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Here and There Thereon on the Turf Fillies in the Great Races Owner Kilmers New Train Horses at Bowie in Good Condition The fact that Regret is the only filly win ner of the Kentucky Derby is frequently re ferrcd to as being conclusive evidence that it is almost impossible for a filly to win that racs racsThis This opinion is not well founded A high class filly has as much chance to win the race raceus us a highclass colt The reason this has not been demonstrated is that few fillies have started in the big race When it was first run in 1875 the race had fifteen starters The only filly in this band was Captain Cottrills Ascension From that faraway day to this it is safe to say that for every filly starting in the Derby ten or more colts and geldings have gone to the post That is the real reason why fillies have not played a more important part in its decision This considered it inaj be said that Regrets first Lady Navarres second and the thirds of Flamma Yowell Bronzewing Viva America and Prudery con stitute quite a respectable record for the In view of the present great value of the Kentucky Derby it may be expected this year and in years to come more highclass fillies will contest its honors than in the jears past Outside of a certain wellunderstood weak ¬ ness appertaining to their ssx in early mouths there is no reason whatever why the chances s of such fleet and splendid fillies as Sallys Alley Blossom Time Alice Blue Gown Anna B M Humphrey Batty Beall Dust Flower and Marionette for instance should not be ap ¬ praised as highly as the chances of any cor ¬ responding groups of colts and geldings In a the Futurity and the Pimlico Futurity Sallys s Alley Hashed her heels in the faces of such b as Zev Donges Ilialto Flagstaff Cyclops Wilderness Picketer and other crack colts s without a bit of trouble On public form no 0 other Derby aspirant has a particle of su 1 peribrity over Sallys Alley And the other t fillies named can go like the winds of March i As a matter of passing interest someone ha i already backed Alice Blue Gown in the fu i ¬ ture books to win a fortune In view of las i years form it would be no reason for especial il wonder if this should turn out to be a fillys f year among the threevearolds In the selection of John I Smith to train n a division of his stable it would appear that tt Willis Sharpe Kilmer has made a wise choice e Mr Kilmer when announcing the appoint t ¬ ment did not say whether Smith was to be e first or second trainer but that a contract had id been made with him to train one of the im i ¬ portant strings stringsWith With both William Shields and Smith in his is service and with Albert Johnson to do his is riding the Binghainton owner has a strong ig
