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Mcdowell derby eligibles loom up Speedy Filly Olive Wood to Be His Standard Bearer — Sewell Combs Considered Dangerous. Louisville. Ky.. April 27. — With the close ap proach of the date set for the forty-fourth running of tlie Kentucky Derby, eligibles tii the event that heretofore have been figuring hut slightly in the calculations of the form students are commencing to loom up with more or less prominence and are beginning to command the attention that is their due. Among this number may be listed Thomas C. McDowells trio of aspirants. Olive Wood. Plum and American Eagle, all of which are by Mr. McDowells comparatively young stallion. The Man-lger. and are the product of Mr. McDowells Ash-bind farm. Seldom, if ever in the history of the Derby, has any one nominator had three eligibles to the race, all of his own breeding. With three strings to his Kentucky Derby how Mr. McDowell expects to strike the high note with Hive Wood, the fastest two-year-old filly from i he west seen under colors at Saratoga last year. Mr. McDowell would rather win the Derby than any itlier fixture on the American turf, not excepting the rich Futurity, and he makes no secret of his belief in the ability of Olive Wood to pull down the rich nice for him this year, and those who have watched the filly in her work at Lexington are in-elined to believe that she stands more than a good •bailee to justify the faith of her owner. Mr. McDowell has fully decided that Olive Wood will carry ids colors in the Derby and also in the Kentucky • al:s. which rai-e is run the closing day of the .hurt-hill Downs meeting. This fine filly, dam of which is the mare Fancy-.vood, made an enviable record for herself last year when she won four out of five starts ami enriched her owner to the extent of $.s.095. Iu her preparation for the Derby Olive Wood has .lone everything asked of her and is well advanced n her training. She has lieen sent a mile in 1:40.-.. A-liich is most creditable, and is now ready to engage iu a contest at Lexington to put heron edge for the big race at the Downs. HOPES TO ALLAN-A-DALES SUCCESS. In starting Olive Wood in the Derby Mr. McDowell is hoiieful she will repeat the success attained by Allan-a-llale. which won the event in the McDowell colors just sixteen years ago. Allan -a-Dale. son of Halma. which won the Derby seven years previously, was bred at Ashland, ami in his Kentucky engagement was ridden by Jim Wink field. He won from Inventor, while The Kival. also owned by McDowell, was third. The favorite. Alic Frank, owned by George *•. Bennett, was fourth. It was a thrilling race ami a close finish. The following year McDowell put Dick Crow-hnrst on Kourtion and llelgersen on Woodlake anil made another try for the prize, but this time the liest he could do was to finish third with Boiirhou. The race went to Judge I limes, ridden by U. Booker, at odds of 15 to 1. and running in the colors of Charles Ellison. The favorite. Early, finished second, being ridden by J. Winkfield. There are any number of good judges who believe that Gallaher Bros., of Lexington, have a capital chance to capture this years Derby witli their fine -looking colt Sewell Combs. This coit has demonstrated that he can maintain his speed over a good distance of ground, and besides he is regarded is a siqierior mud runner. He was not afforded much op|M rtunity last year to show just what his capabilities were, for he was started in only five races. He won two of these, both victories being on a heavy or muddy track. He made a most mspicious debut as a three-year-old on the opea-ing day at Lexington, when he defeated a band of colts of his own age over tlie distance of a mile and seventy yards. Among those which finished behind him that day were Senator J. N. Camdens highly esitmated Everest. This race will, no doubt, do Sewell Combs mnci good, and it will lie interesting to watch how-he performs in one other race he is to start in prior to his engagement iu the Derby. Gallaher Bros., owner of the colt, believe they have a really great race horse, and one that can "pick * up weight ami carry it a mile and a quarter. His partiality for muddy going will In- in his favor should the Churchill Downs tr;K-k be heavy on the day of the ra«*e. Willis Sharpe Kilmer, and Mrs. Kilmer, have been spending some time at Lexington, taking in the races. Mr. Kilmer was at the track the day Sun Briar was lieaten in his first race as a three"-year old. but he was not discouraged at the colts poor showing. He declared he would make full amends the next time he started. Mr. Kilmer is still of the belief that Sun Briar will win the Derby, and he will cling to that MM until the RMS has lieen run and decided.
