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. 1-1/2 miles. 3 starters. 68
subscribers.