Famous Kentucky Derby Today: Fifty-First Running of Americas Most Coveted Race Attracts a Field of Twenty-Five High-Class Prospective Candidates; Quatrain the Outstanding Favorite---Kentucky Cardinal the Hope of Chicagoans---Captain Hal Highly Regarded---Flying Ebonys Chances Enhanced by Presence of Sande in Saddle---Chantey and the Whitney Representatives Not Overlooked---Louisville Crowded With Visitors From All Sections of the Country---Derby Attendance at Churchill Downs to Reach 100,000 Mark, Daily Racing Form, 1925-05-16

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FAMOUS KENTUCKY DERBY TODAY Fifty -First Running of Americas Most Coveted Race Attracts a Field of Twenty -Five High-Class Prospective Candidates Quatrain the Outstanding Favorite — Kentucky Cardinal the Hope of Chicagoans — Captain Hal Highly Regarded — Flying Ebonys Chances Enhanced by Presence of Sande in Saddle— Chantey and the Whitney Representatives Not Overlooked — Louisville Crowded With Visitors From All Sec- tions of the Country— Derby Attendance at Churchill Downs to Reach 100,000 Mark CHURCHILL DOWNS, LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 15. — Kentucky Derby Day! What meaning these magical words carry for the present. What feeling they stir in faraway and remote places of this country. What longing they bring to many of the stay-at-homes. How willingly they would exchange places with many who are fortunate enough to be here, or on their way here, to witness the recognized turf classic of this country and possibly of the world. The fixture is admitted to be the outstanding epic in racing with the possible exception of the Epsom Derby in England. The latter, older in tradition, the pride of John Bulls domain, may hold exceptional interest to those across "the pond," but it is safe to say that there will be many interested "English cousins" who will eagerly await the winner of the fifty-first running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs tomorrow. In our own "little provinces," that embraces nearly half of the world, there will be a cessation of toil to a certain extent until the tense moment when the telegraph instruments, radio and other swiftly conveying methods flash the name of the winner, that hereafter will go down in history with other illustrious ones that have annexed the coveted glory and rich prize. England boasts of its great crowd that makes a holiday of Derby day at Epsom Downs. Kentucky, and Louisville particularly, can give "ye tight little isle" and its racing patrons cards and spades when it comes to Derby merrymaking. England only has one king and queen present on the occasion of its Derby running. America this season will be blessed by the presence of over 100,000 kings and queens. They are coming from all parts of the country, some traveling more regally but all bent on Churchill Downs and its great activity tomorrow. All intent with the same purpose, to witness a titanic struggle between the outstanding kings of the three-year-old division on the American turf. What a great crowd the arrivals compose. They congest the community to almost the crowding point. They began pouring into Louisville like a stream with the opening of the meeting here last Saturday and since then other contributing streams are causing a flood-like aspect of the constant newcomers. Saturday morning, when all the special trains are in from every section of the country, will witness the concentration of the greatest throng that ever came for the sporting event. It will exceed in numbers any former assemblage at Churchill Downs and there has been some notable previous gatherings here. Louisville was congested Thursday night with visitors. For the first time in history all the leading hotels, and there has been some notable additions in hostelries since last year, were unequal to accommodate those desiring rooms. Considering that the Derby was forty-eight hours off, it undoubtedly indicated the intense interest and that all former attendance records would be broken. Amid all the confusion, bustle and frenzy, amiability reigned and few, if any, failed of getting a comfortable sheltering place to rest at night. Several in the big crowd found friends and acquaintances of long standing, some even antedating the first running of the Kentucky Derby, won by the affectionate "Little Red" horse Aristides. Quite a number of the crowd remembered his victory and have since made Churchill Downs their annual mecca. These old timers are becoming conspicuously less each year. Governors of many states, collossal financiers of this country, statesmen, railroad and steamship magnates, sculptors, artists, authors, inventors and notables in other walks of life have abandoned care for the time. All are intently bent on enjoying the occasion to the fullest Continued on fourth page. FAMOUS KENTUCKY DERBY TODAY _ «. — Continued from first page. and to many tomorrows incidents will be retained in their memory for the rest of their lives. Bad luck, an element which Frederick Johnsons Kentucky Derby favorite, Quatrain, has had to combat almost since he started his racing career, camped on his trail again today. He drew post position No. 22 in the field of twenty-five thoroughbreds entered in the fifty-first renewal of Americas turf classic, which will be run here tomorrow afternoon. There were a couple of other recognized contenders who did not fare so well in the shake for post positions, J. E. Griffiths Single Foot being the only one of the formidable ones to draw out an advantageous position. Single Foot drew No. 3, while Captain Hal drew No. 12 and Chantey No. 13. Backbone, another recognized contender, drew No. 23. Of the twenty-five thoroughbreds entered, it is expected twenty will start, but two of the entries with positions outside of Quatrain are improbable starters and that will leave only three inside of him to be withdrawn, which in the end will leave him still far outside at the barrier. The start of a mile and a quarter at the Downs is made in the turn and an extreme outside position is of no little disadvantage. However, it will be from that outside position jockey Breuning will essay to take down the 0,000 purse and both he and owner Frederick Johnson believe the son of Omar Khayyam can carry the scarlet silks of Johnson to victory. Breuning will ride Quatrain. That was definitely settled early this morning when Breuning, in response to the offer of ,000, which Earl Sande made him to give up the mount on Quatrain, said: Td like to accommodate you, Earl, but its my hearts desire to ride Quatrain down in front. No amount of money could make me give up the i mount. The colt likes me and I like him; as long as Mr. Johnson is willing, Im going to ride him and I am confident I can ride him as well as anyone." And owner Johnson, when he heard of Breunings decision, said: "Thats the stuff. I, too, have confidence in Breuning and Im glad he wouldnt sell his sentiment or his pride. Thats the right spirit, and ! well win. This is meant as no reflection on Sande, as he is a dear friend of mine, the right kind of a boy and a king of race riders. I j would have been perfectly willing for Sande to ride, would have paid him any amount of money, but only if Breuning had declined. Im satisfied the way it stands." So Sande will ride Flying Ebony. Meantime, trainers of all the Derby colts this morning had their j charges out for the final light gallops which put the finishing touches on them for tomorrows mile and a quarter struggle. Quatrain looked fine; so did Captain Hal, Kentucky Cardinal. Chantey, Single Foot, Backbone and the Grabner-Scott pair, Son of John and Step Along. There was not a cloud in the sky today. The Downs course is lightning fast and all indications point to the most perfect racing con- ! ditions possible. As to the crowd, well, the Kentucky Derby has grown to such proportions that the Kentucky Jockey Club officials really are a bit worried, on this, the eve of the Derby. With thousands of racegoers to be heard from on special trains from every section of the country tomorrow, the Churchill Downs course will be packed and there can be no doubt the largest crowd that ever witnessed a horse race in America will watch Quatrain fight it out with the others tomorrow afternoon.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1920s/drf1925051601/drf1925051601_1_2
Local Identifier: drf1925051601_1_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800