Worth, the favorite, won the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs this
afternoon, just beating a heavy rainstorm, and by so doing saving the day
for the moving-picture operators. The Kentucky Derby of 1912, the
thirty-eighth renewal of the classic stake event, went to the horse which
nine out of every ten horsemen and turf patrons conceded to have the race
at his mercy. He did not win as easily as many expected, but he won, just
lasting long enough to get the money and the honor from a dark horse.
Duval, which would have paid 20 to 1 had he popped in front, was second,
and Flamma, the only filly in the contest, was third. The time, 2:09-2/5,
is about four seconds slower than that made by Meridian, the winner last
year. Worth won by a neck, while Duval was five lengths in front of the
filly, Flamma.
Worth established his claim to the three-year old championship for the
1912 season, although he will have to win many more races this year to
hold that title. At the present time he is the best of all three-year
olds. To-day, just as last season, there were many doubting Thomases
regarding his ability and class. It took the celebrated match race at
Latonia last fall to convince these persons that he was the best two-year
old out in 1911, and this spring the Kentucky Derby race is the one which
sweeps aside all chances for an argument.
The colt was dead tired when the race was finished, and had to be urged
hard in the last furlong. He was "prepped" for this race, and lasted long
enough to win it, which ends all arguments what might have happened had
the race been 20 or 30 yards more. Shilling, who rode him, announced
before the race that he did not intend to have mud slung in his eyes, and
he kept his word. The beaten ones in the contest had no excuse; they were
beaten fairly and squarely, luck never entering into the result in the
least.
There were no unusual incidents connected with the preliminaries to the
big race. The crowd during the interval between the ending of the third
and the time to go to the post in the big event, wended its way to the
paddock and stood several deep around the railing, each and every one
anxious to get a good look at the contenders. Promptly at 4:30 they left
the paddock and paraded down past the judges' stand. Flamma, the only
filly in the race, leading the procession, but she was a little shy and on
several occasions refused to come down in front. Wheelwright, with Byrne
up, followed with free Lance, sporting the colors of George J. Long, the
Louisville turfman, leading Guaranola, which was directly in front of the
favorite, Worth. Sonada and Duval brought up in the rear in the order
named. The clouds were hanging quite low and it was doubtful if the race
would be finished before the rain fell.
The horses pranced down the stretch to the quarter pole, where Starter
Cassidy told riders just what was expected of them. Several times they
could have been let go, but Flamma was still in an ugly mood and she broke
up many perfect starts. After about two minutes of work at the post the
simultaneous cry from 18,000 throats proclaimed the fact that the big
race was on.
Shilling pushed Worth into the lead, and the big brown son of Knight of
the Thistle went about his work in a determined manner. He needed no
urging to keep him in front and ran straight and true under the clever
guidance of his rider. Free Lance cut across at the start and took the
second position, laying back of Worth about a length, although Wheelwright
breaking first, did not get to going right away. Sonada broke well, with
Duval only a short distance back. Guaranola was a couple of lengths behind
soon after they got to going, with Flamma bringing up in the rear, the
filly having been caught unawares. Shilling took no chances with the
Hallenbeck colt, but held him right to his knitting, coming down the
stretch for the first time.
Passing the wire, Worth was easily a length and a half to the good of Free
Lance, which was laying back in a contending position at all times. A
length back of Free Lance, hugging the rail, came Sonada, which was only a
head in front of Duval. Wheelwright followed Duval, being three lengths
back of him. Guaranola was two lengths in front of Flamma, which gives an
idea of the poor start gotten by the filly. Around the turn going into the
backstretch, Worth was still leading by his length and a half advantage.
Free Lance was still holding on, although half a length separated the
Alvescot colt from Guaranola, which had slipped up on the rail. Duval was
laying back in fourth place on the outside, being half a length in front
of Flamma, which had passed Sonada and Wheelwright. Sonada had dropped
into last place and Wheelwright was not much better, both of them running
neck and neck for the booby prize. It was plain to all that they were
outclassed and the crowd passed them up and centered all their attention
on the leaders. Away over on the far turn, those without glasses could
still distinguish that Worth was in the lead, although it was growing dark
fast. They also noticed that Duval had slipped upon the inside and was now
only a length behind the Hallenbeck champion. Flamma, on the outside, had
also passed Free Lance, and it was quite patent here that the Long colt
could not go the route, for Guaranola had also passed him. Sonada and
Wheelwright were trailing nearly ten lengths back. Worth still held his
advantage turning into the stretch, but Shilling was becoming nervous, for
he felt the colt was tiring.
It was now a question with him as to whether he could stick out the last
furlong. Drawing his whip he gave him a couple of blows and the big fellow
hung on. Duval was only a length back and in this way they raced to the
sixteenth pole, with Flamma in third place. Duval was gradually gaining on
Worth and Fain started to ride hard. Shilling again pulled his whip at the
sixteenth pole and applied it vigorously. It was well he did, for the colt
was dead tired, but still game. Fain had no whip, but proceeded to give
Duval a hand ride. Shilling held Worth's head straight during the last
gruelling sixteenth and the colt dashed before the grand stand a neck
ahead of Duval. Fain rode his mount out, but he could not get up in time.
Five lengths back of Duval came Flamma, after running a good, game race.
Four lengths behind Flamma was the dead tired Free Lance, a length ahead
of Guaranola. Sonada finished away back and Wheelwright was pulled up.
Worth had won and the crowd was satisfied that the best horse was the
victor. As was said before, there is no use considering "if the race had
been a few yards longer" the result might have been different.
The jockeys hurried back to the grand stand, the usual wreath was placed
about the neck of Worth, Shilling was given a bouquet of roses and then
came the deluge.