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KENTUCKY DERBY FAILURES Some of the Downfalls of Favor ¬ ites in the Historic Race How Chesapeake Proctor Knott Knottand and Runnymede Disappointed DisappointedTheir Their Admirers BY CHARLES E BROSSMAN BROSSMANAs As the spring advances and the green gets in the trees interest in the Kentucky Derby multiplies Wherever progressive active observant men gather whether they are actively identified with any por ¬ tion of the thoroughbred industry or not one of the chief topics of conversation is Wiio will win the Derby V A larger per cent of people read the sporting pages of the different journals devoted to the news of the day than is usually comprehended and those with a little more sporting enthusiasm read carefully everything along that line they can obtain Therefore one can find numerous1 horse lovers all over the country that was never on a real race track or never saw a historic event con ¬ tested expounding as to the merits of this horse or that with apparently as much wisdom as any experienced trainer that is on the race track from morning until night every day watching all of the moves It is this latent enthusiasm that abides in the hearts of most tme Americans that is the sheetanchor of racing in this country The coming Kentucky Derby lias assumed an almost in ¬ ternational importance on account of twelve foreign sires being represented in the entry list and the numerous prominent nativebred ones Added to this the different sections of this country each has its pronounced favorites making it an occasion to arouse sectional pride friendly rivalry and le velop enthusiasm Races of thlsTcliaracter do much to preserve the integrity of the turf Prominent and substantial business men from all parts of the country will gather in Kentucky to witness this great event taking advantage of this opportunity to obtain some relaxation from the strenuous grind of big business that has absorbed the attention of the men that make tilings go in this country there ¬ by receiving from this vacation out in the open from the bracing air and invigorating sunshine the iiiiissary tonic that so many of them require requireFAVOHITES FAVOHITES ARE ABSORBING ATTENTION ATTENTIONBilly Billy Kelly and Eternal each seems to have at ¬ tracted a large following and each appears to be working satisfactorily according to the requirements of his trainer For the present the others in the entry list seem to have been forgotten However so many tilings can happen between now and Derby day that it is not wise to be too sanguine about the prowess of any horse on his last years form or what lie will be able to do on a certain future date dateIn In 1875 when the first Kentucky Derby was in ¬ augurated Aristides the winner was started in the race to make pace for Chesapeake Aristides set a fast pace expecting Chesapeake to come on and win Chesapeake however was not good enough and Aristides Jed from start to finish Volcano was second and Virdigris third In 1870 Parole was the favorite but Vagrant won easily Parole not being placed In 1877 Baden Baden was second choice and won In 1S78 Himyar was supposed to be the fastest colt in Kentucky and was an over ¬ whelming favorite for the Derby Ho was however practically left at the post and Day Star won llimyar after exhibiting a remarkable demonstra ¬ tion of siieed and gameness finished second In 1S79 Lord Murphy was favorite and won In 18SO Kimhall was favorite but the second choice Fonso won the race In 1881 Hindoo was the favorite and won easily In 1882 Runnymede a 1 to favorite was beaten by the rank outsider Apollo owned by Green IS Morris and one of the longest shots that ever Won this important event eventAPOLLO APOLLO PREPARED LIKE UNDER FIRE FIREApollo Apollo had been raced all winter and spring at southern tracks and was thoroughly fit He had a preparation something of the same character that Pat Dunne is giving Under Fire In 1883 Leonatus WHS a strong favorite and he not only won the Derby but all of the other races in which he started in his threeyearold form and Cliinn Morgan refused 40000 for him In 1884 Buchanan which was a maiden in his twoyearold form won easily In 1SS5 Joe Cotton was favorite and won In 1SSO Bon All went to the post favorite in this race and after a desperate contest with Blue Wing won In 1SS7 Montrose third choice to Jim Gore and Jacobin won In 1888 Galifet was the favorite but Macbeth won In 1881 Spokane won the race in one of the closest finishes ever seen on any track from Proctor Knott Spokane was 10 to 1 and Proctor Knott 1 to 3 The latter had won the Futurity and other good races the year before beating Salvator and all of the best twoyearolds in the country therefore it was thought that no horse in the race could make him extend himself But Spokane demonstrated that he was the better horse by again beating Proctor Knott in the Clark Stakes and also in the American Derby at Wash ¬ ington Park the same year The 1890 Derby saw Kiley favorite and he won easily In 181 Kingman the favorite licat Italgowan In 1892 the Corrigan entry Huron and Phil Dwyer coupled were favor ¬ ites but the race was won by Azra In 1893 Jim dishing ran Boundless and Lookout as an entry and they wore favorites Lookout finished first and Boundless third In 1804 Chant the winner was favorite and won as his rider pleased In 1893 Halma was another favorite to win this race as was Ben Brush in 1890 1890One One of the big surprises in the history of this race was when Tynhoon II defeated the great Or ¬ nament In 1897 Ornament being an oddson favorite favoriteNumerous Numerous unexpected horses have won this great race all the way nlorifc down the line to last year when Exterminator which was not thought to have u chance won at odds of about 30 to 1 with the oddspn War Cloud nowhere nowhereIt It is therefore evident that no one can now speak speakwith with much confidence as to which will be the thewinner winner on the day of tho race An owner does not notcuter cuter a horse in a valuable stake unless it has shown something to warrant taking the chance
