The twenty-third Kentucky Derby has been won and Typhoon II. wears the
laurel wreath. It was a splendid race and the winner earned his victory
fairly and honestly, leading from start to finish, winning a race that,
for the track was extraordinarily fast, with the pick of three-year olds
of the West behind him. Ornament was second, Dr. Catlett was third, Dr.
Shepard fourth, Goshen fifth, and Ben Brown, the pride of Newport, last.
To Typhoon must be fairly conceded the race on its merits. He won
squarely, fairly and honestly the prize, but it must also be as fairly
conceded that he had to divide the honors. Probably two-thirds of the
turfmen who saw the race still believe that Ornament is the better colt,
and with equal luck, would have won, and while Typhoon showed great speed
and endurance, Ornament added to this by as thrilling a display of
gameness as was ever witnessed on a race course. With the worst of the
going he raced from the whip like the true thoroughbred that he is, and in
the last quarter, which is the crucial test, cut down Typhoon's two
lengths of daylight to a scant neck. Great colt as he is, it was a lucky
win for Typhoon, and probably even his owner would not care to have him
measure strides again with his so recently defeated opponent.
Withal Typhoon is by no means the faint-hearted sprinter that his early
races indicated; he shows a strong infusion of the good old stout Glenelg
blood, and if Ornament can beat him he cannot give him much and do it.
The race was a beautiful one, and the following description, written by
Mr. E. L. Aroni, turf editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal, could
scarcely be excelled in accuracy as well as graphic power.
"It lacks eight minutes of four o'clock when the six colts line up.
Ornament begins to dance a little, and the jockeying of the boys on the
other starters causes a wait. Typhoon does not relish the delay, and
prances back of the field. In a few minutes they move up and break, but
Typhoon whirls around and the flag does not fall. A minute later, when
they have been at the post only six minutes, they break once again. This
time they are caught in line with less than half a length between first
and last. Down go the red and yellow squares. There is a roar from the
crowded grand stand, and the twenty-third Kentucky Derby is begun.
"What all careful watchers of the turf expected comes to pass. Typhoon
sweeps to the front, with the others after him. Garner with admirable
judgment swings the big chestnut toward the dry middle of the track as
they round into the stretch. Goshen and Ben Brown are lapped on him, lying
toward the rail, but on good going. Dr. Shepard is still near the inside,
while behind come Ornament and Dr. Catlett, the slowest to get in motion.
"Teen" Williams starts to work through the bunch with Dr. Catlett,
choosing the faster part of the track. Clayton, on the other hand, carries
Ornament toward the rail. He saves ground, bearing out on the others as
strongly as possible to get good going, but thereby using energy that his
mount will need later in the race.
"Rating towards the stand Typhoon's splendid burst of speed is in
evidence. He comes like a wild horse opening a gap of three daylight
lengths--a yellow streak, like that other one that came flying along the
outer rail across the track eight years ago, when Proctor Knott raced home
just one jump behind Spokane. Like Proctor Knott in many ways this same
Typhoon--in color, action and the unconquerable desire to lead his field.
"Passing the stand Ornament is the nearest to him. Dr. Shepard is at the
favorite's side with Ben Brown on even terms with him. Dr. Catlett is
close up and running strongly, though showing no great speed, while Goshen
even this early is in trouble.
"Scarcely a change is to be noted as they round the turn and near the
finish of the first half-mile of their journey. Dr. Shepard is hanging on
better than was expected and Dr. Catlett is striving gamely to lie with
the flying leaders. But they are out of it clearly barring falls and
sudden deaths. As for Ben Brown and Goshen they are simply striking
examples of the difference between stake and plater class regardless of
the time test. They are lost in the dim distance before the end of the
first half-mile.
"The two Doctors are good colts, and game colts, but from the time the
field straightened into the backstretch, they too may be dismissed from
comment. They strive hard, but that chestnut demon in front is breaking
their hearts, and their utmost efforts do not save them from falling foot
by foot farther back from any chance in the final struggle for the prize.
"It is a duel. To the uninitiated Typhoon seems to be merely rating in
front with ample in reserve. To those who know the colt it is
soul-stirring to see that other little chestnut colt buckling to his work,
holding that lead down to three lengths and refusing to be outfooted by a
splendid sprinter.
"Around the far turn Clayton throws the whip into Ornament's side, and he
runs out from under it marvelously. A full length is closed, but Clayton
settles down to hand-riding again and no more of the gap is closed. Again
he does this as the finish of the first mile is passed. Again he changes
his tactics. And still Typhoon races in front.
"Garner is proving himself a rider of fine quality. He is coaxing Typhoon.
He is handling a colt with hand-riding, and it may be stated right here
that no prettier bit of that same sort of riding has been seen on the
Louisville track since the best days of Isaac Murphy, with the one
exception of Simms' finish on Ben Brush.
"Garner looks neither to right nor left. He has the race if he can hold.
He swings Typhoon wide into the homestretch, landing him in the best and
dryest path. Ornament must catch that colt if there is hope for him to
win. He must get to Typhoon's throat-latch and ask him the question of
courage. Clayton takes a chance. He hugs the rail and saves at least a
length. Then, wisely, he bears out toward the hard going. Ornament is
closing on Typhoon.
"Clayton goes to the whip at the eighth pole and again Ornament comes
forward from under punishment. He is nearing Typhoon. What is that boy
Garner going to do? Every ounce in Typhoon is out! If Garner has not a
wonderfully cool head he will drop the rein and lift the whip. He does not
do it. He looks straight ahead. He is climbing forward on the leader's
withers coaxing him on, coaxing him always on. Typhoon is all out, but
Ornament, too is staggering a length back and the wire is overhead.
"Ornament is gaining, gaining at every jump, running from the whip, ready
to go on until he drops. But Typhoon, with that same steam-engine action
with which he gained his lead, is holding it. The wire is reached. Garner
is still climbing and coaxing, Ornament is still fighting a neck back, and
Typhoon II., is winner of the Kentucky Derby of 1897."
For three-year-olds (foals of 1894); $5 to accompany the nomination; $15
to be paid May 1, 1896; $30 to be paid March 1, 1897; $100 additional to
start. The club to guarantee the value of the stakes to be $6,000, of
which $700 to second and $300 to third. Colts to carry 122 pounds;
geldings (at time of starting), 119 pounds; fillies, 117 pounds. Those not
having won a three-year-old race of the value of $1,500, allowed five
pounds; maidens ten pounds. One mile and a quarter. Closed with 159
nominations. One mile and a quarter.
Index Starters Jockeys St. 1/2 3/4 S. F. Betting
(325) Typhoon II, 117 Garner 1 1 3 1 2 1 2 1 h 11 to 5
(186) Ornament, 117 A. Clayton 5 2 2 2 6 2 8 2 25 7 to 5
(404) Dr. Catlett, 117 R. Williams 6 4 1 4 8 4 10 3 4 4 to 1
Dr. Shepard, 117 J. Hill 4 3 4 3 6 3-1/2 4 30 15 to 1
(336) Goshen, 117 Wilhite 2 6 6 6 5 15 to 1
(284) Ben Brown, 117 Ballard 3 5 3 5 2 5 1 6 6 to 1
Start fair; won with first 2 driving hard. Time--2:12-1/2.
J. C. Cahn's ch c Typhoon II, by imp. Top Gallant-Dolly Varden.