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RODE IN THE FIRST KENTUCKY DERBY. William Walkers Long Experience as a Jockey and Afterwards as a Trainer. By . A. Bergin. Louisville. Ky.. March 17.— Just, a little short of a half century. Just breathing space between ante-bellum days and today, connect the Kcntucky DerhjT to lie run at Churchill Downs on the afternoon of the coining May 12 and the first running of the race. It was May 17. 1875, when Aristides came home the first Derby winner, carrying the colors of II. P. McOiath. In that race William Walker, a diminutive colored jockey rode Bob Woolley and finished fourth. The following year, when the victor turned up in Vagrant. Walker piloted Bombay into fourth position. In the third running of the race he won with Dan Swigerts Baden Baden. Walker, now hale and hearty at 57, has long since retired from the saddle, but he lias not lost interest in the sport. A trusted employee and oftentimes valued adviser, of J. K. Maddi ns. he is always ready with his fund of stories — a most valued and reasserted expenanat of the sport. There has been no break in his connection witli the turf since he rode his first race at old Jerome Park, away back in 1S71. when be was but eleven years of age. Having ridden in the first three and witnessed the running of each succeeding Kentucky Derby, he is to be accepted as a link between the past Bad present, and a living part of the race since its first bugle call resounded across the Downs. No Princely Fee for Winning the Derby. What a change in conditions in his early days and those that today are so general, as to be accepted as commonplace. Walkers fee for winning the Derby witli Baden Baden was 0. and when he later rode Ten Broeck to victory in the memorable race with Mollie McCarthy lie received nothing beyond the customary riding fee. from the owner F. B. Harper. In those times Walker was satisfied to receive a salary of fig a month from Dan Swigert. his contract employer. When Edward Corrigan paid Isaac Murphy an annual retailer of sJ. 500 to ride for him. the world of sport st od agape. How different are conditions fday. when jockeys -alariev are twice and some times three times that amount. Walker is gifted with a good memory, and he retains a distinct recollection of the running of the three Dt rbys. in which he had a mount. In talking about the race won by Baden Baden the other day. he said he had no idea prior to the running that tlie colt would win. "I bettered like the majority of people.* he added, "that McWhirter. the favorite, would win. A short time prior McWhirter had won a stake race at cue mile and a half at Lexington, and subsequently he had worked impressively at the Downs track for the Derby. Leonard was also highly regarded, and was almost as strong a favorite as McWhirter. In the other hand, Baden Baden was regarded as a rank outsider. He had been off his feed and did not work at all to the satisfaction of his trainer. Ud Brown, commonly known as Brown Dick. The latter told me he did not think the colt had a Chance as he helped me to mount, but told me to do my level best. Baden Baden an Easy Winner by Tv7o Lengths. "The start "was in front of the present grandstand and. the track at that point being rather narrow. Baden Baden and two other horses were Compelled to line up in the rear of the other starters. Leonard led for the first mile, with King William second and my mount third. At the end of a mile 1 expected McWhirter and Vera Cma to move up and grap the leaders, but when they failed to overhaul us. I urged Baden Baden and overtook and paeacd King William in tin-stretch. Still running easily, my mount gradually crept up on Leonard and. passing him an eighth out. I landed Baden Baden an easy winner by two lengths." "Subsequently, in the Clark Stakes. McWhirter redeemed himself by beating Baden Baden and Others. The distance of tin race then was two miles, and it was for three-year-olds. McWhirter area in 3:30.. "Shortly after William Aster bought Baden Baden for 2,580 and seat him to Monmouth Park, where he won the Jersey Derby. I also rode the colt in this race and was engaged by Mr. Astor to ride in all other race- but his trainer Davis lryor. tint me aside in favor of Tom Saver., son of the Knglish pugilist of that name. Mr. Astor was m Kngland at the time and. when he heard of Davis action, he cabled him to let me ride. M] fellings had been wounded, however, and I refused. "It was the general opinion at the time that 11. Williams, who rode Volcano in the first Derby, and Creedmoor in the second, tossed both races away by waiting too long be fire making his move. In both races Williams had received waiting orders and he waited too long. As it was Volcano, which was owned by Geetge Rice, was just beaten for first money by Aristides, while Creedanoor finished second to Vagrant." It is worthy to note that Ten Broeck was also a starter in the fir-t lerb. . Walker Rode Ten Broeck in All Notable Races. Walkei also i ode Ten Broei k in all of his notable rails, including tin Molli- McCarthy match race: the Louisville up in the spring of 1876; in his race to beat 7:10%, the best previous time for four miles, and in his race against time in the spring meeting of 1S77. When the great horse ran two miles in five seconds better than the best pre lions time. In the fall of 1S7."i Walker won tin Tehacce Stakes. Gait House Slakes and St. Leges with King Alfonso. He was born in Woodford county near Midwaj Ky.. and started riding for Wo h1 Btrhagfteid in 1871. He rode his first winner the same fall at Lexington win n he brought Ilatina home in front. However, he was not considered a full fledged rater until he area two stakes with General Janes BnMaaoaa Astral at the LS73 Lexington fall meet bag. One of his meal noted races was in lss at Sari toga when he rode One Ibuie against Luke Black burn, in what was regarded as the best race • the filter horse erer won. Walker rode the great llimyar in nearly all of his races, winning with him the Merchants Stake at Churchill Downs and another stake in St. Louis the same year. King Alfonso was the lastest horse he ever rode, while Ten Broeck was the best over a long distance of ground. He belle fee that Ten Breech was at his beat as a four ear old. The horse area si years old ai tie- time he I t MoJlie McCarthy and Walker betterea the horse was not at his best the day of the race, This was the lata rate run by Ten Broeck, and he was shortly after retired. A monument marks hi. burial place on Nantura Farm in Woodford County, Ky, Walker retired from tin-saddle in 1VS4. his last race being on Bob Cook iu the American Derby of that year. Since then he has devoted his time to the training of horses having been reasserted with some of the best stables iu this country. He has been with J. B. Madden lor a good many yean, as trainer in an advisory capacity.
