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Twenty Years Ago Today Chief Turf Events of June 18, 1904 Racing at Coney Island, Washington Park, Fair Grounds, Union Park and Buffalo. Under fair skies, over a fast track and in the presence of 35,000 persons at Washington Park this afternoon Highball ran the mile and a half in 2 :33, carrying 122 pounds, and easily won the seventeenth American Derby from fifteen horses of his years which had essayed to give him a contest for the sum of 6,325, the value of the American turfs blue ribben event to its winner. The second horse was Woodson, the third Rapid Water and the fourth English Lad, a western celt and the publics choice. Highball was ridden to his triumph by jockey Grover Cleveland Fuller, a Chicago boy who was reared on the West Side and "joined out with the horses" about two years ago. The withdrawal of Rainland and Proof Reader and the adding of Mayor David S. Rose and Cop-perfield left the Derby field numbering sixteen, the second largest in the history of the race. The parade to the post began at 3 :40 oclock. The starting point was reached at 3 :41, but there was a delay of eight minute3 due to the bad acting of Proceeds. Copp2rfield, Brand New, Rapid Water and Fort Hunter. But the moment came when starter Holtman found the field in as perfect alignment as is possible with sixteen horses and he released the barrier. As the tape shot upward and away the horses sped on for the struggle at the end of which hung the hopes of a multitude. Highball was skillfully placed by Fuller behind Proceeds for the first seven and a half furlongs and when called on moved up fast and, catching Fort Hunter on the turn for home, easily passed into the lead and held the field safe all through the final eighth. He was best as wed as luckiest. Woodson ran a remarkably good race and was beautifully ridden. He gradually improved his position after passing the stand the first time, got clear sailing when turning into the backstretch and, saving ground by being taken next to the inside rail when turning for home, finished fast. Rapid Water was perfectly ridden too. Lyne rated him along for seven eighths, then moved up fast on Highball and appeared to have a splendid winning chance when entering the last quarter, but he tired palpably when the final drive came under hard urging. English Lad was away well and in a good spot, but was shut off twice in the first sixteenth and then had to be driven hard for a position from thirteenth place. He was thrown off his stride too. Coming down the backstretch Dom-inick made his move. Turning for home he was forced to swing English Lad wide, but he rallied fast and, standing a long stretch drive with dogged courage, finished resolutely. He simply could not make up the ground lost in the first half mile. Moharib moved up rapidly on the backstretch and ran up close to the leader on the stretch turn, but hung badly all through the final eighth. Fort Hunter showed keen speed for a mile and an eighth, but fell away beaten just after entering the stretch. Proceeds showed keen speed for six and a half furlongs and then sulked and propped. Elwood never fully extended himself. The track was too brick hard for him.
