Racing Splendor Again: Chicagos Enthusiasts Swamp the Accommodations of Hawthorne Track, Daily Racing Form, 1916-07-16

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RACING SPLENDOR AGAIN CHICAGOS ENTHUSIASTS SWAMP THE ACCOMMODATIONS OF HAWTHORNE TRACK. Dodge Wins the Renewal of the American Derby in Fast Time, with Faux-Col Second and Franklin Third. Racing came into its own lion; yesterday when mi attendance estimated at "0,000, comprising persons in all walks of life. Iiraved inconveniences to give royal welcome to "King Horse" and stamp approval to the sport, which had liccii lianishcd from those parts for twelve years. Many of the scenes that attended Derhy day nt Washington Park were lacking, lint if the pompons show of wealth and fashion was not so apparent, the enthusiasm was there, and the immense throng seemed to enjoy the occasion in sincere fashion. The Hawthorne track was wholly inadequate to care for the crowd in comfort, that explains the situation in a nutshell. The crowd began arriving early, all eager for vantage points, and i was no time before the grandstand was jammed to overflowing, tin; paddock, when; rows upon rows of chairs had been arranged also filled swiftly. Soon thereafter the lawns and steps leading to the grandstand gestcd and finally came the trooping of the late coiners across to the infield. An idea of the big gathering can be had from the fact that tin; racing had to be postponed for thirty minutes to enable the automobiles, which were strung out for a mile outside of the gate. to have an opportunity to enter the grounds. The machines in the infield alone were three and four deep, parked from the quarter post to the seven -eighths post, covering the entire front stretch and beyond. The magnet for the occasion was the American Derby. It was not the American Derby of old in the true sense. Todays winners portion was less by 0,000 than that which the Loiiisvill -owned Tin; Ticket got when he triumphed in the rich event. It was also nearly the same sum less than Highball, winner of the last Derby, got as his share. The distance had also been abbreviated by a quarter of a mile. Weber and Wards bay colt. Dodge, by .Mm .alV-iipy Flora, "HIoitchhy, winner of the Litouin Derby. - Ti-whcd his many victories by anu"ing the American Derby in tlie easiest style possible. It. .1. Mackenzies Faux-Col landing second money and Franklin third. Churchill, the only other starter, followed the trio home. Franklin, which is also owned by Weber and Ward, made the running until after passing the half-mil" post, where Fairbrothcr found him to be weakening. It was then that he pulled out from the rail so :s not to imprde Dodge, which was closest in attendance, and Murphy, also alive to the emergency, sent Dodge into a long lead in a Hash. Ryrne, on Faux-Col, had 1 n autieipatiug the move, but when it was consummated it found him unprepared and Hodge secured an advantage at this stage, that even were Faux-Col the equal of Dodge, it would have st I the Weber and Ward representative in winning stead. Dodge showed his decisive superiority at all stages and the bit of artistic jockeyship on Murphys and Fnirbroth-ers paits wen; wasted. Faux-Cof set out in hard pursuit of Dodge after the latter had flashed into the lead and. just after rounding into the stretch, made a thcatening challenge, but to no avail, for Murphy, despite the fact that he was many lengths in front, began plying his whip and kept his mount as far in front as possible to ultimately win by six lengths. Faux-Col was just as easily second, having about tin; same margin on Franklin, with Churchill about the same distance further back. Churchills showing was disappointing to a host of easterners, who pinned their faith in him to a man. They will find some consolation in the knowledge that the colt was extremely sore and that the only reason he lined up to the barrier was due to his owners sportsmanship, who desired representation in the race, not for any pecuniary reasons, but because of his desire to take part in the revival of Chicago racing. After the finish there was the typical Derby attending incidents. The crowds cheered the winner in prolonged fashion, and an army of photographers kept horse and jockey in a fret, while the inevitable collar of roses that plays a leading part in the victory, aggravated the colts nervousness. Interesting sport was the order for the entire afternoon, all the finishes excepting in the main event being of the close variety. The oral and credit system of wagering worked smoothly, according to report, and no outward incidents occured to mar the serenity of the occasion. No violations of the betting laws were reported and the; 112 Pinkcrton men, augmented by it staff of fifty depty sheriffs, found their duties confined mainly to relieving congestion and making passages to enable persons to move about with a degree of comfort. Foxhall I. Keene was not disappointed over the showing of Chiirchil in the Derby. "The horse since arriving here has shown soreness and the preliminary gallop he had over the hard track aggravated it. 1 am happy to have had an op-. portunity to take part in the revival of racing in Chicago and I am sure that the auspicious beginning will continue." said Mr. Keene, immediately after the Derby running. Mr. Keene will remain in these parts several days before departing for the east. Churchill will bu sent to New York Sunday. Trainer Hollie Hughes yesterday arranged for a car to ship George Smith back to New York. He will not race the hnr.se again until the Saratoga meeting. George Smith will leave Sunday morning. Hughes said hat he would have rather had St. Isidore here ready to run in the Derby than George Smith, but the horse went wrong just when he was getting at his best. Old timers on the turf took great interest in the track records which were published on the back of the programs. Many of the horses which hold marks at the Hawthorne course are now represented or have been by sons and daughters which i have also helped make turf history. It is unlikely, however, that any of the present records at this course will stand through the meetiing, as every race track has better time than its former days with few exceptions. Jockey Tommy Nolan was among the days arrivals. He came from Tijuana, where he had been riding since the meeting at that course opened. The liotiisvillc, Lexington and Cincinnati delegations numbered several hundreds, and most of them will remain throughout the meeting. All reported keen interest in the Hawthorne meeting in theii sections of the country, and it is expected that there will be many more here before the meeting closes. Jockey Frank Keogh, who came here to ride Churchill In the Derby, left tonight for New York, He said that it is the intention of Emil Hers to send Short Grass, his noted imported horse hen to run in a. stake race before the meeting i: over. Messages by the hundreds were received yesterday by turfmen and turfites from persons ii Canada and New York, inquiring about the re- vival of the sport at Hawthorne, and all were informed that everything started off in the best manner possible. It is more than likely that then; will be many visitors here from other points where racing is now going on after they learn of the high class way in which the local meeting was inaugurated. Jockey Cummiugs was not allowed to ride, as he had no "license from any recognized racing association. Presiding Steward C. .1. Fitzgerald ruled that Cunimiiigs could not accept mounts under these conditions, as the riders activities recently have been confined to "bush" meetings. m He was to have ridden Jungle in the first race, but Stearns was substituted. Captain W. T. Duhaine. who has been in charge of policing race tracks for the Tinkcrton people for many years, is acting in tin; same capacity at Hawthorne, lie arrived yesterday from New York. Representative turfmen were there from all parts of the country. Ha eh voiced gratification at the auspicious opening. "Looks like old times." said Col. W. I". Applegate, "and every indication points to the revival being lasting." His expressions about voiced tiie sentiment of most present. Jockey Frank Murphy was highly jubilant after he hail dismounted from Dodge. "No time to take chances at that si igo," said tin; rider when questioned why he had resorted to the whip when enjoying such a big lead. "Wauled to make sure that my name; would be enrolled as having piloted the first winner of the American Derby in Chicagos r.cing revival." Trainer Ward was all smiles after Dodge got home in front. "Felt sanguine all the time that the colt would lead all the way if he had to do it. His nice was not as hard as it looked and he won handy enough to give me belief that he could repeat the performance on Monday were he called on to do It."


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1916071601/drf1916071601_1_2
Local Identifier: drf1916071601_1_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800