SUMMARY
The Kentucky Derby for three-year olds, foals of 1887; $100 entrance, half forfeit, $10 if declared on or before May 1, 1889, $20 if declared on or before May 1, 1890; money to accompany declarations; with $2,500 added, of which $300 to second and $150 to third. 1½ miles. 115 noms.
| E. Corrigan’s b c Riley, by Longfellow, Geneva; 118 lbs., Murphy | 1 | |
| W. R. Letcher’s b c Bill Letcher, by Longfellow, Ida Lewis; 118 lbs., Allen | 2 | |
| G. V. Hankins’s br c Robespierre, by Jils Johnson, Agnes; 118 lbs., Francis | 3 | |
| Prince Fonso 118, Palisade and Outlook 118 also ran. | ||
| Time—2:45 | ||
Betting—Even Robespierre, 4 to 1 Riley, 4 to 1 Bill Letcher, 5 to 1 Prince Fonso, 10 to 1 Palisade, 20 to 1 Outlook.
SEVENTEENTH DERBY 1891
A cloudy and hazy morning, but still spring like day, lending the Louisville Jockey Club an aspect brighter than it has ever worn since its inauguration in 1875, combined with the great improvements made during the past winter and spring, there seems every hope of a pleasant, brilliant and successful meeting. We have had a remarkable season, rainy and wet during March, and when winter broke summer came upon us with a burst, there being as usual no intermediate season between winter and summer. The country is dry; and the track deep in dust, still the country wears a hue of green, the trees are in full leaf, and the pastures clothed with a carpet of emerald green. The crowd to witness the seventeenth renewal of the Kentucky Derby was the largest and most immense ever assembled on the course, except at the Ten Broeck and Mollie McCarthy race, and many thought the crowd larger. During the years of this race men have written lovingly of Louisville and its track, and sounded the praises of the great three-year old event. The crowd was so great that locomotion was almost impossible, and being a free day the inner field presented one mass of humanity from the head of the stretch nearly to the first quarter pole. Derby only brought four to the post. The race for the first mile was merely a big exercising gallop, the first mile in 2:01. They ran from the half mile pole home in 51¼ seconds, and Isaac Murphy had to ride Kingman hard to win by a length. This is the slowest time a Derby has ever been run in.
The Kentucky Derby for three-year olds, foals of 1888; $100 entrance, half forfeit, $10 if declared on or before May 1, 1890, $20 if declared on or before May 1, 1891; money to accompany declarations; with $2,500 added, of which $300 to second and $150 to third. 1½ miles. 83 noms. Value to winner $4,680.
| Jacobin Stable’s b c Kingman, by Glengarry, Patricia; 122 lbs., Murphy | 1 | |
| T. J. Clay’s b c Balgowan, by Strathmore, Trinkitat; 122 lbs., Overton | 2 | |
| Eastin & Larabie’s b c High Tariff by Longfellow, Christine; 122 lbs., Williams | 3 | |
| Bashford Manor’s b c Hart Wallace by Longfellow, Stephanie; 122 lbs., Kiley | 0 | |
| Time—2:52¼ | ||
Betting—2 to 5 Kingman, 3 to 1 Balgowan, 10 to 1 High Tariff, 6 to 1 Hart Wallace.
EIGHTEENTH DERBY 1892
The eighteenth Kentucky Derby was run in the cold. The weather did not check the crowd, and fully 10,000 people watched the race from the grand stand and free field and cheered Azra and Huron as they passed under the wire. It takes more than bad weather to dampen the enthusiasm over the Kentucky Derby, and only a positive assurance of poor racing will lessen the crowd. Signs and predictions of the weather prophets failed, and instead of the bright May-day weather promised by the bureau, the air was chilly and damp, and the sky hung with leaden colored clouds during the greater part of the morning and afternoon. In the early morning the sun shone, and though cool the indications were that the afternoon would be an ideal one for racing. Instead, however, a cold wind sprang up from the northwest and turf lovers saw their dreams of a beautiful day fade into typical fall weather. There was enough virtue in the wind, however, to dry off the track, which, with the exception of a little stickiness, was in a fair condition. The officials of the day were as follows: Judges—Col. M. Lewis Clark, R. A. Swigert and Washington Hessing. Timers—Norvin Harris, Van Kirkman and Lew Tarlton. Secretaries—Joseph Swigert and Charles Price. Starter—J. B. Ferguson. Clerk of the Scales—L. P. Ezekiel.
The third race was the Kentucky Derby, with three starters, Huron, Phil Dwyer and Azra. The betting was on the Corrigan pair, while Azra’s few friends put up their boodle freely. Three minutes before the start the same persons who were most enthusiastic at the finish were repeating over and again: “Oh! what a farce the race will be. Three horses only to gallop around like the hippodrome races of a circus.” The following is a description of the race:
From the first jump Corrigan’s intentions may be read, Huron is to set a pace that will kill Azra, and Phil Dwyer is to win. Swinging the big colt to the rail, Britton gives him his head. Racing like El Rio Rey or Proctor Knott, he draws away from Azra, whom Clayton holds well in hand, and length by length increases his lead until five lengths of daylight lie between the green and light-blue jackets, Phil Dwyer, held in reserve by Overton, a length and a half in the rear. Nearing the first quarter the wrap on Azra is slackened a little and, though all go wide at the turn to seek the dryest going, Clayton takes ground by passing nearest the rail. Down the stretch to the stand they come, and it begins to be apparent that a stubborn contest is in progress. Huron’s head is swinging, he is running easily, and as he swings along with his splendid action two lengths in the lead, a cheer breaks out. In every way he looks the winner, but at his heels comes one that will follow him with dogged courage till the last gasp. Under Clayton’s good guidance, Azra is holding his own, though seemingly between two fires, for if Huron does not run away from him, there behind him is Phil Dwyer running under a pull and ready to take up the fight.
As the wire is passed Huron again increases his lead, and rounding the turn is three lengths to the good, while Phil Dwyer moves up almost on even terms with Azra. So the quarter-pole is passed and the critical moment of the race arrives. It is time for Britton to “feel” Azra. The colored rider looks back, and then for the first time urges Huron a little. Will Azra hold his own or will he cry for quarter? Has he been able to stand the pace? If so, Phil Dwyer must come to the front and finish the work. Will he quit? How quickly that question is answered. The moment Britton makes that move on the back-stretch Clayton loosens his wrap and Azra responds. Will he hold his own? He does not come with a sudden burst of speed, but foot by foot he nears the leader, his steady rating telling at last. Phil Dwyer’s time has come. He makes no response to Overton’s call, and is then and there a beaten horse. The race is between Huron and Azra. It is no longer a question as to the latter’s lasting. The query is, “Will Huron quit?”
The last quarter is neared, Huron leads, but only by a little, that is steadily growing less. Azra is at his saddle, at his withers, at his head, gaining at every stride, slowly, but surely forging to the front. They are in the stretch and on even terms. Grandsons, both, of the great Leamington, the blood of the great race horse that flows in their veins has no taint of the coward, such as that of the colt that labors four lengths behind them. Azra is on the inside, and Britton has pinned him so close that Clayton can not use his whip. The boys knees must touch as the two colts race head and head. The crowd goes wild. Men yell the name, first of one and then the other. But for a moment the cries of “Azra, Azra wins,” drown the others. He is drawing away. Clayton is climbing up on his neck and working like a demon. At the eighth pole he is almost a neck in front of Huron. The race seems over, Huron, after setting the pace throughout, surely can not come again. But he does! Britton has never ceased work on him, and at one bound lifts him back once more head to head. But that is all. The two are straining every muscle, the last link of speed is out in each, but as the fiery nostrils of the racers see-saw past each other with the swaying of the outstretched necks only for an instant is first Azra’s and Huron’s nose ahead. Not a whip is raised. Hands are too precious. Britton is riding vigorously, but Clayton is outdoing him. Can not he lift his mount just an inch or two to the front? The wire is there above them. Ten thousand people are yelling and Clayton puts out his supreme effort. It succeeds! Azra has won. Right on the post he gains six inches, no more, and by that distance stands the winner of the Kentucky Derby of 1892. It is a grand race, and victor and loser alike are cheered to the echo by the excited crowd. The value of the stake was $4,230.
The Kentucky Derby for three-year olds, foals of 1889; $100 entrance, half forfeit; $10 if declared on or before May 1, 1891, $20 if declared on or before May 1, 1892; money to accompany declarations; with $2,500 added, of which $300 to second and $150 to third. 1½ miles. 3 starters. 68 subscribers.
| Bashford Manor’s b c Azra, by Reform, Albia; 122 lbs., Clayton | 1 | |
| Ed. Corrigan’s b c Huron, by Iroquois, Brunette; 122 lbs., Britton | 2 | |
| Ed. Corrigan’s b c Phil Dwyer, by Longfellow, imp. Encore; 122 lbs., Overton | 3 | |
| Fractional time—:25¼, :51½, 1:17¾, 1:45¼, 2:12, 2:41½ | ||
Betting—3 to 2 Azra, 20 to 11 Corrigan’s pair.
NINETEENTH DERBY 1893
Never since the Spokane-Proctor Knott Derby, in 1889, was there such a crowd gathered at Churchill Downs as that to-day.
The weather and the far-famed Kentucky Derby were the cause of it, greatly augmented by the fact that the field was free. It is a time-honored and commendable custom of the Louisville Jockey Club to give a free field on Derby and Clark days, and the association lost nothing by it to-day, as every inch of space on the grand stand side of the track was filled, and no more could have been accommodated.
The weather was simply delightful, and this with a strong attraction on the programme is what is required to draw a large crowd to a race-track. It is no easy matter to estimate such a gathering with any degree of accuracy, but there must have been at least 25,000 people on the grounds. They began to arrive before 11 o’clock, and from that time until 3 o’clock in the afternoon the streets leading out to the track were lined with street-cars, vehicles, equestrians and pedestrians. They came in all sorts of ways, from the dusty and perspiring footman to the elegant and flashy tally-ho, drawn by four prancing horses. It reminded one of the Irishman’s witty paraphrase of an old couplet,
“Some ride in chaises,
And some walk, be-jases.”
Long before the hour for the first race the grand stand and surrounding grounds were a solid mass of restless but good-natured humanity, all on the qui vive for the sport so near at hand. Locomotion was the next thing to impossible, and those not content to remain in one place had a formidable undertaking in trying to get around. Over in the center-field a similar condition of affairs existed. For more than a quarter of a mile fronting the grand stand the inner rail was hugged by a heterogeneous mass of humanity, made up of men, women and children, white and blacks all bent upon getting the best position possible under the circumstances irrespective of the rights of others. Further back, a line of vehicles, every available inch occupied by a sightseer, extended nearly the entire distance of the back-stretch, so that only occasional glimpses of the horses could be caught by the occupants of the pressstand, upon whom those not present depended for an accurate description of the races.
And it might be appropriately asked, what was the attraction that drew all this concourse of people to the same spot? What was it that made them endure for five hours all the discomfitures that surrounded them? It was not for the purpose of speculating on the results, for not one-tenth of those who were there, bet, or attempted to bet, or had any desire to do so. It was that inborn love of sport, that can be found in the hearts of the majority of men. It is the greatest compliment that can be paid to a racing association for that kind of a gathering to attend its meetings. As a whole, it was not there to speculate but prompted by a feeling of admiration for deeds of prowess and with an earnest desire to see the best horse win.
This was the kind of an audience that witnessed the nineteenth renewal of the Kentucky Derby. The event itself might be regarded as somewhat of a disappointment, in the fact that the winner so far out-classed his field that he had too easy a thing of it. With Lookout eliminated, the contest between Plutus, Boundless and Buck McCann was a stubborn one, and not until very near the wire was the issue settled, as to who would get second place. There was no trouble about who would get first place; that was settled shortly after the flag fell. There were six starters in the Derby, namely: Cushing & Orth’s pair, Lookout and Boundless; Scroggan Bros.’ Buck McCann; Bashford Manor Stable’s Plutus; J. E. Pepper’s Mirage, and C. E. Railey’s Linger. Kunze rode Lookout; R. Williams was up on Boundless; A. Clayton on Plutus; Thorpe on Buck McCann; Isaac Murphy on Mirage, and Flynn on Linger.
Cushing & Orth’s pair was odds-on favorites and the bulk of the big speculators’ money went on the entry. There had been a great air of mystery about the preparation of Plutus for the Derby, and the talent appeared to be at a loss as to how to estimate him. His race showed that Trainer John Morris has been doing some good work with the colt and has a stake-horse in his stable. Plutus and Buck McCann were about even second choice, both to win and for place. Mirage, with Isaac Murphy up, found some followers, but principally “pikers,” for the place on which odds of 3 to 1 could be had. There was a long price about Linger’s chances with few takers. There was a general impression abroad that Railey’s colt could not take up the weight and go the distance, and all who reached such a conclusion had it down just about right. But neither Linger nor Mirage will ever be able to beat Lookout at any weight or distance when the great son of Troubadour is at himself. They don’t belong in his class. The others in the Derby are nearer his class, but it is my opinion that he will always hold them safe, under anything like equal circumstances. He won the Derby so easily that it places him clear out of the reach of anything but a high-class horse.
Coming on the track, all the horses paraded in front of the grand stand and were vociferously applauded. The enthusiasm which the two previous races had in no wise affected, broke out in uproarous demonstration. Some yelled for one and some for another just as fancy or interest suggested, but the keen eyed judge of a race-horse could see the winner only in the big, graceful chestnut, who apparently oblivious to the excitement of which he was partially the cause, galloped quietly to the post.
It was comparatively a small field but starter Pettingill had to line them up several times before sending them away in a bunch. In the break Lookout and Linger went out in the lead, heads apart, followed closely by Mirage, Buck McCann, Boundless and Plutus in the order named the latter getting a little the worst of the start. Lookout shook off Linger in a few strides, and at the quarter was an open length to the good, with Plutus and Linger second on even terms, Buck McCann fourth, Mirage fifth and Boundless last. Going under the wire for the first time, it was Lookout, by two lengths and running easy, Plutus second, a head in front of Linger, Boundless and Mirage about on even terms, with Buck McCann about a half length behind them. At the first quarter, past the wire, the order had changed little, except that Lookout had increased his lead and Buck McCann had moved up to fourth position. At the conclusion of the mile the order had not changed materially, but the scene shifted in the next quarter. Linger dropped out badly beaten and Mirage, on whom Murphy was working with all his might and main, began to go back to the trailer. In the meantime Lookout was romping down the stretch, five lengths ahead of Plutus, Boundless and Buck McCann, who were having a desperate fight of it. In the order as named last above they came under the wire.