SUMMARY
The Kentucky Derby, for three-year-olds; $50 p. p., with $1,500 added; $200 to second horse. One and a half miles (41 subscribers). Value $3,550.
Betting—Leonard, $400; Field, $430.
FOURTH DERBY 1878
No better evidence would be wanted of the popularity and growing interest in racing than was the case to-day, the opening of the Spring meeting of the Louisville Jockey Club. The club have struck the keynote of success in throwing open the inner field free to the public, which was graced to-day by some six or eight thousand people, as well behaved and orderly an assemblage as has ever been seen collected together. They came on foot, in every sort and kind of vehicles, and the grand stand and every other available space was full to overflowing to witness the first day, which gave one of the best races ever witnessed in America. But we must not anticipate our report. The sport proved to be of an interesting and most exciting character, and those who were present were more than repaid. This Association has been extremely fortunate in the way of weather, and to-day was no exception to the rule. The track was in admirable order, but many thought it was fully two seconds slow. The day was fine and springlike, a slight breeze tempering the otherwise warm rays of the sun. The fields, considering the number of horses on the grounds, were not as large as many anticipated, but as the favorites were overthrown, the crowd shouted themselves hoarse with joy.
For the Kentucky Derby, out of 56 nominations nine splendid colts faced the starter. Himyar was such a big favorite, 3 to 1 over the field, that he was left out of the pools, and Day Star was next in favor, closely pushed by Bergundy and Leveller. The result is easily told. Day Star made all his running and won the race like the first-class colt that he is, just as he did the Blue Ribbon at Lexington. Himyar was miserably ridden, and ran fully sixty or seventy-five yards farther in the race than was necessary. This defeat does not lessen him in our estimation, and we look upon him as the greatest colt of the year, with Day Star little inferior.
After three or four false starts the lot were sent away to a capital one, except for Charlie Bush, Bergundy, and the favorite, Himyar, who seemed to hang fire, which enabled the lot to get some six to ten lengths the start. At the half-mile pole Day Star was first, McHenry second, Respond third, Leveller fourth, Solicitor fifth, Earl of Beaconsfield sixth, Charlie Bush seventh, Burgundy eighth, and Himyar ninth. Day Star cut out the work at rapid rate, no change occurring at the three-quarter pole. Day Star passed the stand two lengths in front of McHenry, Respond third, Leveller fourth, Himyar fifth, Charlie Bush sixth, Solicitor seventh, Earl of Beaconsfield eighth, and Burgundy, who was knocked to his knees on the lower turn, ninth. Day Star held his lead round the turn and after passing the quarter-pole; Himyar, who was ridden miserably, running on the extreme outside on the turn, took second place, with Leveller third. The race was now over; Day Star was never headed and won easily by two lengths, the spur being freely applied with an occasional touch of the whip in the last quarter; Himyar second, four lengths in front of Leveller, third, followed by Solicitor, McHenry, Respond, Burgundy, Earl of Beaconsfield, and Charlie Bush in the order named. Quarter 25; half 50; three-quarters 1:16½; mile 1:43; mile and a quarter 2:09¼; the race 2:37¼.