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KENTUCKY DERBY LORE • — Modest Beginning of Worlds Famous Race in 1875. • Fifty-One Years of Its Running Have Witnessed Many Changes on the American Turf. * LOtISVILBi:. K , May 15— To look back from thi:- year of 1925 to 1S75, the season the first Kentucky Derby race was run at CI— illfH Powns, is to cover a period of fifty i rat lag years, during which time the American turf has passtd through many vicissitudes and has now reached the present gold-n era of prosperity. In many states of the 1nion legislation has driven racing to other localities and tracks never even dreamed of in the early seventies have been opened up to turfmen in place of those of Inn? ago. The fifty-one years covered by the history of the Kentucky Derby has seen the coming and going of J. B. Haggin. who broke all records as a breeder of thornuhbrod home and no doubt set a* mark in this respect that will endure for all time to come. It luu also m en the passing into history of men fashionable racing properties as Jerome Bark. Bong Branch, Washington Park and Sheepshcad Kay. and the beginning and end of James H. Kernes phenomenal career as ■ turfman, he being one of the few mn that the winnings of the horses he raced would alone have made him a millionaire. I»ASSI G OF MAWW ?»OTiBI.ES. Tn this period also came that great patron of the sport. Pierre Borillard. who expended kis wealth fret.lv to secure the best of horses and who was the only man who has ever won the Knglish Derby with an American-bred horse Messrs. Haggin. Borillard, Keene and the great race tra ks named above lui« all passed with the fleeting years, but the Kentucky Derby has never yet missed a running in the month of May from 1875 down to the present time and has always been de-cid« d on the track it was first run over. Its five decades have witnessed the passing of many big turf events, including its onr-tini. vi st rn rival, the American Derby, tlie pride of Chicago and one of the greatest rac m run anywhere. U was a bright sunny dav on May 17. 1ST"., when the first Kentucky Derby was derided. There were forty-two entries for this race and the subscribers embraced den. Abe Buford. Jen. YV*. d. Harding. P. B. Harper. A. Kerne Richards. H. P. M.Crath. It. B Ch-atham. .1. YV. Hunt B. n-olds. Woodford Stringfield. Omen B. Clay. William Cot trill, Georga EL Bice. Charles Bene. Charles A. lewis, John W. Miller. Withers and Bruce. J. B. Rhodes. Shawhan and Boweii, A Hawkins. Samuel J. Salver. James A. C«rinstead. B. Owings. J. T. Williams. Allen Bashford. Gen. J. F. Robinson. R. C. Morgan, A. B. Bewis and Co.. Daniel Swigert. James and A. C. Franklin. James Davis. Jeorge W. Darden, W. H. Gordon J. H. Morgan and John H. Stone. There are many points of difference in the first Kentucky Derby and the rich stake as run today. In 1875 the weights carried were 100 pounds for colts and ninety-seven for fillies and geldings. The distance was tht n one mile and a half, and the start was effected on the side of the track where the grandstand is now located at the Downs. 10.000 landW FIRST DFRBY. An attendance of 10.000. an unusual assemblage in those days, filled the grandstand and crowded the lawns. Although the race had only fl.OOO added, in marked contrast to the rt.nm of tin present time, and was only worth .35 to the winner, the field was a notable one and among the fifteen starters was the mighty Ten Broeck. which finished unplaced. Aristides. a son of Lexington, was the winnrr. Biddrii by 01ier Bewis. Aristides went t thr front at the end of the first half mile and from there to the finish the race was never in doubt. He won by two k tigtlis from Vclcano. with Verdigris third, the time for thr mile and a half being 1:17%. There were fifteen starters and they were sent away without delay by Col. W. H. Johnson, with Col. M. Bewis Clark, president of the club, which had been organized by him after nine years of turf decadence in the Falls City, as the presiding official of the stand. The fn Hi. wing is a summary of the first running of the Derby: AHJSTIDKS— Ch. c. by Leamington— Sarong, by Lexington 1 VOLCANO — B. c. by Vandal— Iodine, by S" » -reign 2 VERDIGRIS— Ch. c, by Versailles— Belle Brandon, by Hugh L. French 3 T.me. 2..I7:, Also mm— Ten IFroirb. MoCieeij, Rnlinter, Warsaw. S ar.h r. Chesapeake. Gold Mine. Bill Bruce. Bob Wooiey, Vagabond. Asc n-sion. Bay wood. Fifteen started. Faorit — McGrath entry Arital. I and "hesap ak. i Winding owner — H. P. McGrath. That was the first Kentucky Derby. Tomorrow tbe now worlds famous race will bfl run for the lirt -first true And not m.MKi. bttt r.n.iMio perhaps 7"..0"0. nay. even low .iiihi ma set the field of superb thoroughbreds fil through tbe padd « k gat" ] and parade past the a -claiming multitude who ha* orne from all quarters of the globe to witiw ss thr greatest and moot popular of American noma moon.
