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TWENTY-SIX ENTERED ♦ Large Field Named to Contest for Honors in Coveted Race. » Blue Larkspur Remains Favorite with Clyde Van Dusen and Naishapur Most Dangerous. ♦ LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 17.— Twenty-six of the one hundred and fifty-nine original entries for the fifty-fifth running ot the Kentucky Derby are named to start in the famous raoe tomorrow. Blue Larkspur, favorite ever since the nominations were first made known, still rules as the public choice and will undoubtedly go the post carrying the hopes of thousands as well as the silks of Col. E. R. Bradley, who already has two victories in the Derby to his credit. Blue Larkspur has the outside post position number 26 and will be ridden by Mack Garner. Voltear, the pride of the Dixiana Farm with Steve ODonnell in the saddle, will start from position number 1, next to the inner rail. The popular colors ©f H. P. Whitney will be missing, none of his representatives having been sent here for the race, which Mr. Whitney has won twice, with Regret and Whiskery. Chicago devotees of racing have three prominent candidates In Karl Eitel, Windy City and Minotaur to cheer for, and there are many who believe that this trio will prove formidable factors. The general opinion on the eve of the great race is the Blue Larkspur is the horse to beat, with Clyde Van Dusen, Naishapur, Voltear and Windy City the most dangerous Of the remainder of the big field. Predictions are for clear and warmer weather with a fast track. All the carded starters are reported in perfect condition, having safely undergone the rigors of extensive training without any serious mishap. When Edward R. Bradleys Blue Larkspur reeled off five-eighths in 1 :00 this morning there remained no doubt of his entire readiness. "Dick" Thompson, who fitted the son Of Black Servant and Blossom Time for thi-? most prized of all his engagements will not see the running, but a radio has been fitted Continued on seventeenth page. ■ , TWENTY-SIX ENTERED Continued from first page. up in his sick room and he will follow the progress of the running in that fashion. The best that can be had in way of encouragement from the most rabid of the partisans for this or that horse is that he is ready and if Blue Larkspur makes any mistakes this or that one will be the winner. But it is agreed that Blue Larkspur can only be beaten by making a mistake. He is the class of those which will bear silks and before "Dick" Thompson was stricken with appendicitis, from which he is happily recovering, he had brought the colt to magnificent condition. It has been remarked before that, by reason of the acknowledged superiority of Blue Larkspur, there has been less wagering where horsemen gather, but there have been some transactions of importance among those who wagered on the Bradley colt at 7 to 1 or even better, in the way of scalping the market. Some of this has been laid off at 2 to 1 and even at 8 to 5, which must be admitted is a remarkably short future price, on the running of a race that might find twenty-six of the best three-year-olds available under silks. By a process of elimination, this field could readily be reduced to half a dozen, their former form gives them only a remote chance to share in the great prize. Of all these, H. P. Gardners Man o War colt Clyde Van Dusen seems to be the most eligible to contend with Blue Larkspur. He has been magnificently trained for the running and is sure to give a satisfactory account of himself. Then there is John J. Coughlins Karl Eitel, which is the hope of Chicago since the going amiss of his stablemate Roguish Eye. This fellow seems to be as fit as hands can make him for the great test. Another that will carry the hopes of Chicago is F. M. Grab-ners Windy City, winner of the Derby Trial, as was Reigh Count last year, to follow it up with his score in the classic. And from the Far West comes Chaffee Earls Naishapur, which also displayed an excellent performance in the Derby Trial. He also has back of him a brilliant career at Tijuana under the silks of the San Francisco sportsman. Trainer John McKee is sanguine of Naishapurs success. Baron Longs Ervast is another of the California aspirants that will be seen under silks, but he has accomplished nothing since his arrival in Kentucky to warrant any confidence in his chances. Alex Gordon seems to have the best of the New York invaders in Mrs. Graham Fair Vanderbilts Chicatie, the son of Chicle and Tahiti. This fellow has improved since being brought on from Belmont Park and his training has been immensely pleasing to his genial trainer. Joe Notter, who will saddle The Nut for the Warm Stable, says that he is sending a fit horse to the post and hoping for the best. Minotaur, which was only beaten a length by Dr. Freeland in the Preakness, is here and ready for the question tomorrow. He was purchased by John R. Thompson, Jr., shortly before the Preakness running, and his showing in that race was by long odds the best of his career. "Bill Knapp, who piloted that remarkable gelding Exterminator to victory for Willis Sharpe Kilmer in 1118, will saddle Upset Lad, the little gelded sen of Upset and Lady Davis. Upset Lad was winner of the Florida Derto] for Knapp and his progress snce the winter campaign induced sending him on from New York. Knapp is confident that the little gelding will be running fast when some of those in front of him are tiring. Voltear, the gelded son of Volta, that was purchased from Gtorge Wingfield by Charles H. Fisher, is still another that has some pretentions to class and he raced well enough for Preston Burch last year in Chicago. "Im here to see Minotaur win the Derby — and whatever you do, dont fail to bet on him." That was the greeting Charlie Graffagnini, New Orleans turfman who sold Minotaur to John R. Thompson, Jr., of Chicago, gave friends as he arrived early this morning, having driven over from Maryland in a shining newly purchased Lincoln limousine. "Did you get that out of a claiming race?" some one asked him, referring to the limousine. "Yes — Minotaur was the policeman," he smilingly replied. But he afterward admitted Hypnotism had done his share. "Minotaur is the toughest luck horse in the world," said Graffagnini, or maybe its me, the tough luck one. Thats why I sold him. "Mr. Thompson wanted him and when Val Crane sounded me on the price I told him the terms. Frankly, I got 5,000 cash and am to get 5,000 out of the first stake he wins that amounts to 5,000 or more. I figured that if I was jinxing the little horse Id do better to let somebody else give him a chance."
