File:Breeder and sportsman (1894) (19788810403).jpg

Title: Breeder and sportsman
Identifier: breedersportsma241894sanf (find matches)
Year: 1882 (1880s)
Authors:
Subjects: Horses
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : (s. n. )
Contributing Library: San Francisco Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: California State Library Califa/LSTA Grant

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The Bay Californian Wins the American Derby. ;0 i Chicago, June 23.—For the fourth time E. J. Baldwin has pocketed the rich American Derby stake. To-day his bay colt, Key el Santa Anita, the son of Cheviot and Alaho, came under the wire at Washington Park so far in front of the great Eastern cracks that to holders of tickets on favor- ites it seemed that Senator Grady and Domino were anchored in the stretch. It was a tremendous surprise to the talent. In the first place Baldwin's entry had been beaten all along the line by selling platers of the poorest form. Unbeaten Domino, with the master jockey Taral astride, and the great Senator Grady, with the incomparable "Snap- per " Garrison up, were the only " things " considered. On these two mounts money poured into the bookmakers' tills in a golden stream. Forty to 1 against Key el Santa Anita still stood on blackboards when the Derby contestants came to the post. A few, very few, novices attracted by the odds risked a dollar or two on the California colt, but thousands surged and fought in the betting ring to stake their hundreds and tens of hundreds on the Eastern nags. Little Willie Van Karen, almost unknown as a jockey, with a mount that on form should have commanded no at- tention whatever, was pitted against three of the best riders in the country, and yet he won the great event handily. Key el Santa Anita went the distance in 2:36 and tied the best American Derby time, that of Boundless in 1893. The crowd at Washington Park was estimated at from 30,- 000 to 35,000. While not so large as the vast throng that witnessed the $50,000 event of the Columbian year, it is con- ceded that the personnel of the spectators was greatly supe- rior. All fashionable Chicago turned out, and the infield presented the most brilliant spectacle ever witnessed at Washington Park, if, indeed, it did not eclipse the scenes of any other American race course on great days. The day was perfect, though hot in the grand stand. The sun rose on a cloudless sky and made resplendent the mag- nificent boulevards and parks through which the columns of shining equipages was soon to roll. The great city gave itself np to the excitement of Derby day. The outcome of the famous event was the sole topic of conversation in the down town district, in the shops and in the homes. By noon the crowds on State street were perceptibly thinned and an hour later shoppers had disappeared. At 2:30 o'clock probably 95 per cent, of the crowd that witnessed the day's sport had reached the park. The scene was magnificent. This year the women largely affected white in their gowns and millinery. The field was filled with carriages to the depth of 200 feet. In these shone costly parasols of white lace that seemed from a dis- tance to be so many field daisies rising from the green turf. The grand stand was packed. White gowns also predomi- nated there, but there was enough of color to produce the efiect as viewed from the infield of a solid bank of flowers. It was a picture of color, of animation and joyousness. Up to nearly 1 o'clock the sua had hung in a cloudless sky of deep blue, but there was a ripple of air from out ihe south- east and the scorching rays were tempered. Suddenly dull clouds appeared in the west and rolled rapidly on. A breeze rose and came laden with the mes.-<age of rain and in a few minutes great drops of water tumbled out of the fast-flying clouds snd they came down as though it meant to ruin all the pretty costumes in the infield and turn the fast track into a bog. In two minutes the rain ceased to fall, and the sun and pretty girls came out simultaneously. Just before the Derby was called there was another rain scare, but happily for the new gowns and fast time only a few drops fell. It was 4:55 o'clock when the bugle called the rival racers ont. Alcenor was the first to come out through the paddock gate, closely followed by Resplendent, Despot, Prince Carl, Orinda and Key el Santa Anita in the order named, but of this lot only Prince Crrl came in for any applause, and that not because of his good looks, bat simply for the reason that his little owner, Chris Smith, is very popular with the Chi- cago public. Hardly bad they appeared on the track before the Eastern trio were seen coming down the stretch, having received per- mission from the judges to saddle at the stables. Domino came first, looking well, and as he and the Little Dutchman pulled up in front of the grand stand he was greeted with great applause. Dorian followed closely, and the son of Sir Modred, made many friends by his fine appearance. Sana- tor Grady, with Garrison up, was also liberally applauded, as for some reason or other the general public had formed the opinion that the race was to be between the pair—a mis- taken idea that cost them a very large amount of money and added very materially to the bookmakers' pockets. They were slowly cantered to the post, and after several breakaways, in which Orinda, Despot and Domino were leaders, the flag fell to one of " Old Petts' " best efforts, the horses having been only thirteen minutes at the post. Despot was first to show, he only being a head in front of Domino who was closely followed by Key el Santa Anita, Dorian, Orinda, Prince Carl, Resplendent, Alcenor and Senator Grady in the order named, no daylight being visible between them. The pace was slow from the start, and Alcenor, rac- ing to the front in the backstretch, was allowed to show the way in sufferance, with Domino in second place, while Prince Carl had moved up into third position. As they swept by the three-quarter pole for the first turn Alcenor was first by *hree lengths, with Domino second half a length in front of Prince Carl, which was a length in front of Despot, the others being Strang behind them, and all were under a pall, Dorian being in sixth place and Senator Grady in the last position, while the hands of the watch showed that it had taken 27 A seconds to run the first quarter of a mile. Silks and satins shifted rapidly as they came through the stretch, and Resplendent, racing from sixth into first position, took command of the party before the stand was reached, while Domino fell back to fifth and Garrison moved into third place with the Senator. As they flashed by the stand the pace had increased a little, though it was still slow, and Resplendent was first by a length, with Alcenor second, half a length in front of Senator Grady third, he leading Prince Carl by the same distance, while Domino, Despot, Dorian, Rey el Santa Anita and Orinda followed in the order named. Around the club house tarn they swung, with Resplendent showing, and at this point it bad become evident that the whole field must have received waiting orders, and that the mach-vaunted American Derby—the race that should have been run from end to end—was to be reduced to a sprint through the stretch. Domino's head was so high in the air that he appeared to be running on his hind legs, while Ber- gen had a double wrap on Dorian and Garrison had the Sen- ator well in hand. Passing the quarter post, the three-quarters having been run in 1:101, Resplendent showed first by a length and a half, with Senator Grady second, a length in front of Alcenor, whose head showed in front of Domino, Prince Carl being fifth, Orinda sixth, Rey el Santa Anita seventh, Dorian eighth and Domino last. Garrison seemed for the first time to realize that the pace was entirely too slow, and giving the Senator his head he rushed him to the front on the back- stretch. Taral, seeing Garrison go out, dropped his hands down on the favorite and started to follow him, but it was too late. The son of Himyar had had all the vim choked out of him, and was beaten then and there. At the end of the mile, made in 1:42?, the pride of Marcus Daly's stable was show- ing the way by a length and a half, with Rey el Santa Anita second, a head in front of Alcenor third, he being a length in front of Domino, who led Resplendent by a half a length only, the others being strung out behind them. Despot was eighth, and Orinda, the bope of the Applegate stable, was last. Just as the crowd had begun to shout, " Senator Grady wins!" and when the horses were just about half way around the tarn, the Baldwin colt was given his head, and as he rushed past Senator Gradv like a cyclone the crowd became as silent as though the shadow of death had crept across the lawn. As though the latter were tied to a fence, he swept by the three-quarter pole and entered the stretch with a clear lead of three lengths, the Daly colt being the same distance ahead of Prince Carl, which was making a gallant struggle for the lead, while Despot, who was coming fast, was in fourth place, the others being already out of the hunt. The race at this point was already over, bar shouting, and of that there was little doubt. Romping through the stretch, the wearer of the black with a red maltese cross came home the easiest kind of a winner, six lengths in front of Senator Grady, upon which the "Snap- per" was not humping himself for the simple reason that he knew it was of no use. Despot was third, two lengths further back, with Prince Carl a good fourth. Dorian was fifth, and the others were strung out nearly to the eighth pole. Domino was slean palled up in the stretch, pushing the others in and illustrat- ing once more the truth of the old Scriptural saying that "the first shall be last." The time was 2:36, but it was only a sprinting race after all. Jockey Willie Van Kuren, who piloted Rey El Santa Anita to victory, is a bright-faced lad. He has worn the Baldwin colors for some time, and was confident all along that the Cheviot colt would land the great turf prize for his owner. So certain was he of his success that he wagered $50, for which he received odds of 30 to 1. Van Kuren is about 17 years old, weighs 115 pounds, and has been riding nearly three years. Born in the East, he was picked up as a likely lad by Trainer McDaniel. Up to to-dav he was not well known. His victory on the Baldwin entry, in which he defeated such cracks as "Snapper" Garri- son, Taral, Martin, Bergen and Thorpe, has made him famous in a day. He spoke of his ride modestly. " I was riding easy," he said, " all the way. I could not get through until the three-quarter pole was reached. We rode so close together that I was thrown to'my knees three times. No, I wasn't fouled nor interfered with. At the three-quarters I saw an opening, and shot through it, coming fast on the inside. My orders were to ride fast from the last half. Up to the quarter I was lying second or third. The colt behaved splendidly, aud I was certain all along that I would win. I made my run in the last half and won easily. I do not think that it would have made any difference to the colt if the pace had been faster. His last race at Latonia convinced me that he was good. There were only two horses in me race that I was afraid of. They were Senator Grady and Domino. I felt certain that Rey el Santa Anita could beat all the Western entries, and was surprised that Domino ran such a poor race. The colt is entered for the St, Paal Derby, and I will ride him there next Thursday if he starts." Snapper Garrison was satisfied with 'his ride on 1 Senator Grady. .

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