The New Louisville Jockey Club opened their gates on Saturday, May 3,
which was Derby Day, and as everybody old and young, who can, goes to the
races, the crowd was enormous. Among the large assemblage were notable
people from all over the United States, including many high State
officials. The victory of Alan-a-Dale was the most popular Derby win ever
run at Churchill Downs. T. C. McDowell the owner of the fortunate horse,
which carried off the honors in game and gallant style by winning the Blue
Riband, bred this horse himself at his Ashland Stud.
The Derby was a true run race and the best horse won and as the English
say, that any horse that makes his own pace at a mile or over from the
drop of the flag to the finish must certainly be the best horse. It was
Alan-a-Dale all through the race. The crowd yelled and cheered itself
hoarse even those who bet and lost on other horses in the race, joined in
the cheering. When it was over it was a sight worth going a thousand miles
to see. It seemed as though everybody was looking for the popular owner,
T. C. McDowell to shake him by the hand and congratulate him.
The pace was fast for the first mile and then it dropped off badly, but
when one really notices how fast Alan-a-Dale went the first mile in the
race, they will not wonder that the last quarter was so slow. A first
glance at the time of the race one would think from a time standpoint that
it was a bad race, but when compared with other races of its kind, you
will see that in all races that are fast run the horses who make the fast
time generally rate along instead of running the first part of it real
fast. In his race, Alan-a-Dale, according to our timing ran as follows:
1/8 :12-1/2, 1/4 :25, 3/8 :37-1/2, 1/2 :49-3/4, 5/8 1:02-1/2, 3/4
1:14-3/4, 7/8 1:27-1/2, 1 mile 1:40-3/4; 1-1/8 miles 1:54-1/2 and 1-1/4
miles in 2:08-3/4.
Of course, the winner tired greatly after setting the terrific pace he did
in the early part of the race, but the other horses also tired as much by
trying to keep within striking distance of him. Abe Frank, although
conceding the winner, Alan-a-Dale, Inventor, the second horse and The
Rival, the third horse, five pounds each, was only beaten a scant length
by Alan-a-Dale and a half length and a neck by Inventor and The Rival. It
was a great race to watch from start to finish. At the finish of the race
all four jockeys were riding like demons, and the favorite, Abe Frank, was
beaten because he was not the best horse at the weights that day. Inventor
and The Rival, second and third horses in this race were well ridden and
ran gamely, but there is no way they could have been closer up at the
finish no matter in what way they would have changed their running. All
the glory and honor belongs to Alan-a-Dale and his popular owner and
trainer, Mr. T. C. McDowell of Lexington, who in spite of winning this
great event, has also a great misfortune to bear as Alan-a-Dale has
broken down and it is doubtful if he will ever face the starter again.