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
Redgauntlet was made favorite. Pink Star's victory was not a popular one.
The public had no confidence in the flashy grandson of the great Leonatus,
which won the same event in 1883, and neither did his owner Hal Woodford
of Paris, Ky. But his trainer, W. H. Fizer, fairly bubbled with enthusiasm
over the chances of his colt. "So these are the Derby horses?" said he.
"Well, if they are Derby colts, Pink Star will walk in." So he did.
The race itself was robbed of a great deal of interest by the withdrawal
of Arcite, which did not start on account of the going. His owner, George
J. Long, waited until the last moment before scratching him, chiefly on
account of the sentiment that has marked his career on the turf. Mr. Long
is a Louisville man, he takes great pride in her institutions, one of
which is the "Darby", and he felt as if he were duty bound to run the
colt, but after consulting with his trainer, decided that the going was
impossible.
After the parade passed the grandstand and clubhouse, the horses cantered
to the post, and it was but a moment before Starter Holtman sprung the
barrier and the thirty-third Derby was on. As they swept past the stand
the first time, Zal was leading, with Ovelando second and Wool Sandals
third. Around the clubhouse turn, it was quite noticeable that Pink Star,
with his pink-coated jockey was bringing up the rear. Round the lower turn
they went and now Zal had a clear lead and was running freely. Ovelando
was under restraint and was a good second, next to the rail. Redgauntlet
had dropped to the rear and Austin was busy with the whip but there was no
response. Up the back stretch they went, Zal with gigantic strides, still
in front and Ovelando was going easily close up. Redgauntlet moved up a
bit and Pink Star was last. As the three-eighths pole was reached, Nicol
went up to Zal, and it looked as if he could pass the Gerst colt any time
he wanted to. Pink Star was moving up on the extreme outside. Nicol
rounded the stretch turn on even terms with Zal and the cry went up,
"Ovelando walks in." But the jubilation was too early, for Zal drew away a
bit as the field straightened for home and Nicol drew his whip. Pink Star
was still coming. At the eighth pole the positions were still the same,
but here Ovelando began to hang out signals of distress and he was done.
Pink Star by this time had gotten on almost even terms with Zal and, as
the sixteenth pole was passed, he was slowly drawing away from the
fleet-footed chestnut. A few strides and it was all over, for Boland began
to ride Zal, but he was done to a turn and at the end Pink Star was under
wraps. Ridden out, Zal finished a little over a length in front of
Ovelando, and quite a piece back came the favorite.
THIRTY-FOURTH DERBY 1908
Louisville, Ky., May 5, 1908.--Weather cloudy, track heavy. 1-1/4 miles.
Time 2:15-1/5. Value to winner $4,850, second $700, third $300.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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