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PROBABLE DERBY STARTERS ■ i TEN DEEMED SURE TO GO WITH A NUMBER IN ADDITION PROBABLE. F*" Star Hawk Now in Favor with the Whitney Stable, J George Smith and the Ward Entry About Equal Choices. I j Louisville, Ky.. May 11. — All the assured starters • as well as the others tliiit may go to the post for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday are now quartered here and those that had not been given their ; final work for tin race got it today. At Churchill Il«»tt» Oeorge Smith covered a mile and an eighth i* i;and6, going the first mile in 1:40%. Star Hawk Wff The Cock cantered a mile and a tiuarter in 3*14%, covering the first mile, hard held, in 1:48%. The former appeared today to have as much early speed as the fastest sprinter. At Doug-KM Park Ktlmey worked a mile and a quarter in **:0S»i. running the first mile in 1:41%. At this track also Dodge galloped the Derby distance in 2:11, covering the first mile in 1:45. i here now api ears ten that can be accounted sure starters in tin* race. They embrace Dominant. Thunderer, Star Hawk, The tock. George Smith. Franklin, Lena Misha. Dulse. Kinney and Dank. Others that may start embrace St. Isidore and Huffaker. with such representative of the .1. Livingston stable as trainer Drandt may conclude to Kead to the post. It is now believed that trainer Hiwe will have .1. Notter on Thunderer and T. McTaggart on Dominant. M. Garner will be up on Star Hawk and W. Lilley on The Cock. .1. Loftaa will be on George Smith. F. Murphy on Franklin. E. Dugan on Lena Misha, L. Gentry on Kinney. R. Goose on Dank and perhaps C. Hunt on Duise. Trataer W. J. Young announced today that Dulse Was a sure starter. He shipped in grand condition to Churchill Downs from Lexington and came out ♦jf his race there sound. Young thinks he is capable of running mile and a quarter in 2:05 or hotter. Trainer J. S. Ward announced that with dry track conditions Franklin will be the starter in the race and should the course be heavy he will send Dodge to the post and keep Franklin in the stable. Star Hawk now appears to be the favorite locally with George Smith. J. S. Wards entry and the Whitney entry all about equal second choices. Conservative horsemen regard it as the most open Derby ever run at the Downs and, on this account, it will unquestionably be a great betting race. The track at the Downs is at present in such excellent condition that it is hardly thought possible that it can be otherwise than good, even should there be some rain the early part of Derby day. The Derby will be run as the fifth race. A feature of the Derby this year is that there lire more horses now reckoned to be sure starters that have a strong following than usual. Many look upon H. 1. Whitneys entry as invincible this year, as was Regret last year, but large as their following is. it is not overshadowing much the 1 horde of friends who swear by A. K. Macoml ers i and John Sanfords stables, with their representatives Star Hawk and The Cock. George Smith and I St. Isidore. respectively. Doth Franklin and Dodge. of J. S. Wards string, won their only starts at the recent Lexington meeting and. while Pulse was I beaten, he was giving Franklin much weight. These • three have a host of friends among Kentucky turfmen and are sure to be strongly backed. Then i comes Dank, which has shown wonderful speed over old horses in his only start in Kentucky. There are ! some who think he is the real dark horse of the I race and may take the lead at the rise of the barrier and never relinquish it until after the ■ winning line is passed. Every train coming into the city is crowded to i the limit with racing enthusiasts and parties, heretofore consisting of three or four in number, have • now expanded to a dozen or more. Horsemen and I patrons of racing of great prominence from all 1 over America are already in the city and the Downs •, track this morning looked like it might on a racing ; afternoon. All was bustle at l oth local courses this morning, the arrival of the big contingent from Lexington taking up the horsemens attention. Doth i tracks house more horses this spring than in any previous year. The quality is also superior and it t should make for sport of the highest class. T. D. Cuinphell who served as steward at the • New Orleuns meeting the past winter, was an arrival today to witness the Derby. He stated that t mutters were progressing harmoniously in the • Crescent City and that there would again be a high-cluss meeting there next winter. The Kentucky State Racing Commission will 1 hold a special meeting next week to pass upon l important matters. Earl F. Wright has succeeded George H. Stratc ■ ns trainer of the George Wingfield horses and now - has them in Charge. It develops that E. R. Dradley sought to buy t Westy Hogan just before his start in the Dreeders Futurity yeaterdaj and offered owner John . Whitlow 0,000 and the winnings of the colt in I the race in addition to a fee of 00 to the rider r in case the colt won. Owner Whitlow turned the I offer down.
