Sir Huon, carrying the colors of George J. Long, one of the most popular
breeders of Kentucky, won the thirty-second Kentucky Derby, at Churchill
Downs on May 2, before one of the most representative gatherings that ever
witnessed this classic event.
Guided by Roscoe Troxler, he crossed the finishing line two lengths in
front of the gallant little filly, Lady Navarre, which beat her stable
companion, James Reddick, by three lengths. Five lengths behind came
Hyperion II, which had set a heartbreaking pace, and a dozen lengths
behind the latter was Debar, which carried the hopes and money of the
Lexington contingent, and last of all, practically beaten off, came
Velours, from Sunny Tennessee.
Sir Huon did not win easily, for he was a very tired horse at the finish,
and it required great skill on the part of his jockey to nurse him through
the final furlong; at the same time, it might be said that those behind
him were more tired. Sir Huon was by long odds the best looking horse in
the race; in fact, he looked the Derby horse all over, and he is the first
real Derby horse that has crossed the wire in front since Alan-a-Dale
struggled home on three legs.
Considering that Lady Navarre was conceding five pounds to the winner, a
good deal of credit must be given to her. She ran a great race, but that
was today, and in the opinion of many, she will never be able to get that
close to Sir Huon again.
It was a great day for Louisville, and everyone with a trace of sporting
blood in his veins was out to see the Derby, and when a home-bred horse
won, the crowd demonstrated that the victory of Mr. Long was a most
popular one. They cheered him from the time he left the paddock until he
crossed the wire, only to renew it when the usual formalities were gone
through with at the judges' stand.
There was no delay at the post, and as the barrier was lowered, the horses
came walking up and Starter Dwyer gave the word. "They're off!" yelled the
crowd with one accord, and down the stretch came the sextette in pretty
close order. Nearing the eighth pole, Hyperion II drew clear and by the
time the judges' stand was reached he was three lengths in front, with
Velours and Sir Huon next in order. Then came Lady Navarre and James
Reddick, and Debar brought up the rear. As the club-house turn was
rounded, Sir Huon dropped in behind Hyperion II, and there he laid all the
way up the back stretch. Velours was done when the field straightened out
in the backstretch, and James Reddick, which showed unexpected speed,
moved up behind Sir Huon. Out in front Hyperion II was still sifting sand,
Troxler sitting still and holding Sir Huon well in hand. Lady Navarre, who
had suffered a little interference on the lower turn, was being whipped to
keep up and Velours was now the trailer.
As they approached the far turn, Hyperion still had a clear lead, but now
Troxler had gone to work on the son of Falsetto and it took considerable
of an effort on his part to run the flying Hyperion down. He caught him
and passed him on the stretch turn and then the Ellison pair closed, as
the rest were beaten. Straightened for home, Troxler plied his whip and
then sat down to ride. Dominick was busy on James Reddick and Burns was
putting forth his best efforts on Lady Navarre, but it was to no avail,
for the big colt had enough left to stall off the efforts of the tired
pair behind him.
Sir Huon broke a tradition in the race, and that was that a colt which had
not previously started the same year that the Derby was run always got
beat, no matter how good his work might have been.