Wintergreen, an Ohio-bred colt, carrying the colors of Rome Respess,
ridden by V. Powers, galloped away from his opponents to-day in the race
for the thirty-fifth Kentucky Derby. Four lengths behind him came Miami,
which carried all the hopes and money of Central Kentucky, and he was
three lengths in front of Dr. Barkley, a despised outsider, which beat Sir
Catesby a head and gave the latter the place of honorable mention.
Wintergreen hardly left the outcome of the race in doubt after the barrier
rose. His backers had a moment of anxiety when he was bumped by Miami
right after the start and once in the final furlong, when Powers laid the
lash on the big bay colt. The rest of the race was play for the son of
Dick Welles and Winter. Miami ran a good game race, Direct and Warfield
failed to show anything much and Campeon and Match Me were outclassed. Sir
Catesby ran the best race behind the winner and would have been second but
for bad racing luck. The going made Friend Harry stop.
For a horse that was born and bred in the Buckeye State to win the
Kentucky Derby is a new feature in the history of this classic event.
California, Eastern horses, and in the majority of cases, Kentucky and
Tennessee have furnished all the Derby winners.
Slowly and with Wintergreen in the lead, they filed past the stand and
clubhouse and, turning, galloped to the starting point, where Jake Holtman
was ready to send them away. The field got away quickly to a good start.
Wintergreen and Miami came together as the barrier went up, but the son of
Dick Welles was not to be denied and he at once went to the front and
there he stayed. Coming past the stand, he had a clear lead, with Miami
next and Dr. Barkley and Friend Harry close up. Sir Catesby was on the
inside and was apparently trying to run over horses. Going up the back
stretch Powers took a nice hold on Wintergreen and the great colt just
skimmed along pricking his ears. Friend Harry made a determined effort
passing the half-mile post, but it was just a flash in the pan, for
scarcely had the cry "Friend Harry is catching him" rung out before the
crowd was yelling Friend Harry is beaten, as the Alvey colt's stride
shortened. Miami, which had clung tenaciously to second place, also under
restraint, was now sent after the flying pacemaker with a will. But
Shilling could not rally his mount and the farther the field went the
easier was Wintergreen's task. Nearing the eighth pole Powers got a little
uneasy and gave Wintergreen one good crack with the whip and he bounded
away like the others were standing still. Miami was just as easily second
and Dr. Barkley just managed to beat out Sir Catesby, the latter coming
through the worst going. The rest were pretty well scattered.