The showing of the Whitney pair was disappointing to the Eastern contingent and to Trainer James Rowe himself, who was the picture of confidence before the race. Thunderer did not show to advantage at any stage of the race, but he finally managed to beat his stablemate, he finishing fifth, and Dominant seventh.
Nine three-year old colts contested for the race, Bulse, Huffaker and St. Isidore being scratched.
George Smith is entirely of English blood, both his sire, Out of Reach, and his dam, Consuelo II., being of imported blood. His sire is now owned by the New York turfman, James Butler.
The Derby was worth gross $13,200. The winner’s net share was $9,750, while the second horse, Star Hawk, took down $2,000; the third horse, Franklin, $1,000, and the fourth horse, Dodge, saved his stake of $225. The time, 2:04, has only once been beaten in the Derby, being second to the mark of 2:03⅖, scored by Old Rosebud in 1914, which is still the Kentucky Derby race record.
Jockey John Loftus, who rode George Smith to victory in the Kentucky Derby, is a native of Chicago, Ill., where his parents reside. He has long been regarded one of the leading riders of America, and is now under contract to James Butler. He only came West this spring to ride George Smith at Lexington and in the Derby, and will return to New York at once to his employer. Loftus was long connected with the stable of J. B. Respess and was also awhile with the J. Livingston stable. He rode one season in France and made good there, the same as he has in this country.
John Sanford, the owner of George Smith, is a son of the noted turfman of the same surname, who raced such great horses as Caughnawaga, Rockton, Chuctanunda, Mohawk II. and Molly Brant. The Sanford place is Hurricana Stud, near Amsterdam, N. Y., where is also located the Sanford carpet manufacturing plant. It is at Hurricana Stud that George Smith will do stud service when his turf career is over.
George Smith, the winner of the forty-second renewal of the historic and classic Kentucky Derby, is a superbly made black colt of average good size and much quality, with a superior way of going. He is very sightly in appearance and has a perfect track disposition.
He was bred in Mercer County, Kentucky, at the Fountainbue Stud of Chinn & Forsythe, and was sold at a fall sale of yearlings at the Latonia track for $1,600, being the second highest priced yearling sold at that time. Ed McBride, at that sale, left considerable money with Lou Tauber to buy three yearlings, one of these was George Smith, another was Tom Elwood, and the other was Eddie Henry, both of which have won stake races for McBride.
SUMMARY
May 13, 1916. Track fast. $10,000 added. Value to winner $9,750, second $2,000, third $1,000. Time 22⅖, 46⅖, 1.12⅕, 1.38⅘, 2.04.