As old Rome raised her gates for the returning conqueror and turned over
to him the city's keys so did Louisville surrender to-day to the spirit of
the Derby.
Again must the mind go back to palmy days of the city by the Tiber to
imagine anything like the scene when that crowd of 50,000 cheering persons
saw Gov. Stanley present the victor's wreath to Loftus, the boy who rode
George Smith, winner of the classic.
It was a surrender complete, unequivocal and universal with all classes,
at all places and in every regard.
But perhaps it was not a surrender at all, for that spirit of the great
Kentucky classic gave to the city a gala day that even the carnival of
Venice or Mardi Gras at New Orleans cannot surpass; it crowded the city
with 25,000 strangers from far and near and, from the calculations of
hotel men and others who come in immediate contact with the racing crowds,
brought and left no less than one-half million out-of-town dollars to the
Gateway of the South.
There was but one limit to the festivities of the day--the azure sky. If
Louisville was joyful to see so many strangers within her walls and
delighted in a day of sport that might befit dwellers of the Elysian
Fields, she had yet another cause for gladness. Despite the efforts of
"the East" to capture the Kentucky Derby for two seasons, the first and
third horses in the classic were "bred in old Kentucky."
The Derby was the fifth race on the card, and it was 5:15 o'clock when the
horses reached the post. There was but little delay at the barrier, and
within a minute they were on their way. Dodge, which ran coupled with
Franklin as the Weber & Ward entry, was the first to show colors, and his
stablemate dashed away right behind him. Dominant, which was coupled with
Thunderer as the Harry Payne Whitney entry, followed the Weber & Ward
pair, and he immediately dashed into a long lead.
Passing the stand for the first time Dominant had a long lead and appeared
to be running easily, but after reaching the back side of the track it was
evident that he was not good enough to last it out. Franklin was running
close to him and appeared to be ready to run over him. George Smith was in
third position, and Jockey Johnny Loftus was carefully nursing him along
reserving his speed for the gruelling drive through the stretch, which he
knew must come. Nearing the three furlong pole Dominant gave it up and
then Loftus called on George Smith.
The Sanford colt bounded to the front at a rapid rate and soon had a lead
of a length over his field, with Franklin closest to him. Then it was that
Star Hawk loomed up as a dangerous contender as he finally found his
stride and had clear sailing. In the stretch, though, Loftus kept hard at
work on George Smith, while Jockey Walter Lilley, who rode Star Hawk, was
making vigorous efforts to get him up.
Between the sixteenth pole and the finish it looked as though Star Hawk
could make it, but Loftus' experience served him well and he never drove a
horse harder than he drove George Smith.
The showing of the Whitney pair was disappointing to the Eastern
contingent and to Trainer James Rowe himself, who was the picture of
confidence before the race. Thunderer did not show to advantage at any
stage of the race, but he finally managed to beat his stablemate, he
finishing fifth, and Dominant seventh.
Nine three-year old colts contested for the race, Bulse, Huffaker and St.
Isidore being scratched.
George Smith is entirely of English blood, both his sire, Out of Reach,
and his dam, Consuelo II., being of imported blood. His sire is now owned
by the New York turfman, James Butler.
The Derby was worth gross $13,200. The winner's net share was $9,750,
while the second horse, Star Hawk, took down $2,000; the third horse,
Franklin, $1,000, and the fourth horse, Dodge, saved his stake of $225.
The time, 2:04, has only once been beaten in the Derby, being second to
the mark of 2:03-2/5, scored by Old Rosebud in 1914, which is still the
Kentucky Derby race record.
Jockey John Loftus, who rode George Smith to victory in the Kentucky
Derby, is a native of Chicago, Ill., where his parents reside. He has long
been regarded one of the leading riders of America, and is now under
contract to James Butler. He only came West this spring to ride George
Smith at Lexington and in the Derby, and will return to New York at once
to his employer. Loftus was long connected with the stable of J. B.
Respess and was also awhile with the J. Livingston stable. He rode one
season in France and made good there, the same as he has in this country.
John Sanford, the owner of George Smith, is a son of the noted turfman of
the same surname, who raced such great horses as Caughnawaga, Rockton,
Chuctanunda, Mohawk II. and Molly Brant. The Sanford place is Hurricana
Stud, near Amsterdam, N. Y., where is also located the Sanford carpet
manufacturing plant. It is at Hurricana Stud that George Smith will do
stud service when his turf career is over.
George Smith, the winner of the forty-second renewal of the historic and
classic Kentucky Derby, is a superbly made black colt of average good size
and much quality, with a superior way of going. He is very sightly in
appearance and has a perfect track disposition.
He was bred in Mercer County, Kentucky, at the Fountainbue Stud of Chinn &
Forsythe, and was sold at a fall sale of yearlings at the Latonia track
for $1,600, being the second highest priced yearling sold at that time. Ed
McBride, at that sale, left considerable money with Lou Tauber to buy
three yearlings, one of these was George Smith, another was Tom Elwood,
and the other was Eddie Henry, both of which have won stake races for
McBride.