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.