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PROBABLE KENTUCKY DERBY FIELD Sun Briar, War Cloud and Escoba Host Favored of Those Most Likely to Start in Big Race. I-ouisrillc. Ky.. May 4. — On next Saturday beautiful Churchill Downs, resplendent in its spring garb, will throw oiien its gates to the thousands of its patrons for its forty-fourth annual spring meeting. The season will continue for thirteen days and wind up Saturday. May 25. Seldom if ever have the prospects for a season of unsurpassed prosperity for the New Louisville Jockey Club appeared more glittering, while the outlook for brilliant racing is of the brightest hue. The Kentucky Derby, which since the founding of tin track has been run the ■poning day of the meeting, will, as usual, this vear Ik- the big feature of the inaugural days festivities. No other race run in America today has more sentiment attached to it. attracts more attention or is more iiopular with horsemen and public alike than the Kentucky Derby, which annually draws thousands of racing devotees to beautiful Churchill Downs for the opening of this far-famed meeting in the expectation of witnessing a thrilling contest. It is. indeed, a high-class list of colts and fillies that are eligible to start in this years running of the Kentucky Derby. Moreover, the Derby has been the means of attracting to Kentucky one of the best band of horses of all ages that will lie seen on any tracks on this side of the Atlantic ahead of the mid-summer session at Saratoga. Two-year-olds and matured campaigners of good class have come with the three-year-old Derby aspirants to strive for Kentuckys stakes and valuable overnight purses. Witli the date of the contest so close at hand it is possible to make a fairly accurate forecast of the -oni|H sitiou of he Derby field. This calculation is made on rc|torts from tiie training quartan of the eligibles that have performed sufficiently w-Il in the preparation to warrant the assumption that they will Is- named as starters, and it is reasonable to suppose that the field will largely comprise the following list: W. S. Kilmers Sun Briar, b. c, by Sundridge — Sweet Hriar. A. K. Macomliers War Cloud, b. c, by Polyinelus — Dreamy. K. D. Alexanders Escoba, b. c, by Broomstick — Christmas Star. J. C. Milams Everest, b. c, by Ben Brush — Aggie Mardei.. George J. Longs Freccutter. b. c. by Free Lance —Cutter. T. C. McDowells Olive Wood. b. f, by The Manager- tamywood. Gal la her Bros. Sewell Combs, eh. c, by Jack Atkin — Royal Captive. O. A. Bianchis Lucky B.. b. c. by Jim Gaffuey — Viola B. Jefferson Livingstons Anrum, b. e, by Mushroom — Royal Anne. W. H. Bakers James Foster, ch. c, by Marathon — B ssie Sphar. C. T. Worthingtons Viva America, ch. f, by MoGce — IMnk Uose. J. K. L. Boss Hillhampton, ch. c, by William Itufus — Estate. Iastime Stables Euos, ch. g, by Seth — Lady Hil-.lreth. B. J. Austins Jim Ileffering, b. c, by Trap liock — Fairv. J. V. Schorrs .las. T. Clark, br. c, by Dick Fiu-aell — 1aradise Won. In addition to these it is highly probable that several eastern horses, including Bosie OT.rady. may be shipped west to compete in the rich stake. It is also within range of possibility that owner Kilmer may decide to start Exterminator, his recent acquisition. None of these mentioned above ire entitled to the twelve-pound maiden allowance. With sach an array of prospective starters, it cau easily be seen what can lie expected in the •vay of a" contest, and in all liklihood the winner will lie forced to run the one mile and a quarter in time that may surnass Old Rosebuds record of ALL SET FOR THE BIG RACE. The stage at Churchill Downs is all set for the big race. General Manager M. J. Winn and President harles F. Grainger have been on the ground for some time attending to the many details necessary for the conduct of the meeting. A ntiinls-r f hnprowmonts to the great plant have l»oen made sine.. i...st year, and it is safe to say that no race track in America can now offer more comforts and conveniences to its patrons than the Downs course. Aside from the Derby there are seven other big stakes to lie decided during the meeting, including such stellar attractions as the Kciituckv Oaks, the Clark Handicap, the Debrftante, Bashford Manor. Juvenile and Frank Fehr Stakes. Patriotism will be the keynote of the opening of the season, and a nunilier of exercises of a niili-taiy and patriotic nature have been arranged in keeping with the spirit of the day. The New Louisville Jockey Club will pursue a most liberal policy, not only to the horsemen, but also to its patrons. The price of admission will be the MM as last year, for Derby day and .50 on other days of the meeting. Following its custom of last season the club will make no charge for admission to the paddock. Every year since the first Derby was run the center field has been thrown open free of charge to the public, so that the poorest citizen might have an opportunity to view the Derby, and this time-honored custom will be adhered to this season. The club is going to help carry out the pledge of the Kentucky breeding and racing interests to raise the s.iin of 00,000 for the Red Cross and will help to secure a goodly MftMl fo this amount by subscribing ten per cent of its gross revenue. All of ti mploves of the club receiving a daily salary of S5 will be called MM* to contribute ten per cent of their earnings. Those in receipts of less than S5 daily will not be called upon for any contribution, the ,-lub paving their quota of ten per cent. There have been many tou lies put to the clubhouse and its grounds this season in anticipation of an unusually large ultra-fashionable attendance during the meeting of prominent personages from all over tiie country. Parties are coming from many distant points. The presence of Sun Briar in the Derby will draw an enormous crowd from the east, where the Kilmer colt is a prime favorite. Bing-haniton. the home of Sun Briars owner, will send a iarge delegation, probably the greatest to arrive from any city of an equal population. The Downs course in every way may lie said to be ready to accommodate the greatest crowd that ever witnessed an outdoor afternoons recreation anj where in America, and all that remains to make tin afternoon of May 11 the most memorable in the tracks long history is a good brand of weather.
