DESCRIPTION AND PEDIGREE
Vagrant is a dark bay gelding, blaze face, four white stockings, and stands a shade over 15¾ hands. He was bred at the Preakness Stud Farm, the property of M. H. Sanford, Esq., and was purchased as a yearling by T. J. Nichols, Paris, Ky., for $250. He has a neat head and neck, good shoulders, excellent middle piece, great length, immense hips and quarters and tremendous stifles, with sound feet and legs. His action is easy and graceful, a regular daisy cutter, and from his style and carriage must go a distance of ground.
Vagrant is by Virgil (son of Vandal and Hymenia by Imp. Yorkshire; 1st dam Lazy, by Imp. Scythian; 2d dam Lindora, by Lexington; 3d dam Picayune, by Medoc; 4th dam Sally Howe, by Sir William of Transport; 5th dam Lady Robin, by Robin Grey; 6th dam by Quicksilver (son of imp. Medley); 7th dam by Meede’s Celer.
He started in his two-year-old form six times, won five, and beaten once. He won the Alexander Stakes, half mile, at Louisville, Ky., in 50¼, beating Harry Hill, Russ Butler and ten others. Same meeting with 5 lbs. penalty, ran third to Creedmoor for the Tennessee Stakes, three-quarters of a mile in 1:22½ track deep in mud. At Lexington, Ky., won sweepstakes for 2-year-old colts, three-quarters of a mile, beating The Nipper, Creedmoor, and six others, in 1:18. Same meeting won the sweepstakes for two-year-old colts and fillies, one mile, beating Clemmie G., The Nipper, and five others, in 1:45½. At Louisville Fall Meeting, won the Belle Meade Stakes, three-quarters of a mile, beating Bengal, Bombay, and nine others, in 1:17¼. Same meeting won the Sanford Stakes, one mile, beating Alborac, Miriam filly, and several others, in 1:46.
At Lexington, Ky., Spring Meeting of 1876, won the Phoenix Hotel Stakes, 1⅛ miles, by more than a distance, beating Clemmie G., Knapsack, Very Fine and Yandall, in 1:56¾. Besides winning the Kentucky Derby, at Louisville, in present meeting, he is engaged in the Clark Stakes, two miles, and same place in fall on the St. Leger, two miles and Galt House Stakes, two mile heats, the Grand Exposition Stakes, 1½ miles at Philadelphia, the Breckenridge Stakes, two miles, at Baltimore, and the Suwanee Stakes, two mile heats, at Nashville Fall Meetings.
The Kentucky Derby, for three-year olds, $50 play or pay, with $1,500 added, second to have $200. One and a half miles, 34 nominations. Value $3,200.
Betting—Just before the start, Vagrant even against the field.
THIRD DERBY 1877
Persons who long wished and desired a beautiful day for the Kentucky Derby were fully gratified Tuesday. The sun was out bright and the excessive heat for the past week was tempered by a gentle breeze that made it all the more enjoyable, albeit it militated some against faster time.
The course, from the heavy rain of Sunday, was not in the best possible condition, and in some places was a little deep and uneven. Early in the morning preparations commenced for the day’s sport, and the crowded condition of the hotels betokened a large attendance, and long before the call bell was sounded to summon the jockeys and horses, the grand stand, quarter-stretch, field and field stand were crowded to repletion with an anxious crowd of spectators. The sky was flecked here and there with a few masses of clouds, but there was nothing threatening about them. Now and then they served the purpose of a veil, which hid the fierce glances of the sun, and cast a shade over the vast crowd that was gathered on the emerald green fields. Rarely, indeed, have the magnificent landscapes which can be viewed on either side from the grand stand and its neighborhood, looked more lovely. Behind, looking, we see the Nashville railroad winding its way like a snake through green fields and woodlands until it is lost in the distance. In front to one side you see the curling smoke arising from the city, with a cloud of dust that indicates the road over which the vast crowd is coming, bent on pleasure. To the left lay green fields and woodlands, rejoicing in the light luxuriant foliage of May; meadows and fields surrounded by whitened fences, here and there a cottage dotted over the plain with their smoke curling lazily upwards. Away beyond this could be seen the green hills running in a semi-circle, indicating where the beautiful Ohio winds its way and marked the boundary between Kentucky and Indiana.
For the Derby, eleven out of the forty-one nominations sported silk. Leonard was a hot favorite, and the race resulted in his overthrow by Baden-Baden, who was third choice in the betting. If Leonard could have won, his chances were destroyed by the way in which the race was managed. He made all the running, took the lead and set himself up as a target for the others to shoot at, and right gallantly did Lisbon serve his stable companion, Baden-Baden, for three-quarters of a mile at a clipping pace, and then dropped back. Vera Cruz, who was backed with considerable spirit by his friends, had his chances destroyed by being left at the post. King William ran a good race, and for a colt that has had the knocking about and hammering that he has, he is one of the best three-year-olds that has appeared this year. His performance should add greatly to the reputation of his young sire, Foster, one of the best bred sons of Lexington. The race was an excellent one for the condition of the course.
After some three or four breakaways, the eleven were despatched to a good start, except Vera Cruz, who reared and plunged just as the drum tapped, Dan K. showing in front, but was soon passed by Lisbon, who cut out the work at a sharp pace, the quarter 26½ seconds. Entering the stretch Leonard showed in front and had a lead of half a length at the stand, with Lisbon and King William second and third, the remainder in pretty close order, the half mile 52 seconds. Going around the turn King William joined Leonard, and Lisbon dropped back, Baden-Baden taking his place, the three-quarters 1:18. Going down the back stretch Leonard led King William a length, the latter whipping, with Baden-Baden at his quarters, the mile 1:44¾. The two took close order on the turn, and just before entering the stretch at the three-quarter pole, the mile and a quarter 2:11½, Baden-Baden showed his nose in front, Leonard second, lapped by King William, all three driving. It was a beautiful and exciting finish to the stand, Baden-Baden winning by little over a length, Leonard second, a head in front of King William, third. Vera Cruz, who reared and was left at the post, overhauled his horses and finished fourth, with Odd Fellow fifth, lapped by McWhirter sixth, Malvern seventh, Earlylight eighth, Dan K. ninth, Lisbon tenth, and Headlight eleventh. Time—2:38.