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Derby Top Magnet Of Racing Today Roster Modern Whos Who; American Derby Held Public Fancy at Turn of Century By C. J. CONNORS Staff Correspondent JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., May 1.— The Kentucky Derby several decades ago captured the imagination of the American public and with each succeeding year tightened its grip and today it is a must for all who can possibly be among those present. The Kentucky Derby was first run in 1875 and for . 40 or more years of that period was just another race on the calendar. The American Derby at old Washington Park on Cottage Grove in Chicago was the big event in the west while the Futurity, Suburban and the Brooklyn were the eye catchers in the east. The American Derby before and shortly after the turn of the century was the three -year-old race of the year. That event annually attracted the best of the division from all sectors of the country and eastern owners vied with Calif ornians, Southerners and others in starting their best. When racing was banned in Chicago, the last American Derby at the Cottage Grove course in 1904, when Highball, ridden by Grover Cleveland Fuller, won it, was a tepid presentation compared to the ones that had preceded it. Washington Park, which, during its heyday, was one of the best appointed courses in the country, went the way of many racetracks and wound up as buildings sites following the enactment of anti-racing legislation at Springfield From that period until after the cessation of hostilities in World War I, there was no standout racing attraction. New York had closed its gates in 1910 and 1911 and when racing was resumed the enthusiasm that earlier prevailed was lacking. Others Olso Frowned on Sport In addition to New York, many other states had frowned on the sport of kings and for a time, a span of two or more years, racing was conducted in Maryland, Kentucky, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Florida Moncrief Park in Jacksonville, and South Carolina, with a meet or two spring and fall, in Virginia, at Jamestown. Following the first World War, pent up enthusiasm burst its safety valve and interest in racing burgeoned. People began speaking of Man o War as a super racehorse. This fellow rekindled an interest in racing that has since never flagged. The fever increased yearly and within a few years the Kentucky Derby was the attraction. People prominent in fields alien to the thoroughbred sport, the arts, finance, statesmanship, the theatre and motion pictures and everyday business began to appear in Louisville. The roster of starters in the Derby in recent years is a modern day Whos Who of the thoroughbred family. True, a couple of Americas outstanding thoroughbreds, Man o War, who so fired the imagination of the public, and the unbeaten Colin, who raced for James R. Keene, never appeared in the entries. Neither was named and there were others of giant stature in racing that passed up the Kentucky Derby. Such as Fair Play, sire of Man o War; King James, Peter Pan, Africander, Delhi and Burgomaster, to mention a few. Nominates Stone Street for Honor Not all winners of the Kentucky Derby have been great horses. Who was the poorest to win the classic? That is a question that will remain unanswered. Our nomination is Stone Street who won in 1908. He was downed by the Hamilton brothers, milk dealers from around Cincinnati and was trained by J. Hall, whose son Joe campaigns in Florida and the Midwest at present. Stone Street, who was ridden by Arthur Pickens, won the Derby in good fashion, but the next time out, in a cheap selling race at Latonia and when an odds-pn choice, he fell by the wayside. In the years following, some good ones won, but also a few not too good. Morvich, like Native Dancer, swept through his two-year-old career undefeated, accounted for the Derby, his first out as a three-year-old, and then faded into oblivion. Another at whom the boys point the winger was Donerail. Nor ! - , , would Burgoo King, Brokers Tip, Galla-hadion and Wintergreen and Ponder be classed among the stalwarts. On the other hand, trying to name the best horse that won the fixture is also a problem. Reigh Count, Gallant Fox, Twenty Grand, Cavalcade, War Admiral, Count Fleet, Assault, Citation, Exterminator, Sir Barton and Old Rosebud have their supporters in great numbers, all willing to argue until the cows come home. We lean a little toward Assault. That horse, unlike the others, was handicapped by a club foot, but he had a heart as big as all outdoors. As a yearling, he stepped on a surveyors stake and injured the hoof. He also won the Triple Crown. The following year, as a four-year-old, he staged a rush through the stretch in the Butler that brought blase New Yorkers to their collective feet cheering for a champion as he fought his way through a wall of horses, carrying 135 pounds, including Arcaro, to victory. That was one time Jamaica extended a stirring ovation to a horse and not one boo was directed toward Arcaro.
