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American Derby Is World Famous Todays Renewal Far Cry From 1884 Some of Americas Greatest Horse-Rider Combines Have Won Washington Park Event WASHINGTON PARK, Homewood, 111., Aug. 21. "The glory of the past blushes before the splendor of the-future." The above was penned by a turf reporter back in the early nineties after a day of racing at the Washington Park Jockey Club course, cradle of the famed American Derby, which was founded by Gen. Phil Sheridan. Washington Parks glorious past con-tinues to blush under the constant pressure applied by Benjamin F. Lindheimer and his associates. Lindheimer is pardonably proud of the fact that the current edition of the American Derby is regarded among the leading races of the world. It was during the middle of the past Arlington Park meeting that Lindheimer announced the added value of Saturdays American Derby was to be 00,000 against the 5,000 that was originally announced. This came in the form of a surprise, but -it was typical of Lindheimer. He spotted -an opportunity to add a touch of glamour to a race already steeped in color and tradition and did it immediately. i This renewal will be a far cry from the initial running of the Derby in 1884, when the gross value of the purse "was 2,700, with 0,700 going to the winner. Modesty, the great mare for whom one of the big Arlington-Washington stakes is named, was the victress on that occasion and the great colored jockey, Isaac Murphy, was in. the saddle. Paris Mutuels Introduced In those days you could wager in auction pools, books or those new-fangled things called Paris Mutuels, but it cost you five dollars to try -the latter. In contrast to the new, modern, stall-starting gates, they employed walk-up starts in those days. The starter yelled "Come On!" as he dropped a red flag and sent the field scurrying on its way, and when the riders noted an assistant, some hundred yards up the track, drop a yellow flag, then the start became official. If the yellow flag was still in the air when the red flag dropped, the riders were forced to pull up their mounts and return for another "walk-up." False breaks, consequently, were an expected part of a daily program. False starts, however, reached a new high in racing history in the 1893 running of the American Derby, for the horses were called back no less than 25 times, being at the post for more than one hour. The starter, C. H. Pettingill, believe it or not, had to use a horse whip several times on unruly jockeys who sassed and cussed him. He fined four of the jockeys 50 each and declared he would hold them at the post until the next day if they did not behave. It is said that the famed jockey, Ed "Snapper" Garrison, who was astride the ultimate victor, Boundless, took advantage of this long delay by repeatedly standing with one foot on the rail, thus relieving his mount of weight. Garrison Finish It was through Garrisons style of riding that the well-known phrase, "Garrison finish," originated. It was in the Great Eastern Handicap at Sheepshead Bay in 1886 when Garrison brought the winner, Dutch Roller, from so far back that the saying was coined. The old " Washington Park track was abandoned and dismantled in 1906. The American Derby was revived in 1926 at modern Washington Park. However, there was one renewal of the derby decided at Hawthorne in 1916. . When it was renewed in 1926, Col. Edward R. Bradleys Boot to Boot led Display, Black Maria, Smiling Gus and Bolton to the wire. Alfred Johnson was up on Boot to Boot. The following renewals lured the turfs titans and outstanding reinsmen. Willie Fronk, who presently scales more than 200 pounds and who has been a trainer in Illinois for a number of years, piloted Reveille Boy in the 1930 running. It is said that John Best, who owned the horse, had to borrow the starting fee. Mate, the 31 victor, was ridden by George Ellis, also a great rider of his day. Ellis, also on the hefty side now, trains horses in Illinois. There were numerous other brilliant horse-and-rider combinations that came through with colors flying in the derby. These included Gusto Silvio Coucci, Mr. Khayyam Pete Walls, Cavalcade Mack Garner, Black Helen Don Meade, Mioland Johnny Adams, Alsab Georgie Woolf, Citation Eddie Arcaro, and Hill Prince Arcaro. The crystal ball calls for Native Dancer Arcaro to be added to this notable list.
