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3 : ® Washington Park and the Derby 8 - § Washington Park Jockey Club, when it had its inaugural June t$, 1884,, honored the occasion with the first running of the American Derby. It was won by Modesty, Edward Corrigans daughter of War Dance. Those who established the Washington Park Jockey Club were gentlemen conspicuous in Chicagos social and business affairs. The first president was Gen. Phil Sheridan, who had gained distinction in the Civil War. In the role of steward of racing his associates in the stand were General Robinson and Maj. J. F. Clark of Lexington, Ky. Washington Park, always famous, established its brilliancy by reason of excellence and because the elite of the city and notables from far and near made it the greatest of all western courses and the equal of any in the East. Forty-five years later a new plant, fitting into Chicagos progress, rises to arrest admiration. It is the gift of genius, enterprise and lavish expenditure upon the part of the same type of gentlemen who created the original plant. Col. M. J. Winn, Howard Gillett. Robert M. Sweitzer, Stuyvesant Feabody and their associates interested in the same character of sport demanded by that element of citizenship that made racing popular long ago, established the Washington Park of the present. It is here, Saturday afternoon next, that another American Derby will glorify the past, probably setting a record hitherto unknown. There is the promise of all that is spectacular in a Derby — the class of contestants, the stirring struggle for the prize under the excited gaze of probably the largest crowd ever assembled in this part of the country. The American Derby has never been second in point of fashionable interest and sporting rivalry. The Kentucky Derby, in recent years, has attracted greater throngs and has maintained a degree of interest peculiarly its own, but Washington Parks classic has never lost its appeal since the days it became known as a sectional race, in which Californians, southerners and easterners have leveled with their best. Not in years has a field been brought together such as is expected to compete in the American Derbys twenty-first rnewal. The lapse in the annual revival of the race is due to discontinuance of racing in Illinois, but its re-establishment is being marked by buoyancy that foreshadows an era of success. Among the potential Derby starters will be those dazzling rivals Clyde Van Dusen, winner of the Kentucky Derby ; his rival. Blue Larkspur ; Jack High, Karl Eitel, Windy City, Naishapur, Essare, McGonigle, Dr. Freeland, Leucite, The Nut. African, The Choctaw, Soul of Honor, Minotaur, Judge Hay, Paraphrase, Jean Valjean, Silverdale, Voltear, Paul Bunyan, Beacon Hill and others. The foremost riders will be seen under colors. With several of the eligibles in the race on the scene and with others due from New York and elsewhere enthusiasm has attained a tension never known in connection with a race provided for Chicagoans. C. W. Hay, general manager of Washington Park, reports the advance sale of grandstand reservations, grandstand boxes, also club house boxes in excess of expectations. He said a sell-out is certain. Because of this prospect he ventures to prophesy that a crowd equaling the attendance at the Kentucky Derby will be present. So elaborate are the arrangements at Washington Park that it has been ascertained on space calculation that close to 100.000 persons may be accommodated. On Decoration Day came the first test. Forty thousand people found practically no discomfort in the club house, grandstand and lawns. The advance sale for that day in no way compared with the demand for American Derby accommodations. More than three-fourths of the reserve locations have been disposed of. There is no indication of abatement. l— a
