History Of Kentucky Derby: Manner in Which Famous Horses Won It in Their Years.; Memorable Struggle When Spokane Triumphed over Proctor Knott in 1889., Daily Racing Form, 1921-05-05

article


view raw text

HISTORY OF KENTUCKY DERBY Manner in Which Famous Horses Won It in Their Years Memorable Struggle When Spo ¬ kane Triumphed Over Proctor Knott in 1889 LOUISVILLE Ky May 4 AVc who love the thoroughbred liorse and the sport lie provides know that Aristides won tho first Kentucky Dcrliy in 1875 and that Paul Tones won flic fortysixth running of that coveted race last year int how many of us remember the thrilling incidents of the races in between or even the names of the other forty winners winnersToday Today will ever be historic in the turf annals of Kentucky as the first Derby Day propheti ¬ cally wroto the late B G Bruce as the opening expression of a concise account of the inauguration of the sport at Churchill Downs on Monday May 17 1875 That portion of the grandstand devoted to the ladies was one grand bouquet of beauty re ¬ finement and intelligence The ladies in the various costumes loolcd like so many particolored butter ¬ flies balancing themselves on their wings in the slanting rays of the bright sun he told us be ¬ fore lie entered his description of how II P McGraths Aristides afterward famous as the lit ¬ tle red hoss won the best race at the weights ever run by threeyearolds in this country Aris ¬ tides stood only 153 hands lie was a son of Lea ¬ mington one of the greatest horses ever brought to this country from England whither lie sent back a son Iroquois to win thai classic of classics the Derby at Epsom Downs Aristides was named for Leamingtons owner Aristides Welch of Phil ¬ adelphia Aristides coupled with a stablemate Chesapeake which finished fourth was favorite Hidden by Oliver Lewis Aristides went to the front at the end of the first half mile and from there to the finish the race was never in doubt lie won by two lengths from Volcano with Verdi ¬ gris third the time for the mile and a half being 237 There were fifteen starters and they were sent away without delay by Col W II Johnson with Col M Lewis Clark president of the club which had been organized by him after nine years of turf decadence in the Falls City as the presid ¬ ing official of the stand standVAGRANT VAGRANT SECOND WINNER OF DERBY DERBYA A Lexington horse Vagrant also won the second running of the Kentucky Derby He was a son of Virgil son of Vandal sire of Volcano and was owned by Capt T J Nichols and ridden by Bobby Swim Standing nearly sixteen hands he was a dark bay gelding that was so unattractive as a yearling that he was sold for 250 However he had a graceful way of running and was what in those days was termed a daisy cutter Favorite at evens Vagrant galloped along at his ease in his big stride and never left the result in doubt win ¬ ning by a length with Creedmoor second and Harry Hill third eleven starting the drum having been tapped by Col Robert Johnson JohnsonDaniql Daniql Swigerts BadenBaden a big chestnut with nothing particularly striking about him won the third Derby in an exciting finish with H P McGraths Leonard the margin being aa length while a head only separated Leonard and King William The winner ridden by William Walker was sold for 400 against 430 for the field He like Aristides and Vagrant was trained at Lex ¬ ington BadenBaden was a son of Australian Lavender a daughter of Wagner There were eleven starters startersDay Day Star winner of the fourth Derby was 152 with an extraordinary short stout back and well coupled He was bred at Ashland by John M Clay who sold him to T J Nichols as a yearling for 825 and it was in his colors that he scored the second triumph in the race for that wellknown citizen of Bourbon County He was a son of Star Davis and Svas ridden by Carter Day Star sold in the field for 110 against 305 for the favorite Him yar from which he won easily by two lengths Himyar was miserably ridden by Robinson RobinsonLord Lord Murphy winner of the fifth Derby was bred in Tennessee being a son of Pat Malloy and was owned by George W Dardcn and G H Rice of Nashville He was an overwhelming favorite and ridden by Shauer he won by a length and a half from Falsetto after an exciting race raceThe The sixth Derby was won by Fonso son of King Alfonso bred at Woodburn owned by J S Shaw hiin of Bourbon County trained at Lexington rid ¬ den by Lewis and third choice in the betting Fonso cut out the work at a good pace and won a splendid race a little over c length in front of Kimball the favorite with Quito the second choice last of five and carrying the colors of Dwycr Brothers Colonel Milton Youngs Bancroft was third and Boulevard was fourth fourthHINDOO HINDOO WINS FOR DWYER BROTHERS BROTHERSThe The colors of Dwyer Brothers were carried to otory in tho Derby of 1S81 by tbat sturdy progeni ¬ tor of the blood of his line Hindoo An oildson favorite and ridden by Jimmy McLaughlin the son of Virgin moved up from second position as they entered the stretch and won easily by four lengths Lclex second and Alfambra third McGraths Sligo son of Tom Bowling being last of the other three Dwyer Brothers had paid Daniel Swigcrt 15000 for Hindoo as a twoyearold twoyearoldDaniel Daniel Swigert likewise was the breeder of Apollo son of Ashstead or Lever which won the Derby of 1882 in the colors of Morris Patton after it seemed in the stretch that the favorite Runnyniede ridden by McLaughlin for Dwyer Broth ¬ ers had the race at his mercy Runnyiijede quit and Apollo piloted by Hurd coming Avith a wet sail lengthAscender after a driving race won by a length Ascender carrying the colors of Col Bob Pate the man who made a fruitless attempt to put the City of Mexico on the racing map was favorite for the Derby of 1SS3 which fell to the handsome Leonattis running in the colors of Chinn Morgan the Chinn being Colonel Jack father of Phil T and author of the law creating the Kentucky State Racing Commission Leonatus was second choice and won in an easy gallop by three lengths with Drake Carter second and Lord Raglan third W Donohne rode the winner winnerBuchanan Buchanan won the Derby of 1884 under the pilot ¬ age of that wizard of the saddle Isaac Murphy Buchanan was a magnificent looking son of Bnckden and was foaled the joint property of Capt W Cottrill of Mobile and J W Guest of Danville Ky who sold his half to his partner Captain Cottrill later sold a half interest to Capt S S Brown of Pittsburg and he ran as their property winning easily by a length and a half from Loftin with Audrain third and the favorite Bob Miles fourth fourthHowever However much of a disappointment had been Bob Miles to Capt Jim Williams the previous year Joe Cotton made amends by winning the Derby of 18S5 for which he was favorite and was ridden by Henderson Morris Patton who were the owners of Drake Carter in 1883 were again second with Bersan and Col Milton Young for the second time got third money his colors having been car ¬ ried by Ten Booker It was a beautiful day and the largest crowd ever seen on a race course in Kentucky with the exception of that which had wit ¬ nessed the match between Ten Broeck and Mollie McCarthy was present presentIt It was tho consensus of opinion that the field of ten that ran for the Derby in 1885 was the best sinca Aristides year RIMJ Ali won of Virgil the third by that sire to mark a success in this prize was the favorite carrietl the colors of James B Haggin was ridden by P Duffy and won by three parts of a length after a driving finish with Blue Wing The time 23 5 was a new record for the race tho previous bust having been Lord Murphys 237 Free Knight was third thirdMontrose Montrose at odds of 10 to 1 ridden by Isaac Lewis wearing the colors of Col Alex Labold and his brother won the Derby of 1887 by a length and a half from Jim Gore which pulled up lame a length better than Jacobin the favorite Banburg fourth fourthDerby Derby Day in 18SS the day that starter J F Caldwell made the mistake and sent the horses away for the first race at the half mile post in the chute instead of the fiveeighths post caus ¬ ing the race to be run over was cold and raw and the track was deep in dust and the Melbourne Stables pair Alexandria and Galifet were favored in the betting Macbeth II at odds of 10 to 1 rarrying the colors of the Chicago Stable Hankins Johnson and ridden by Covington won handily Galifet second and W O Scullys White third thirdThe The next year Derby Day was insufferably hot and the dust was so thick gathered that yon could cut it with a knife yet the largest crowd gathered that had ever been present to see the Derby There was free entrance to the infield Continued on sixth page KENTUCKY DERBY HISTORY Continued from second page It was notwithstanding the day and tracks great racing and the field that went to the post in the Derby put up a brilliant contest Noah Armstrongs Spokane at 10 to 1 and ridden by Tom Kiley winning by a short bead from Proctor Knott the 1 to 3 favorite which lost the race when he swerved with Pike Barnes at the head of the stretch For the third time Col Milton Youngs col ¬ ors were third Once Again finishing a head in front of Hindoocraft Proctor Knott ran as the property of Scoggin Bryant The time was 234 and that stands today as the record for the race at one mile and a half distance distanceRiley Riley at 4 to 1 ridden by Isaac Murphy in Ed Corrigans colors won the Derby in 1890 from Bill Letcher and Robespierre the favorite the track being muddy muddyIsaac Isaac Murphy rode his third winner of the race when he scored with the 2 to 5 favorite Kingman after a hard ride over a track deep in mud doing the mile and a half in 252 the Derbys slowest time yet before the most immense crowd ever at the course Kingman raced in the colors of the Jacobin Stable of which Kinzea Stone of George ¬ town was the principal owner ownerDUEL DUEL OF AZRA AND HURON IN 1892 1892The The race of 1892 produced the duel between George J Longs Azra ridden by Lonnie Clayton and Ed Corrigans Huron guided by Tom Britton which so frequently has been recounted as one of the most stirring contests of the last quarter of a century Huron coupled with Phil Dwyer the only other starter was oddson but Azra beat him by six inches inchesThe The next year Lookout trained by Will Mc Daniel and ridden by Kunze won in a canter for Gushing Orth while his stable companion Bound ¬ less was beaten a head for second place by George J Longs Plutus The Gushing Orth pair were favorites favoritesChant Chant son of Falsetto which had not been able to win the Derby in Lord Murphys year carried the colors of H Eugene Leigh and George Rose to victory in 1894 Chant was ridden by Goodale and wan a strong favorite He led all the way and won without great effort Pearl Song second and Siguard third thirdHalma Halma Byron McClellands black son of Han ¬ over ridden by Soup Perkins and favorite at 2 to 5 won easily in 1895 from Basso Laureate and Curator CuratorThe The next year the year in which William Jen ¬ nings Bryan had the sages nil stirred up over the question of free silver at the ratio of 16 to 1 Ben Brush won the Derby by his whiskers from Ben Eder and it was heralded as the greatest race for the event sinee Spokane beat Proctor Knott Simms rode the winner for Phil Dwyer and Tabor was on Ben Eder for Umbrella Bill McGuigan It was the opinion of many that had the riders been re ¬ versed the son of Bramble not as fit as Ben Eder might not have won Ben Brush was favorite at 1 to 2 2The The succeeding year saw another duel for the Derby when J C Calms Typhoon II Garner defeated Headley Nortons Ornament A Clay ¬ ton the favorite by a neck The winner was a sou of Top Gallant GallantJohn John E Maddens Plaudit son of Himyar ridden by Simms beat Lieber Karl the 1 to 3 favorite owned by John W Schorr and ridden by T Burns a length after a hard drive in the race of 1898 1898The The following year the prize again went to the east when Manuel ridden by Fred Taral favorite at 11 to 20 won for A H D H Morris Man ¬ uel was a son of Bob Miles The second horse in this race was Corsini which Ed Corrigan had shipped all the way from California but T Burns was not skillful enough to get closer than two lengths to the winner at the end endLIEUT LIEUT GIBSONS EECORDBHEAKINO DERBY DERBYLieutenant Lieutenant Gibson son of G W Johnson owned by Charles Head Smith trained by Charles H Hughes ridden by Jockey Boland and favorite in the betting bad no difficulty in showing his heels to Florizar and Thrive and those behind them in the Derby of 1900 He ran the mile and a quarter in 206 which stood for ten years after that as the record for the race at that distance the reduction from one mile and a half having been made in Ben Brushs year Ben Brushs 207 was the fastest previous record recordHis His Eminence another son of Falsetto owned by F B Van Meter and ridden by Jim Winkfield the colored jockey who afterward distinguished himself in Russia won the Derby of 1901 quite easily from Will Hayes Sannazarro piloted by Winnie OConnor John W Schorrs Alard Scheck oddson favorite was last of five and Tennessee was sick at heart heartThomas Thomas Clay McDowells AllanaDale son of Halma bred at Ashland ridden by J Winkfield won the 1902 Derby while his stable companion The Rival ridden by Nash Turner was third Thomas W Moores Inventor piloted by R Wil ¬ liams splitting them Last of the four was the boasted Tennesseean Abe Frnk It was a thrilling race and a close finish finishMcDowell McDowell the following year put Dick Crow hurst on Bourbon and Helgerson on Woodlake and made anotiier essay for the prize but a couple of Chicagoans beat him to it Judge Himes ridden by H Booker at odds as high as 15 to 1 winning under the colors of Charles R Ellison after a drive with the favorite M H Tichenor Cos Early ridden by J Winkfield The winner was by Esher EsherElwood Elwood a son of Free Knight mounted by jockey Prior running in the name of Mrs Lascn Durnell wife of Boots Durnell who at the out ¬ break of the recent war was in Roumania an out ¬ sider in the betting won the 1904 Derby Ed Tier ney second and Brancaa third It was a poor field fieldOnly Only three started over the muddy track the fol ¬ lowing year when Capt S S Browns Agile by Sir Dixon ridden by J Martin won at 1 to 3 easily from W S Williams Cos Rams Horn and T P Hayes Layson LaysonCharles Charles R Ellison made another tcy for the Derby in 1906 and succeeded in getting second and third money with his pair Lady of Navarre and James Reddick the winner being the favorite Sir Huon bred and owned by George J Long saddled by Pete Coyne and ridden by Roscoe Troxler He was the third son of Falsetto to triumph in the race though he was a tired horse at the end of bis journey journeyJ J Hal Woodfords Pink Star son of Pink Coat winner of the American Derby trained by W H Fizer and ridden by Andrew Minder at odds of 15 to 1 won in 1907 from Zal and Ovelando OvelandoIn In 1908 the year of the institution of the part mutuel system for a second era in Kentucky the track was muddy and C E Hamiltons Stone Street paying 12360 won easily with Sir Cleges the favorite Dunvegan Synchronized and Banridge heads apart It was a bad band bandNext Next year Wintergreen V Powers won for Rome Respess and he was bred in Ohio being a son of Dick Welles and the only horse foaled in the Buckeye State to win the race Then came in succession the winners Donau son of Wools thorpe owned by William Gerst of Nashville Meridian by Broomstick carrying the colors of R F Carman of New York at that time now of Maryland Worth owned by H C Hallenbeck of New York and sired by Knight of the Thistle Donerail sired by McGee owned by T P Hayes of Lexington Old Rosebud son of Uncle owned by H C Applegate Co of Louisville Regret the only filly ever to win it daughter of Broom ¬ stick owned by Harry Payne Whitney of New York George Smith son of Out of Reach owned by John Sanford of Amsterdam N Y and in 1917 Omar Khayyam the first foreignbred to ever win the event Omar Khayyam carried the colors of Billings Johnson Shortly afterward the colt was sold to W Viau the Montreal turfman In 1918 W S Kilmer purchased Exterminator a few days before the Derby after it was discovered that his great colt Sun Briar would not be able to start and to the surprise of the vast crowd present that day carried off the big prize with his new pur ¬ chase In 1919 the great Sir Barton started his victorious threeyearold career with victory in the Derby Jockey Herbert rode Donau George Archi ¬ bald piloted Meridian Carroll Shilling Worth Tlos coe Goose Donerail John McCabe Old Rosebud Joe Notter Regret J Loftus George Smith C Borel Omar Khyam W Knapp Exterminator and J Loftus Sir Barton BartonLast Last year the success of Paul Jones under the guidance of T Rice is fresh In the memories of all


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1920s/drf1921050501/drf1921050501_2_3
Local Identifier: drf1921050501_2_3
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800