History of the Kentucky Derby, 1875-1921O'Connor, John Lawrence
History
History of the Kentucky Derby, 1875-1921
O'Connor, John Lawrence
Horse racing -- Kentucky; Kentucky Derby
Betting--McGrath $260, Ascension $150, Searcher $120, Bill Bruce $80,
Verdigris $70, Volcano $60, the field $50.
THE KENTUCKY DERBY
The fifteen youngsters assembled at the half mile pole. Little or no delay
took place under the able directorship of Col. W. H. Johnson. When they
were marshaled into line, he tapped the drum to one of the most capital
starts I have ever seen, the fifteen going away like a platoon of cavalry,
except the Baywood colt, who hung at the post. Volcano jumped away first,
with McCreery second, and Searcher third, the remainder bunched, coming
round the turn to the quarter pole 25-1/2 seconds. They came at a rapid
rate down the stretch and past the stand in 50 seconds, McCreery first,
Volcano second, Searcher third, Aristides fourth, the others pretty well
bunched. Before they had reached the quarter, 1:17, Aristides had gone to
the front and opened a gap of two lengths down the back stretch, Volcano
second, Searcher third, the mile 1:43-1/4. The pace was so hot that it
began to tell and the field was stretched over a good deal of ground. The
race from this point home was never in doubt, Aristides winning by two
lengths with something in hand, Volcano second, a length in front of
Verdigris third, who came rapidly on the home stretch inside the distance.
Bob Woolley who was caromed against on the lower turn a good fourth. Ten
Broeck fifth, the Baywood colt sixth, Bill Bruce seventh, the remainder
were scattered at wide intervals, and the dust was so great that I was
unable to place the others. Time--2:37-3/4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE WINNER
Aristides is a chestnut colt, with a star, and two white pasterns behind.
He stands fifteen hands, one and three-quarter inches high. He has a neat
head and neck running into rather a straight shoulder, with great length,
good barrel, excellent hips and stifles, sound feet and legs well under
him. He has fine turn of speed, and from the way he finished up the Derby
to-day gives every evidence of being a good stayer. He was bred by Mr. H.
P. McGrath, at McGrathiana Stud Farm, near Lexington, Ky., and is by Imp.
Leamington, out of Sarong, by Lexington, her dam The Greek Slave, by Imp.
Glencoe--Margaret Hunter, by Imp. Margrave--Mary Hunt, by Bertrand--Betty
Coons, by Hephestion--by Hampton's Twig--by Imp. Bedford--by Harlequin--by
Imp. Fearnaught.
SECOND DERBY 1876
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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