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 51-1/4 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. 1-1/2 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