Meridian, Kentucky-bred, but Eastern-owned, triumphantly carried the
colors of R. F. Carman to the front in the thirty-seventh Kentucky Derby
in record time and before a record crowd at Churchill Downs to-day. The
Derby was run from "eend to eend" as Frank Harper of Ten Broeck and
Longfellow fame, used to say, for the winner set a heart-breaking pace and
had the stamina to last the route and get home a scant length in front of
Governor Gray. The latter was about 15 lengths in front of Colston, the
dark horse for the Derby. The time 2:05, a new mark for the Derby. The
best time ever recorded for the sixteen blue ribbon events which have been
run at this distance was made by Lieut. Gibson in 1900, when 2:06-1/4 was
made. It also equaled the track record made last year by Royal Report. The
race was not a gallop for Meridian for he was a tired horse at the finish
and was exceedingly well handled at the end by Jockey G. Archibald.
Governor Gray had some bad luck. He was next to the fence going round the
first turn, and Troxler was forced to take him back, and he was lengths
behind the pacemaker going into the back stretch. The others were not in
the same class with the two placed horses and only figured in the race for
the first mile. Probably Colston will do better in the next effort and the
same could be said of Mud Sill and Jack Denman.
It was 4:55 when the first of the Derby contingent filed through the gate
to lead the parade of the field past the sands. The huge crowd applauded
vigorously as the horses filed past the clubhouse, where they turned and
slowly came back again on the outside. It was easy to tell which was the
favorite as Governor Gray got a great reception. After passing the betting
shed the field cantered to the post with Mars Cassidy galloping up to the
same point on a fiery steed and on the steeplechase track, while the crowd
in the field kidded him a bit. There was but a moment's delay at the
barrier. The field would have gotten away at the first line-up, but for
Round the World which acted sour and Jack Denman. They were quickly lined
up again and in a jiffy Cassidy yelled "Come on!" and the horses were on
their way. The start was a good one for all but Col. Hogan, which was last
to break, and when he did go went very wide and that settled his chances
once for all.
Meridian went to the front at once and ere the field had reached the
judges' stand he was three lengths in front and setting a pace that had
the others on their toes. Round the World was second a couple of lengths
in front of Colston, which was some lengths in front of Mud Sill, with
Jack Denman and Governor Gray close up. Col. Hogan trailed the field.
At the first turn, Governor Gray, which was next to the rail was shut off
and Troxler was forced to take him back, and for a few moments it looked
as if he were going to be displaced by Col. Hogan. The field went up the
back stretch in Indian file, Meridian under gentle restraint but still
burning up the track, Round the World hanging on gamely and Colston still
holding third position. As the field swept up the backstretch and neared
the half mile pole, Governor Gray which was eating up ground, loomed up
and was soon in a position to overhaul the leaders. Troxler had him full
on his stride and rounding the turn, passed Colston and soon passed Round
the World, and there was but one horse to catch and victory was his. But
that was a hard task as Meridian was still moving along in great style
turning the mile in phenomenal time for a race of that distance. The whole
field was under whip and spur when straightened for home, except the
Carman colt. As the eighth pole was neared he began to shorten his stride
and the cry went up "Governor Gray's got him." But this was premature and
wrong, for Archibald holding the colt together, urged him on, handriding
and he maintained his advantage of over a length until the sixteenth pole,
where he swerved over in front of Governor Gray, on which Troxler was
making a final effort, but it was not for the Governor. The ground he
lost on the first turn and the effort to make it up told on him and right
at the finish his nose was opposite Meridian's tail. Many lengths back
came Colston, which was a couple of lengths in front of Mud Sill and Jack
Denman, which finished close together in the order named, then Round the
World pulled to a walk and Col. Hogan, which had been eased up some time.