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i s I - I r f 1 I * r r r 1 1 . 1 - * • ■ I • 1 I EXPECT RECORD FIELD FOR DERBY Splendid Condition of the Many Eligibles for Big Race Indicate Large Number of Starters. Louisville. Ky.. May 1.— Three years ago the greatest field of starters in numbers— sixteen strong --went to the post iii the Kentucky IKrby. who h that year was won by Harry Payne WhitneVs great filly Regret. The largest nuinlx-r of starters pre-1 viously was in the inaugural year of the event in 1X75. when it was won by Aristides. which was one of a field of fifteen starters. Iist year, when Omar Khayyam captured the rich event, a similar number of starters faced the harrier. From present indications all records in this respect will be surpassed at Churchill Downs on Mav 11. the date set this year for the forty fourth running of tlie Derby . This opinion is founded on the fact that not wlth-X in recent years have so few of the eligibles been forced to withdraw as prospective starters owing to accidents in training. And. as a matter of fact, not one of the colts or fillies regarded as prominent aspirants for the prize has been thrown out of training. To all intents and purposes they will all start, provided, of course, nothing of an untoward nature compels their withdrawal prior to the day of the race. It is true that fears were entertained that the splint that developed on one of Escohns logs might eliminate that brilliant colt from the 1 ontest. but all such fears have been banished now that the colt has recovered from the sight ailment. John Ward. in charge of Escohas training, expressed the opinion a few days ago that the colt had fully gotten over the trouble and would Is- a sure starter in the I»erby. While public form would indicate that the race lies lietwecn Sun P.riar. Kscoba. War Cloud. Free-cutter and |Hissibly four or five of the high-class fillies, there an- quite a number of owners of what are regarded as second or thinl raters who will start their eligibles in the belief that the nnex- iiected may happen in the race. The history of the Derby is replete with surprises and these men cherish the hope that the lightning is due to strike this year and that one of the least regarded eligibles is due to furnish one of the biggest upsets in the .•vent. Men who have witnessed the running of former Derbys cannot recall one surrounded bv so much uncertainty. It is no cinch that any of the so-called cracks will succeed -in winning this years renewal, and because of this the contest this vear is arousing more than the usual int-rest. Recently "sure" winners have been displaced by the fast work of some other eligible and with the race but two weeks away no one seems able to select the horse able to go tlie Derby distance of a mile and a quarter and win. Condition will tell the story this time, just as it did last year, when the late Charles Patterson sent the victor first under the wire in Omar Khayyam. Well-posted turfmen declare that the race is more open than it has lieen in years. Because of this the field will ho larger than usual, with more than one owner feeling that his name is to be added to the list that started the day Price MeCraths green and yellow sash were carried to victory fortv-three years ago by Aristides, afterwards famous as the "little red horse." There are a few turfmen left who witnessed the triumph of Aristides and they will tell jtm that he was the smallest horse that ever won tile event. He was a son of Leamington, one of the greatest horses ever brought to this country from Kngland. whither lie sent back a son, Iroquois, to win the Epsom Derby. FIFTEEN STARTED FIRST YEAR. Aristides was named for Leamingtons owner. Aristides Welch, of Philadelphia. Aristides, coupled with his stahlemate, Cliesapeake. which finished fourth, was favorite. Ridden by Oliver Lewis. Aristides went to the front at the end of the first" half mile and from there to the finish the rac- was never in doubt. He won by three lengths from Volcano, with Verdigris third, the time for the mile and a half being 2:37%. There were fifteen starters and they were sent away without delay by Col. V. ||. Johnson, while Col. M. Lewis Clark." president of the club, which had lieen organized by him, was the presiding official in the stand. It is not often that a maiden scores in the Derby, but an instance of this kind was recorded in 1SS4 when Buchanan, carrying the colors of Capt. S. S. Brown, of Pittsburg. Pa., won easily by a length and a half from Loftin. with Audrain third, and the favorite. Bob Miles, fourth. Buchanan was a magnificent looking son of Buckden and was bred by Capt. W. Cottrell, of Mobile. It was the consensus of opinion that the field of ten that ran for tlie Derby of MM was the best since Aristides year. Ben Ali. son of Virgil, the third of that sire to make a success in this race, was the favorite, carrying the colors of James B. Haggin. was ridden by P. Duffy and won by three parts of a length after a driving finish with Blue Wing. The time. 2:3» VL-. was a new record for the race, the previous best having been I»rd Murphys 2:37 for the mile and a half. The biggest upset that ever attended the running of the Derby came in 1K.S9. when Noah Armstrongs Spokane, at 10 to 1. and ridden by Tom Kilev. won by a short head from Proctor Knott, the l-to-3 favorite, which lost the ra -e when he swerved under Pike Barnes at the head of the stretch. Prootor Knott ran as the property of Scoggan and Bryant. The winners time was 2:34-.-. and that stands today as the reconl for the race at the one mile and a half distance. In MM the Derby distance was changed to a mile and a quarter. Ben Brush being the first one to win the event at the shorter distance. The Derby ree-ord for a mile and a quarter was made by Old Rosebud, which scored in the race in 1914. his mark being 2:03%. In winning the race two years ago George Smith came within two-fifths of a second of equaling this mark. Last year Omar Khayyam ran the distance in 2:04%. In the event of fast track conditions prevailing on the afternoon of May 11 it is believed that the winner of this years renewal of the race will improve niNin Omar Khayyams time, while many profess to MslN that Old Rosebuds record will lie endangered. * _
