History of the Kentucky Derby, 1875-1921 Part 5

J. T. Williams' ch c Bob Miles by Pat Malloy, dam Dolly Morgan; 110 lbs., McLaughlin 0

Clay & Woodford's br c Admiral by Vedette, dam Regatta; 110 lbs., C. Taylor 0

R. A. Johnson & Co.'s b c Powhattan III. by Glenelg, dam Florence I; 110 lbs., D. Williams 0

Wooding & Puryear's b c Exploit by Enquirer, dam f.a.n.n.y Malone; 110 lbs., Conkling 0

R. M. McClellan's b c Boreas by Billet, dam Maggie Morgan; 110 lbs., O'Brien 0

Time--2:40-1/4

Betting--Bob Miles $440, Audrain $400, Buchanan $400, Loftin $160, field $240.

ELEVENTH DERBY 1885

A more beautiful morning could not have been made for the opening day of the Louisville Jockey Club. Not a cloud was to be seen, and the genial rays of the sun made the day most charming. The Kentucky Derby grows in interest with each recurring year, and this was its eleventh renewal.

There is more ante-post betting on it than on any race in this country, and the winner is generally awarded the highest honor as a three-year old.

The track was in splendid order, except the chute, which has not been galloped over and was deep and dusty. The grounds looked neat and clean with its holiday suit of whitewash, which was a pretty contrast with the emerald green of the gra.s.s on the inner field.

The attendance was immense, the largest ever seen on a race track in Kentucky save the Ten Broeck-Mollie McCarthy match. The inner field was full of all kinds of vehicles and conveyances, while the training track was packed full of people from the head of the homestretch down past the grand stand and well around the turn, nearly half a mile of people almost solidly packed. Here and there could be seen a number of heads on the turn peeping out under the rails, reminding one of a lot of frogs coming out to sun themselves. It was a glorious sight to see--the grand stand literally packed with people while the inner field and every available place, and the stables, tents and booths outside of the main course were alive with people, the hum and noise coming up from thousands of throats reminded one of a grand chorus from a distant orchestra.

The race of the year, the Kentucky Derby came, and after the ten were weighed in the questioning never ceased as to who would win until it was finally decided. We are perfectly satisfied in our own mind that Bersan would have won if Favor, his stable companion, had not crossed and interfered with him to such an extent at the vital part of the race--the homestretch. The best colt was second, and barring accidents he will demonstrate it before the year is over. He will make a grand race horse.

We would not rob Joe Cotton of his laurels honestly won, still we believe Bersan is a better race horse over a distance of ground.

Keokuk cut out the running, Playfair second, Irish Pat third, followed by Clay Pate, Thistle, Bersan, Joe Cotton, Favor, Lord Coleridge and Ten Booker. Entering the main track at the three-quarter pole Keokuk led, with Favor second, Joe Cotton third, rest well bunched. Pa.s.sing the stand Keokuk still led, Bersan second, Lord Coleridge third, the pace slow, Irish Pat fourth, followed in close order by Playfair, Favor, Joe Cotton, Thistle, Clay Pate and Ten Booker. Bersan showed in the lead at the quarter, Keokuk third, Irish Pat fourth, rest bunched. At the half Bersan still led, Favor second, Joe Cotton third, and it looked like a battle between the stables of Williams and Morris & Patton. Entering the stretch Joe Cotton showed in front on the outside with Favor next, and Bersan at the pole third, Thistle fourth. Just after fairly getting into straight running Favor swerved over on Bersan, cutting him off and making him lose several lengths. Bersan had to pull back, and less than two hundreds yards from home was two lengths behind Joe Cotton, gaining at every stride. Joe Cotton managed to beat him on the post by a short neck. Ten Booker, who came very fast at the finish, was a length off third, followed by Favor, Thistle, Keokuk, Clay Pate, Playfair, Irish Pat and Lord Coleridge. The first half 52, three-quarters 1:19, first mile 1:44, race 2:37-1/2.

SUMMARY

Third Race--The Kentucky Derby, for three-year-olds; $100 entrance, h f; $20 if declared by May 1st, 1884; $40 if declared by May 1st, 1885; $1,500 added, of which $200 to second. 1-1/2 miles. 69 entries. 4 void.

J. T. Williams' ch c Joe Cotton, by King Alfonso, dam Inverness; 110 lbs., Henderson 1

Morris & Patton's b c Bersan, by Ten Broeck, dam Sallie M.; 110 lbs., West 2

M. Young's b c Ten Booker, by Ten Broeck, dam Nellie Booker; 110 lbs., Stovall 3

Morris & Patton's b c Favor, by Pat Malloy, dam Favorite; 110 lbs., Thompkins 0

E. Corrigan's ch c Irish Pat, by Pat Malloy, dam Ethel; 110 lbs., Murphy 0

P. G. Speth's ch c Thistle, by Great Tom, dam Ivy Leaf; 110 lbs., Blaylock 0

W. Cottrill's ch g Lord Coleridge, by Buckden, dam Catina; 107 lbs., Hughes 0

R. C. Pate's b c Clay Pate, by Enquirer, dam Wampee; 110 lbs., Withers 0

G. W. Darden & Co.'s ch g Playfair, by Plenipo, dam Annie C.; 107 lbs., Conkling 0

W. P. Hunt's br c Keokuk, by Long Taw, dam Etta Powell; 110 lbs., Fishburne 0

Time--2:37-1/4.

Betting--Joe Cotton $500, Bersan and Favor $215, Ten Booker $75, Irish Pat $40, Playfair and Thistle $35 each, Lord Coleridge $25, field $30.

TWELFTH DERBY 1886

While the weather was cloudy and hot and looked threatening, the rain held off during the day. The track while not so fast as we have seen it, was in capital condition, safe and good. The attendance was very large, fully ten thousand people were on the grounds. The populace availed themselves of free entrance to the inner field, which had a large number of people, on foot and in all kinds of vehicles. The inside or training track was lined with people from the timing stand to near the three-quarter pole. The Grand Stand and betting ring was crowded to overflowing, and the ladies were out in large numbers. For the twelfth Derby, ten started, Ben Ali was the favorite, Free Knight second choice and Blue Wing third. Ben Ali won it is true, but we doubt whether he was up to concert pitch, but we confess Blue Wing is a much better colt than we gave him credit of being, and think he ought to have won the race. He ran wide on the turn; his jockey let him swerve just at the critical point of the race, and was only beaten three parts of a length. Free Knight ran a good race--indeed it is the best field we have seen since Aristide's year. There is hardly a starter in the race but what will pay his way and be a useful horse. This is the third time the race has been won by a son of Virgil--Vagrant, Hindoo and Ben Ali--and Vera Cruz would have won save an accident at the start. Seven of the starters were bred in Kentucky--Ben Ali, Blue Wing, Free Knight, Sir Joseph, Grimaldi, Harrodsburg and Masterpiece; and Lafitte and Jim Gray are by Kentucky owned stallions, and the sire and dam of Lijero were bred in Kentucky, showing the State still holds the highest place in the production of the horse. Take it all through it was the best race, so far as interest and contest are concerned, ever run for the Derby or any other race, and we doubt if such a field and such a contest will be witnessed again during the year. Every year seems to add interest to this great race. It will be seen by the time made that the pace was a hot one from start to finish, and few such races from the time standard have been run so early in the year with 118 lbs. up and by the way this is the first year the weights have been 118 lbs., and is the fastest run race.

The start was a beautiful one, the ten horses going away on even terms, Blue Wing in the lead, Grimaldi second, Masterpiece third, followed by Sir Joseph, Ben Ali, Free Knight, Jim Gray, Harrodsburg, Lijero, and Lafitte in order named. Masterpiece took the lead as they entered the main track, Grimaldi second, Blue Wing third, rest well up bunched. Pa.s.sing the stand Masterpiece still led, Harrodsburg second, Jim Gray third, Free Knight fourth, rest in close order. There was no change at the quarter, but the pace was still hot. Nearing the half, Free Knight was a head in front of Harrodsburg second, Jim Gray a head behind him third, with Ben Ali, Blue Wing and Masterpiece close up and bunched. At the three-quarter pole, entering the homestretch, Free Knight was a half length in front of Ben Ali second, Blue Wing third. Now commenced the real struggle for the race.

All three were driving, Ben Ali and Blue Wing were head and head at the furlong pole, Free Knight a half length behind. Blue Wing swerved to the outside and lost some ground, and Ben Ali gained a length or more when he entered the stretch. Fitzpatrick rode wide on the turn, carrying Blue Wing out, which enabled Ben Ali to take the rail. After a driving race home, Ben Ali won by a scant three parts of a length, Blue Wing second, two lengths in front of Free Knight third, followed by Lijero, Jim Gray, Grimaldi, Sir Joseph, Harrodsburg, Lafitte and Masterpiece in the order named. Time--half 50, three-quarters 1:16, mile 1.43, mile and a quarter 2:10, race 2:36-1/2.

SUMMARY

Third Race--The Kentucky Derby, for three-year olds; $100 entrance, h f; or only $10 if declared on or before May 1, 1885 or $20 if declared on or before May 1, 1886; money to accompany declaration; with $1,500 added, of which $300 to second and $150 to third. 1-1/2 miles. 107 entries 3 void by death of nominator, 5 declared May 1st, 1885 and 52 May 1st, 1886. Value $5,440.

J. B. Haggin's br c Ben Ali by Virgil, dam Ulrica; 118 lbs., Duffy 1

Melbourne Stable's b c Blue Wing by Billet, dam Mundane; 118 lbs., Garrison 2

P. Corrigan's b c Free Knight by Ten Broeck, dam Belle Knight; 118 lbs., Fitzpatrick 3

S. S. Brown's b c Masterpiece by Blue Mantle, dam Phoebe Mayflower; 118 lbs., West 0

E. J. Baldwin's b c Lijero by Rutherford, dam Jennie D.; 118 lbs., I. Murphy 0

Gray & Co.'s b c Jim Gray by Ten Broeck, dam Alice Gray; 118 lbs., Withers 0

J. G. Greener & Co.'s br c Lafitte by Longfellow, dam Sue Wynne; 118 lbs., Stoval 0

R. A. Swigert's ch c Sir Joseph by Glenelg, dam Susie Linwood; 118 lbs., Conkling 0

J. & J. Swigert's b c Grimaldi by Lisbon, dam Nora; 118 lbs., I.

Lewis 0

Chinn & Morgan's ch c Harrodsburg by Fellowcraft, dam Bonnie May; 118 lbs., J. Riley 0

Time--2:36-1/2