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i i i ■ i 1 | . ! • I [ , J * f i „ . 1 I u ALL READY AT LOUISVILLE ♦ Crowding in From All Directions to Witness the Derby Today. ♦ Trainers of the Probable Starters Express Confidence in Their Respective Charges. ♦ Louisville. Ky.. May 10.— Hotels and other places of accomodation are already thronged with arrivals from abroad, intent on "viewing the decision of the Kentucky Herny tomorrow afternoon. In all places of gathering the outcome of the big HMB is the one absorbing topic of discussion, with the custom uv excitement and exjicctaiicy attemlcut on the citys «M big day of the year. Pros| ects are that the Derby will be decided over a track that may be fast. Aside from the main race, the card tomorrow is decidedly attractive. All around excellent racing appears to In- impending. Light starters are regarded certain to contest iu the Kentucky Derby, which will have its decision at thurchill Downs tomorrow. There are ten named, but Jim ileffering and Aurum are not regarded as likely to be among th we at the barrier. A. K. M:!ccmbers English-bred colt War lend is heM in most favor ami gaining men- supporters as the time for the race draws near. Indications an-, if the track is fast, lie will rule an overwhelming choice. Kscoba continues to be the mainstay of the Ken-liickiaus. but his lofty esteem is iu a measure due to sentiment for his owner, Kenneth D. Alexander and a universal desire that an American-bred racer shall carry off the honors of the rich prize. In the opinion of some shrewd horsemen, Kscoba will have his work cut out to take Lucky B.s measure. As intimated on several occasions duriier the past week. Willis Shan c Kilmer decided to keep Sun Briar out of MM race, hut he will have a coler bearer in Exterminator, which he bought from J. C. Milam for a figure said la be Sin.OOO. At Am time of the purchase Mr. Kilmer made it known that Kx terminator was not regarded as in a class with Sun Briar and was bought with a view to s?rv-ing as a "work horse" for the latter. Sun Briars failure in his only start at Lexington, coupled with his : oor trials while being prepared for the Derby, caused the critics to disregard him as a factor in the Derby and they were not surprised to see him missing from the list of starters. Thomas C. McDowell made an eleventh hour decision to send American Kagle to the post. Ilis presence in the Derby field was influenced by the colts good showing at Lexington in his last start, when lie won at a mile and an eighth in l:5l7r.. the fastest time for the distance during the meeting and one-fifth of a second faster than Escoba won his race in. Sewell Combs is fairly well thought of in some quarters and his owners are sanguine that he will carry off MM prize. Owner Worthington makes no secret of his belief that lie expects Viva America to duplicate Regrets success. Inder favorable conditions and present indications are for clear weather and a fast track. Churchill Downs will he forced to accommodate the biggest crowd that has ever witnessed the Derby. FINAL TRIALS ON THUBSJ AY. Yesterday witnessed the final trials of the Kentucky Derby aspirants. and marked the end of the Derby training season. Tlios- ia cliiirg" of MM preparation of the Derby colts, are not sorry now that their strenuous work is iver. The training | oriod has lieeu marked with considerable anxiety on the part of the trainers of the eligible*, and now that their charges hate passed through the trying ordeal entailed by a thorough preparation, they are breathing easier. Eleventh hour try-outs Thursday morning at Ixdii local tracks were over a muddy course, due lo the heavy rainfall of the early morning hours. Among those to receive their final preps were Lucky B.. which traveled a mile and a quarter in 2:17 :.; Viva America, which went a like distance in :14; Jas. T. Clark, which galloped out the Derby distance in slow time: Sun Briar, which worked three-eighths in 37; War Cloud, which received a final spin at one mile and a quarter in _:15Vr.. and Escoba. which galloped a fast mile iu the mud at Douglas Park. Trainer Ward had intended giving Escoba his last work-out at Churchill Downs, but the storm that broke early ill the forenoon caused hint to change his plans, and he allowed the colt to work at Douglas Park. American Eagle, which Major T. . McDowell says will surely start in MM Derby, and Sewell Combs, which will represent Gallahor Bros, in the big race, were given their final trials prior to leaving Lexington. All of the probable starters are now on the scene of the forthcoming battle at Churchill Downs, or close by at Douglas Park. In a canvass yesterday morning of the various camps, trainers all expressed the opinion that their charges were ready for the drop of the flag and without a single exception all are confident of the outcome. Following are the opinions voiced by the various trainers: Walter B. Jennings — "War Cloud is thoroughly fit and reaily to run the race of his career. He is just as fit as human hands can make him. He has worked to my entire satisfaction, and even better than I had hoped for. If lie dont win, I shall lie sorely disapi ointed. I believe he will run just as well over a muddy as a dry track." ESCOBA IS FIT AND BEADY. John S. Ward — "I fully believe that Escoba will win the Derby. I have gone aloug slowly with him and. from what I have seen of him, I think he is the best horse I ever handled. His races at Lexington have greatly liel|ied in his preparation and MM horse that beats him on Saturday will get the money." o. A. Biaachi — "Lucky B. ha* as good a chance as any of the others and I am well satisfied with him. He is in perfect condition and I am sure he will run a good, honest race. His chances would be im- proved on a heavy track, but lie can run iu any kind of going." A. B. liullaher — "I fully believe that Sewell Combs is the best trained horse in the list and he will be right up there at the finish. He can run on a fast track, but 1 would prefer a muddy or heavy track for him on the day of the race. The colt received several cuts ou his forelegs in the accident that attended the I»erby Trial last Men day. but they are not serious enough to spoil his chances in the Derby." C. T. Worthington — "While it seems unreasonable Continued on second page. • ■ ALL READY AT LOUISVILLE. Continued from first page. to exi*-ct a fill.v to will this years Derby. I !*•-lieve that Viva America stands an excellent chance to duplicate Kegrets victory of three years ago. I am going to run he, and. if the track is fast, she will run a good race and 1m- a strong contender. She is fit and ready and 1 shall have no excuses to offer if she is bc::tcii." I»uis Ta liber- "My faith in the success of Jas. T. Clark is founded on his fitness and the fine showing he has made in his works. He has the advantage of having hail a much longer period of training than the other eligibh-s and condition will tell this year, the same as it did last year. I believe Mr. Schorrs colt will win all the "way." Thos. C. McDowell, owner or American Eagle, expressed himself as being confident iu the ability of his colt. The trainers of Allium and Jim Ilef-fering. which colts are named to start, also expressed -onfidence in the outsome of the race. It was announced that L. Gentry would ride Sewell Combs, while J. Morys will pilot Jas. T. Clark. It was learned yesterday that W. H. Baker had fully intended starting James Foster in the Derby. He had to change his plans after the coll c.-u nit of the Derby Trial with a badly cut leg and a M rendu d shoulder. I
