friend Ilarrv from a similar- cause. Mr. Alvey s only other "racer is Howdy Howdy. Having decided not to ship Colston to Lexington to run iu the Camden Handicap todav, trainer Raleigh Colston worked him the full Derby course of one mile and a quarter in 2:113. He appeared to bo running so easily that it was the general opinion of all horsemen who saw the trial that he could easily have worked iu 2:08 or ln-tter. The frac-tionals were: 13. 25s, 38. 51 2, 1 :02J, 1:17. 1:312, l:55g, 3:572. He worked the last mile in 1:44 and the last mile and an eighth in 1:5S. He came out or the work iu good condition and without drawing a long breath. Colonel Hogan. the Henderson and Hogan Derby candidate, was sent five-eighths in 1:07, going the first quarter in 202. three-eighths in 392 and the half in 52. He was under hard restraint all the way. The only other eligibles to the race to work today were the McManus candidates. Tay Pav and Star ORyan, which cantered a half mile in 52, running the first quarter in 24 and three-eighths in 372. The star bit of work of the morning was by the two-year-old Lady Lightning, trained by AV. J. Speirs. Some of the dockers caught her as going five-eighths in 1:02 and the slowest of the watchers held on her registered 1:021. She went the first eighth in 12, the tiuarter in 231, three-eighths in 35-. the half in 4S2 and four and a half furlongs in 54-. Other work-outs were as follows:, Angelus Half mile in 50. Fraetionals: 25, 37. Looks good, but" pulled up sore. Canopian Three-quarters iu 1:23, cantering. Fraetionals: 27. 40s. 531, l-OOi: Looks well. Captain Bravo Quarter in 24, first eighth in 111. A smart two-year-oiif iu AV. F. Seliultes stable. Fairy Slipper Five and a half furlongs in 1:095. Fraetionals: 241, 371. 49, 1:03. J. II. Reed Mile in 1:40, easily. Fraetionals: -5J, 3S2. 51, 1:042. 1:1SJ, 1:322. Is Improving daily and looks good. Louis Katz Five-eighths in 1:072, under hard restraint. Fraetionals: 202, 392, 532. Seems to lie extra good. Mary Lee Johnson Quarter in 251, easily. Nethermost Three-quarters in 1:19. Fraetionals: -01, 391, 52, 1:05. Looks good and serins to have his speed. Odd Nymph Quarter mile in 241. Has much speed. Samuel R. Morris Half mile in 52. Fraetionals: 241. 3S1. Promising colt. Sliapdale Mile in 1:47. Fraetionals: 252, 3SJ, 521. 1:05, 1:191. 1:33. Is good. Syzygy Seven-eighths in 1:33. cantering. Fraetionals: 20. 39t. 52, 1:051. 1:19s. Training well. The Reach Eighth mile in 12. easily. Tom King Half mile in 53, easily. Fraetionals: 25. 39 J. A likely colt. Yauker Half mile in 51. easily. Fraetionals:. -11. 37-. Up to his Juarez form. Mrs. L. A. Livingston and E. C. Cowdin arc among the latest eastern owners to announce an intention of racing in Kentucky.
