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SPOKANE WON TWO DERBYS Eow an Illinois-Bred Colt Earned Inclusion in Hall of Fame. r fi His Memorable Triumphs OTcr Troctor Knott in the American Derby at Chicago anil Kentucky Derby at Louisville. r I In 1SS5 the old-time Illinois breeder of thoroughbreds, General Rowett. sold the pray brood mare, Interpose, to Noah Armstrong of Montana. She was sired by the im- ported horse. Intruder, and at the time of o oi her sale was in foal to Hyder Ali. by Leamington. She was taken to Montana and in I 1SSG, foaled a chestnut colt that afterwards won the local fame of being the only Illinois- N bred horse that ever won the American Derby. J. This colt was named Spokane. He was a j, big, impressive-appearing horse, and in his V three-year-old form a brilliant racer. It was C at that age that he showed best As a two- j; year-old he attracted no great attention and j although he ran well at times in his four- s year-old form, it was not up to the measure u of his performances as a three-year-old. f Spokanes first start was in the Hyde Park -j Stakes at Washington Park, Thursday, July c 5, 1SSS, for which he ran unplaced. The j starters were Caliente, 105; Unlucky, 10GM: ; j Mamie Fonso, 107 ; Spokane, 107, and Liberty. C 113. The race was run over a heavy track. With Fred Taral up, Liberty was a hot fa- J vorite at even money, but last was his posi- tion at the finish, "Lucky" Baldwins Caliente j winning, with Unlucky, second and Mamie i Fonso third. The time was 1:18. His next I start was for a purse at Louisville, September 25, in which he ran unplaced to Princess Bowling, Laura Stone and Julien at five furlongs, run in 1 :01. Then he was taken to La-tonia and scored "his first victory by winning : the Maiden Stakes at three-quarters of a mile. It was a slow track and Spokane won by three lengths in 1:18, defeating Sports- . man, Adrienne and eleven other two-year-olds. Then he ran unplaced in a purse at three-quarters. He was giving ten or more pounds to each of his competitors and the race fell to the afterwards famous Tenny. with Sir Edward second and Castaway II. third. His last race as a two-year-old was . at Nashville, Tenn., October 23, when over a , very heavy track he won at five-eighths, of a ; mile in 1 :06U from Long Dance, Julien and four more. Thus it can be seen that while j he did not race unsuccessfully when a two- year-old, there was little in his career to , suggest the sensational double Derby winner ; of the following year. He had not been raced , much and throve mightily through the winter. THREE-YEAR-OLD DEBUT. His first start as a three-year-old was in the Peabody Hotel Handicap at Memphis, April 24, in which, with 100 pounds up, he ; ran second to the good horse Strideaway, 1 in at 115 ; Hypocrite, 113, was third and i Endurer, 109; Comedy, 90; Clay Stockton, 110, and Long Chance, 112, ran unplaced. Strideaway was the favorite with Clay Stock- . ton second choice and Spokane was at 10 to 1. All of these horses were cracks and all except Spokane were four-year-olds or over, so Spokanes initial race of that year was a really high-class performance. Its excellence was overlooked when he next went to the post, which was as a starter in the Kentucky Derby at Louisville, Thursday, May 9. For this race eight colts started, every one of which subsequently proved himself a great racehorse, cam Bryants famous Futurity winner, Proctor Knott, was an overwhelming favorite, going to the post at 1 to 3. Milton Youngs pair Once Again and Bootmaker coupled, were second in favoritism at 3 1-2 to 1. Hindoocraft was third at 8 to 1, and it was 10 to 1 against Spokane. 15 to 1 against Cassius and 25 to 1 each against Outbound and Sportsman. All carried ;118 pounds and Tom Kiley was on Spokane, Pike Barnes on Proctor Knott, Isaac Murphy on Once Again, and Fred Taral on Cassius ; the other riders being Armstrong, Hollis, Warwick and Isaac Lewis. In his usual impetuous fashion Proctor Knott rushed to the front at once and, leading by from three to six lengths, set such a rapid pace that before a mile and a quarter had been covered he had all of his opponents except Spokane well beaten. Kiley had carefully and intelligently saved Spokane well in the rear of the swiftly moving leader until on the far turn where he relaxed his restraining pull and sent his mount along to such effect that the two grand young horses were head and head when they turned into the home stretch. From there to the finish it was a mighty struggle that drove the spectators frantic, first one head and then the other showing faintly in front, but at the end it was Spokanes Derby by a short neck, while four lengths behind Proctor Knott was Once Again, a tired but game third. When the time was hung out the titantic nature of the struggle was patent to all. The fastest previous Kentucky Derby was that won by Ben Ali in 188G, when he defeated Blue Wing and Free Knight in 2 :36 1-2. Spokanes time was 2 :34 1-2, and in effect it was Proctor Knotts also. WINS THE CLARK STAKES. Spokanes next start was for the Clark Stakes, Tuesday, May 14. The track was heavy and but four started. Along with Proctor Knott was his stable comrade Come-to-Taw, and the other starters were Spokane and Once Again. The Bryant pair coupled were at 1 to 2, while it was 3 to 1 against Spokane and G to 1 against Once Again. This time the contest, as in the Derby, was always between Spokane and Proctor Knott, but after the latter had led to the home stretch Spokane passed him with a rush and won by two lengths, Proctor Knott beating Once Again three lengths for second money. The two great rivals were then brought to Chicago to renew their strife in the American Derby, which was run Saturday, June 22, over a heavy track. Of the Kentucky Derby horses were Spokane, Proctor Knott and Once Again. The other starters were "White Hat" Mccartys Sorrento, Labold Bros. fine mare Retrieve, Theodore Winters Don Jose, and George M. Ryes Long Dance. Spokane, Don Jose and Once Again each carrier three pounds penalty, making their weight 121 pounds. Spokanes defeat of Proctor Knott over a heavy track in tne Clark Stakes had been so decisive that he was made a 6 to 5 favorite, Proctor Knott going to the post at 2 to 1 ; Don Jose, 4 1-2 to 1; Sorrento, 6 to 1; Once Again, 7 to 1; while long prices were laid against Retrieve and Long Dance. The riders were Kiley on Spokane, Taral on Sorrento, Isaac Lewis on Retrieve, Winchell on Don Jose, Barnes on Long Dance, Murphy on Once Again and Fitzpatrick on Proctor Knott. When the horses swept past the grandstand and clubhouse at the end of the first half mile, Proctor Knott was out in front with Sorrento second and Long Dance third. Around the turn and down the back stretch Proctor Knott still led, Once Again moving up into second place at the end of a mile. He soon fell back and at the mile and a quarter Retrieve was second and Sorrento third. At the head of the home stretch Proctor Knott was beaten and fell to the rear, while Spokane joineu Retrieve and Sorrento. Between the three a capital struggle ensued in which whips and spurs were used freely. In front of the stand Spokane had the measure of the other two and, drawing out, won by a length from Sorrento, which beat Retrieve a half length for second place. Proctor Knott was pulled up and finished last. The time for the mile and a half was 2:41 1-4. In the Sheridan Stakes, run July 4, Spokane had to submit to defeat from Proctor Knott. He had up 125 pounds to 115 on Proctor Knott, and finished second. Retrieve was third and Once Again, Heron, Beth Broeck and Glockner ran unplaced. He seemed to train off somewhat and in the Drexel Stakes was unplaced to Joe Courtney. Champagne Charley and Come-to-Taw. From i Washington Park he was taken to New York : and ran twice without success, finishing third to Tcnny and Castaway II. in the Pelham i Bay Handicap at Morris Park, and unplaced 1 to Exile, Defaulter and Huntress in the Twin i City Handicap at Sheepshead Bay. He ran i no more as a three-year-old, having developed an infirm leg. This weakness increased and prevented his further adding to 1 his fame. He started but four times as a four-year-old and, failing to win, was retired to the stud with the following record: 18S8 5 2 0 0 3 $ 1,400 1SS9 8 3 2 1 2 24,970 1S90 4 0 2 1 1 30O . Total 17 5 4 2 G G.730
