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ZEV WINS KENTUCKY DERBY RANCOCAS STABLES TRIUMPH Son of The Finn-Miss Kearney Victorious in Kentuckys Most Famous Race Before Largest Crowd in the History of Churchill Downs — Martingale Second and Vigil Third LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 19.— Never was there such a Derby day. Matt Winn had taken out insurance against rain and he never paid a premium more cheerfully when the day broke with no threat of the weather against which he was protected. In the early forenoon it was of August warmth and later there came a tempering breeze that was grateful to the closely packed multitude. The track was at its best and the grateful weather made possible the showing of dainty costumes that made the stands and lawns veritable kaleidoscopes of color and beauty. Before the running of the first race it was found necessary to throw open the infield and all afternoon there were those who sought it as a point of vantage until many thousands viewed the sport from that inclosure. A considerable detachment of mounted police were stationed about the course to prevent the crossing of the track during the progress of the races, and there, just as everywhere else, the crowd was handled with an efficiency never before seen in such a gathering. Estimates of a crowd are always dangerous, but Colonel Winn is authority for it breaking all previous records in the forty-nine runnings of the Kentucky Derby, and it is easy to believe that the record was broken by many thousands. And it broke the record for i appearance. Never was there a tetter dressed or better behaved crowd right to the utter-t j | most end of the paddock stand. Then in the clubhouse inclosure and scattered about on the lawns were men and women of social importance from all over. There were powers in the financial and political world, and altogether a more representative gathering could not be imagined. They had all come to do homage to the thoroughbred horse and it was an homage 5 that should mean much to the turf. It was a striking picture of the importance of the sport and the place it holds in this country. Zev, the brown son of The Finn and Miss Kearney, brought the rich Kentucky Derby back to the East for the Rancocas Stable. Rated by many as at best a superior sprinter after his miserable showing in the Preakness Stakes, the brown whirlwind dp shed to the front in the first quarter of a mile, opened up a good lead and at no time was headed, though at the end Sande was hustling him right along to have him first by a length and a half. Then it was J. S. Cosdens Martingale, another of the failures of the Preakness, that raced into second place a length before Walter J. Salmons Vigil, winner of the Preakness, which in turn was just a nose before Frederick Johnsons Nassau, with Chitta-gong fifth, so that all three of the placed positions went to the East, but the ones of which most was expected — Enchantment, Rialto and Picketer, sent to the post by James Rowe for the Greentree Stable and Harry Tayne Whitney — failed dismally. There was a wildly cheering crowd about the judges stand in which winners and losers alike joined in thunderous acclaim for a noble deed by a noble thoroughbred. On the way to the post Pravus. racing under the silks of F. Wieland, fell and for an instant there was a bit of confusion. But Pravus did not really belong in Derby company and when it was found that both rider and horse were in no way hurt it was soon forgotten. The field was fractious at the post, but was sent away in excellent alignment by starter Snyder. Sande had Zev on his toes and the colt streaked to the front, moved over to the inside rail and the fight was on. ZEV TAKES THE LEAD. At the end of the first quarter Zev was well clear, with Sande keeping a steadying hold of his head. Martingale was in second place, showing the way to Prince K.. and Nassau was going strongly alongside of Prince K., with Better Luck and Bright Tomorrow following. Cherry Pie and Rialto, the Greentree Stable pair, were both far back, while Enchantment met with some buffeting in the scramble for positions and he was in trouble and with scant racing rom. Rounding the turn Zev increased his lead, but was still under a steadying pull and Martingale seemed to be going just as strongly back of him and well clear of the others. Rounding into the backstretch Nassau moved up on the outside, while Vigil was bumped about until he was considerably back of the leaders and well out from the inside rail. It was not until midway of the backstretch that Enchantment began to move up in a fashion that flattered his supporters. But Zev and Martingale were still racing along strongly and the brown was showing r o sgns of weakening, as was expected he would at the end of the three-quarters. Kummer shook up Martingale le-iving the backstretch in an effort to send him after Zev and he closed slightly, but Sande had only to loosen his wraps to hold his lead safely. Then it was Enchantment that flashed into the picture. He was clear of trouble and charging along on the outside in a manner that sugge.ited running over the leaders before the stretch was reached. McAtee had him on the outside and he flashed into third Continued on sixteenth page. ZEV WINS KENTUCKY DERBY Continued from first page. I | j i ■ I I i place. He almost had Martingale and it I seemed inevitable that he would put the Cosden colt away and then go after Zev, but when this was expected Enchantment himself faltered. He hung and then his bubble burst. He dropped back and on came the black. There was no faltering in the stride oi the son of The Finn as he headed for the long run down the straight. Martingale was sticking resolutely to second place after the Enchantment challenge had faded away, and though the son of Martinet was givng up his best he was in no measure shortening his stride or showing signs of weakening. In the meantime Vigil had worked his way up, having closed a big gap, under no end of difficulty, and he was racing stronger than either one of those that were showing him the way. His had been a hard battle after his early misfortunes, and he was meeting the call with true courage. VIGIL GAINS RAPIDLY. Right to the end Vigil continued to draw up, but he could not offset his early misfortunes, and Zev flashed by the judges still with daylight back of him, and Martingale was just a length before Mr. Salmons good colt. The fractions proved that Zev had every right to have his name inscribed with those that have gone before. He beat a good band and he beat them all the way. It was a bit unfortunate that Harry F. Sinclair was not on hand to witness the victory, but he changed his plans at the eleventh hour and was denied the thrill that went to his friends. After the finish Dave Leary, who brought Zev to Louisville for the Derby, was presented with the gold cup that goes to the winner, and with Earl Sande, who rode Zev to his victory, was complimented by Governor Morrow, who made the presentation speech. Governor Morrow said : "Mr. Leary, the struggle, the triumph, the glory and success of your great horse is complete. His p.ace is safe, for he is now a part of Kentuckys history. No conqueror returning to Rome was ever more joyously acclaimed or more wildly applauded than the noble victor of the great race we have just witnessed. "We have crowned with chaerc — decked him with flowers — enshrined him in our hearts. His memory shall become a golden one and live long in the songs and stories of this land. For this land and this people love — have loved — and will always love a thoroughbred. This love is part and parcel of our ancestry. It mingles with our inheritance, and is warp and woof of our best traditions. It is romance to us for its challenge, struggle, endurance and victory. "Kentucky is the Gascony of America in its romance and love of high courage. "We honor courage in man or woman. We express this love when we honor so signally the high heart of the thoroughbred. "In the name of the Kentucky Jockey Club and of every true lover of the horse and with the joyous assent and approval of this matchless audience I present you this cup as a trophy of your victory, a victory that will thrill this continent and sound around the world." Without the Derby the Bashford Manor would have been considered a real feature, but, of course, it was overshadowed by the big contest. But this same Bashford Manor, over the trifling four and a half furlong distance, produced one of the big thrills of the day. It fell to Mrs. R. M. Hoots Black Cold, the son of Black Toney and Useeit that made something of a reputation for himself at New Orleans. To score the fast black had to close a big gap, but at the end he was going away with plenty to spare. Merbert 1*. Gardners T. S. Jordan was the one to race into second place, and Hal Price Headleys Digit saved third from the Idle Hour Stock Farms Bob Cahill. It was T. S. Jordan that cut out all the pace and he was still showing the way until well into the stretch. Digit was heading the others and they were in rather a close bunch. Black Gold was a bit pinched off right after the start and he was last leaving the back-stretch. T. S. Jordan looked all over a winner as he swung into the straight, but there was some closing up behind him, and Connelly had taken Black Gold to the outside and he was circling around in gallant fashion. An eighth out it was apparent that he would be one of the contenders, but it hardly seemed possible that he would catch T. S. Jordan, but he continued to fly around on the outside until when within seventy yards of the finish he had him headed and was going away at the end. T. S. Jordan was doing his best to save second place from Digit and Bob Cahill was closing resolutely. Benjamin Blocks Lester Docter was one of the disappointments of the race. He was at no time able to reach a contending position and was well beaten. The racing opened with a three-quarters claiming dash and, by a rush through the stretch, F. J. Kelleys Skeezix got up to score from Translate, while May Blossom beat Ararat for third place. It was Ararat that forced all the pace, but he could never get far away from Wolfs Cry and the Drum-heller plater hung on just long enough to take much of the speed out of Ararat. Then in the stretch the Goldblatt sprinter swung a bit wide, while Kennedy saved ground with Skeezix and, under a hard drive, wore the leaders down to win going away. Ararat quit badly in the last eighth after Translate and May Blossom passed him and the pair staged a pretty battle for second place, finishing in the order named. The second race, which brought out some of the better grade of two-year-olds, resulted in an upset when Earl Pool won easily from Uproar and Bourbon Boy. Peter Maloney, a supposed crack, that recently was bought by Ben Block from J. C. Milam, was making his debut here and was installed the favorite. He showed greeness all during the race as well as at the post and gave way in the last stride for third place. DANCING SPRING WINNER. The mile and an eighth dash for platers fell to Dancing Spray, which won easily from Countess and Ben Valet. The latter, showing improvement in his running, forced a good pace until reaching the stretch, where he gave way and later in the stretch came again and outstayed Humphrey for third place. Dave Leary made no secret of the fact that Zev would surely run a better race than he did at Pimlico and James Rowe went about the directing of the preparation of his 1 string in a workmanlike way and wearing a quiet smile of confidence that they would be hard to beat. Before the running of the Derby Tom ■ Healey, who came from New York to look : after Walter J. Salmons Preakness winner, ■ Vigil, was quietly confident, but Healey is 1 not given to boasting. About the best he I would say of the son of Jim Gaffney was that he saw no possible chance to keep him I out of the money and that he was a better colt than last Saturday when he won the ; Preakness. Preston Burch was a bit concerned about ■ General Thatcher, the Nevada Stock Farm ■ starter, the one ttiat was such a good second in the Preakness. The colt had not come out [ of his galloping test any too well and for a time there were thoughts of scratching him, but he was worked over and it was decided that he would be saddlrd. | Frederick Johnson and Charlie Quinn had the same confidence that was theirs last t night when they found that the track would l be fast, but each was just a bit nervous before the running. Benjamin Block, as -usual, was tremendously nervous, but he insisted that he had a i royal chance with Better Luck and Aspiration and as far as Better Luck was concerned Fred Burlew was confident. He has 5 all along insisted that Better Luck was the - best colt in the Preakness and that he would I have won with better racing luck.
