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Copyright by Caufield Shook Louisville LouisvilleTypical Typical Derby day scene at Churchill Downs where classic will be run today Fifteen Started With 2850 Purse Captured by Aristides Crowd Estimated at 10000 Overflowed Downs Track on May 10 1875 to See Event EventCHURCHILL CHURCHILL DOWNS Louisville Ky April 30 Run at Churchill Downs on May 17 1875 the first Kentucky Derby aroused great interest not only in Louisville but throughout Kentucky and the Ohio River valley It was estimated that fully 10000 were present at the inception of the event The crowd overflowed the small grand ¬ stand and crowded the lawns The weather was pleasant and the track fast fastAlthough Although the race had a monentary value of only 2850 to the winner it at ¬ tracted 15 starters including the leading threeyearolds of the midwest as well as several entries from more distant points Although the winning H Price McGrath entry of Aristides and Chesapeake was favorite at posttime heavy support de ¬ veloped for other of the contestants in ¬ cluding Ten Broeck who finished outside the money but later went on to greatness greatnessCol Col Johnson Wielded Flag FlagAccording According to one historians report of the memorable event Col Johnson presi ¬ dent of the Nashville Blood Horse Asso ¬ ciation wielded the flag which was used to start the field It will interest present day turf lovers to know that the horses were marshalled in two ranks and when they were sent away to a good start Aris ¬ tides McCreery and Volcano got off in the first division Passing the grandstand for the first time McCreery was in front with Aristides second and Volcano third Before they had reach the turn however Mc ¬ Creery retired beaten Aristides then took the lead with Ten Broeck Volcano Bob Miles and Verdigris in a close bunch behind him Aristides ran the first mile in 143 which was very fast for those days Lewis on Aristides gave his horse a breathing spell evidently expecting Chesapeake his stable companion to join him but that horse was back in the ruck and was no ¬ where at the finish finishH H Price McGrath the owner of Aris ¬ tides was at the head of the stretch and seeing the situation he waved his arm for Lewis to go on and win if he could all alone which he did right gallantly gallantlyCourierJournal CourierJournal Describes Race RaceThe The Louisville CourierJournal in de ¬ scribing the race said Aristides forced the pace all the way for his stable companion Chesapeake and so had no respite at all which makes his performance a very re ¬ markable one Volcano was a good horse and was dangerous up to the last instant as was Verdigris which had beat him at Nashville Bob Woolley came in fourth and Ten Broeck fifth well up Ten Broeck ran like a good horse horseThe The margin of Aristides victory over Volcano is not to be found in available reports of the race yet it would seem from preserved accounts that the leaders and perhaps as many as six of the 15 starters completed the one mile and a half well bunched Aristides was timed in 237 the fastest time by a threeyearold up to that time He carried but 100 pounds A son of imported Leamington he was bred by his owner ownerFollowing Following is a transcript of that his ¬ toric inaugural of Americas most coveted race now in the possession of Churchill Downs DownsH H P McGraths ch c Aristides by imp Leamington dam Sarong by Lexington 100 Ibs O Lewis First FirstG G H Rices b c Volcano by Vandal dam Iodine by imp Sovereign 100 Ibs H Williams Second SecondCharles Charles A Lewis ch c Verdigris by Versailles dam Belle Brandon no sire given 100 Ibs H Chambers Third ThirdThe The following not in the order in which they finished behind the leaders leadersF F B Harpers b c Ten Broeck by imp Phaeton dam Fanny Holton by Lexing ¬ ton 100 Ibs M Kelso KelsoGen Gen A Bufords ch c McCreery by Enquirer dam Ontario by Bonnie Scot ¬ land 100 Ibs D Jones JonesStringfield Stringfield and Clays gr c Enlister by Enquirer dam Crownlet by imp Aus ¬ tralian 100 Ibs Holloway HollowayEtringfield Etringfield and Clays ch c Warsaw by War Dance dam Sister of Charity by imp Knight of St George 100 Ibs P Masterson MastersonJ J B Rodes br c Searcher by Enquirer dam by imp Bonnie Scotland 100 Ibs R Colston ColstonH H P McGraths b c Chesapeake by Lexington dam Roxana by imp Chester ¬ field 100 Ibs William Henry HenryJ J A Grinsteads ch f Gold Mine by imp Australian dam Income by Revenue 97 Ibs Standford StandfordSamuel Samuel J Salyers br c Bill Bruce by Enquirer dam Aurora Raby by imp Aus ¬ tralian 100 Ibs M Jones JonesRobinson Robinson Morgan and Companys br c Bob Woolley by imp Leamington dam Item by Lexington 100 Ibs W Walker WalkerA A B Lewis and Companys b c Vaga ¬ bond by Vandal dam Gem by Childe Harold 100 Ibs James Houston HoustonWilliam William Cottrills ch f Ascension by imp Australian dam Lilly Ward by Lex ¬ ington 97 Ibs W Lakeland Gen Abe Bufords b c Baywood 100 Ibs J Carter Time 237
