view raw text
SPECTACULAR FINISH ♦ Affords Splendid Entertainment for Big Crowd at Downs. • Graeme Beats Lee 0. Cotner By Narrow Margin in Sparkling and Hard Fought Contest. i LOUISVILLE. Ky., May 13.— The mile and seventy yards race, which featured todays Churchill Downs card, afforded splendid entertainment for the big throng by the closeness of the duel between Graeme, carrying J. N. Camdens colors and jockey E. Pool and Lee O. Cotner, on which W. Fronk had the mount. It was a desperate battle between the pair all during the last eighth with the victory in doubt until the judges displayed the winning number. In the first three-quarters Lee O. Cotner gave the impression that he would make a runaway victory of it for he moved into a ten lengths lead. Graeme at ; this juncture was in third place, considerably back of King Gorin II. He began sprinting forward in the next quarter and was lucky to succeed in getting through next the inner rail without interference. Lee O. Cotner began tiring just before the last eighth and Graeme moved by as if he would be an easy winner. Fronk then began driving hard and the three-year-old, showing gameness, disputed every foot of ground with Graeme. Stubbornly he held to his task and at the finish was going gamer than his rival but missed the victory by a matter of inches. He continued driving hard for the next quarter, the additional work being part of his preparation for the Kentucky Derby and he concluded the mile and a quarter in 2:07%. It was a good trial but he only had up 106 pounds. There is still considerable doubt if he will be started in the Derby next Saturday, but in view of the poor trials shown by some of the already announced starters there is every reason why l.ee O. Cotner should be among those present at the post in the big fixture. ADVANCE DERBY CROWD. The newcomers swelled the crowd here to almost the crowding point and the at- 1 tendance exceeded that of last year for the same day. Conditions were ideal for the sport. The weather was balmy and the track in excellent condition. The racing was spectacular, some of the finishes highly exciting and close. Elector, starting in tne fourth race, loomed as another Derby prospective starter when he was worked out the mile in 1:41%, driving hard. The former disappointment. Energy, again proved a failure in the fourth race in which he and the Jefferson Livingston pair. Buster and MeAuliffe, were supported to the exclusion of all the others. Energy met with bad luck immediately he got on the track, when some of the starters kicked jockey T. Brothers in the leg and injured him so severely that he was unable to ride and V. W. Taylor was substituted. Energy began well and showed fine speed but. vh"n apparently having the race won, he quit fast and failed to get a portion of the purse. The finish was of a thrilling variety, when Bob tahill. skillfully ridden and saving mueh ground, just managed to outstay Lathrop. The latter was away well, but taken completely out of it and ridden wide during the last quarter, but he came with a great rush and just missed the victory. Buster wns also given a bungling ride. W. Harvey taking him back repeatedly and he just managed to outstay Sunspero for the shorter portion of the purse. J. W. PARRISHS DOWN TOWN. Fifteen three-year-olds started in the opening race at three-quarters and it resulted in victory for Down Town, owned by J. V. lar-rish. Down Town was lucky to escape interference and led the others for the entire way, to win from Lad o Mine, with My Dream finishing in third place. Belle, currying 1. F. Croissants colors, de. feated eleven fillies in the second race. She was lucky at the start and led the others after the first quarter, but had to be hustled some near the end to finish in advance of Barbara. The latter showed a coed performance and continued gamely for the entire way. Post Mistrtss landed third place after going around the others. Inst ruetr. ss. ridden by Sande, closed an immense gap after she had been away poorly. Beaa Vera pro . I mu. h tie- 1 . st of the starters in the third race and sh. area as h. r rider pleased from Helen Carter. The latter would have been much closer up with a Ftrong tide. She just managed to get home In advanee of Kennrn.ue. The sixth r.oe, bringing to the post two-year-old eoltx. brought another thrilling finish with Rhino, k. carrying the colors of Mrs leorge B. On, the winner in the last stri.l. from Sanction, with Sandy Man in third place. Noses separated the trio. Sanction should have been the winner but J. A. Mooney rode weakly and car. 1. ssly. Sandy Man. Continued wa tlxlcciitii page J 1 I SPECTACULAR FINISH Contimieil from first pace. favorite, had tioen the leailir from Um st.:rt, bat li" besaa Uriag wkaa raacatas tin- last six Bth, RkJaOCk was an cxtr.-nic nutsider and is Um fir.st winner that Mrs. Qaeraa BL Uoa lias srnt to the post this yi;ir. Baaa Kins sliowwl a return to his best form when he won the final race after hard rirlins fn,:n Kretwell. with Nogales in third i taea. Baaa Kins aad n at wan were always formidable contenders and after wearing down Tender Seth in the strctiA fought lit out.
