The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-26
RAN AWAY FROM THEM ALL.
SPOKANE WINS THE AMERICAN DERBY
Noah Armstrong; Montana Wonder, the
Illinois outcast, the Winner of Triple
Event-Forty Thousand People
Witness the Great Race.

CHICAGO, June 22-The medicine man" OF
the Flathead tribe of Indians leaves his tepee
every morning as the sun throws its first ray
against the side of the Rocky mountains, and
in the crevices about the base of the big hills
seeks and gathers a small, wild flower from
whose petals issue a rare fragrance. The
plant is taken back into camp and dried, and
from its leaves is brewed tea that is regarded
infallible in conquering all ills that attack the
redskins or their ponies. From its constant
use the Flstheads have become famous as ex-
amples Of manly strength and health, and their
ponies are the ieetest and stoutesE
Noah Armstrong; horse farm lies iE the
Rocky mountain divide, between the CoIumbis
and Missouri rivers in Montana close to the
Indian reservation. Two years ago Armstrong
purchased at The Meadows" near CarlinVille,
H., yearling thoroughbred, by Hyder Ali,
out of Interpose. When Gen. Rowett saw the
newly foaled colt he declared the youngster
must be shot He was so puny and out of pro-
portion that it would not pay to raise
him, so the general said. However, when
Mr.. Armstrong priced this weskling among
other racers, its owner thought himself well rid
of cast-off for $3.50. Armstrong shipped the
colt to his Montana farm. The raw-boned
brute shifted the air of the Rockies and was fed
the wild flower of the Indians. He grew big
and lusty, his sides expanded, his limbs be-
came rock-strong, and turning into his third
year the illinois out-cast was thing OF equine
beauty. He was named Spokane, and without
dreaming of turf honors, modest Armstrong
entered his horse in several stake events.
This spring Spokane was shipped 10 Ken
lucky, and while the southerners marveled at
his sight, their money was intrusted TO their
own Proctor Knott, whose fame was great.
But Spokane defeated the idol in the classic
derby. A weak afterward the pair again met
in the Clarke stakes, and again Spokane's
chances were scotfed at Butthe great futurity
winner once more fell before the despised
Montana entry.
To-day at Washington park the rivals for
the third time faced the flag together, and with
them journeyed five other feet racers, the very
cream of 147 horses originally nominated for
the greatest three-year-old prize, the American
| derby. To no avail was the blue grass of Ken
lucky, on which Proctor Knott, Long Dance and
Retrieve fed; to no purpose had Once Again
been carefully nouTished on famous Tennessee
|. bran; impure must have been the air in Cali
fornia's glorious climate for Don Jose and
Sorrento, for Spokane, cast from the prairies of
Illinois and nursed TO life by the dew of the
Rockies and the little wild flower of the Flat
head medicine man" raced away from them
all and became at once an equine marvel, win
ner of a triple event.
Forty thousand people shouted in appre-
citation OF the performance, and nearly 81 ,000-
600 changed hands on tie result. The race
was an exciting one because the tremendous
crowd made il so. The great show was made
in the preliminary parade in which each of
| the contestants looked fit to compete for the
valuable steaks. Sorrento was first on the
track with Tarral in the saddle. Then Proctor
Knott with Fitzpatrick appeared and was fol-
lowed by Long Dance with Barnes, Don Jose
with Mitchell, Retrieve with l. Lewis, and
Once Again with Murphy. Last came Spokane
whom Tom Kiley allowed TO lope past the
cheering crowd to the post. During three
breakaways Proctor Knott broke away in front
each time, plainly showing Bryant's disap-
pointment was to be the pace-maker.
When the flag fell for the derby race, Once
Again was in front, followed by Sorrento, Don
Jose, Proctor Knott Long Dance, Retrieve and
Spokane in the order named The "Dare
Devil" Immediately piled the whip and Knott
shot ahead like q flash, Once Again being
taken back by Murphy. The pace was fairly
fast and all seemed content with their posi-
tions which down the stretch and past the
stand were not changed, except that for a
moment Don Jose made squirt. There Knott
had an advantage of two lengths over the
Others who were well punched with Spokane
bringing up the rear under Kiley's strong pull.
Past the clubhouse, with its wealth of fashion,
Knott lost some of his lead and as the seven
horses raced past the three-quarter pole Sor-
rento was one and one-half lengths behind the
Don Jose. Then. as Fitzpatrick let out link,
all moved up, and the pace became desperate.
When the half-mile mark fell behind the racers
there was just daylight between him and Re-
trieve, who had come up in the rush. while
Don Jose was still third and Spokane fourth,
Long Dance and Once Again being practically
out of the chase. Sorrento, who had been rum
ming easily in second place all along, was cut
of on the great turn, and, while making for
the stretch, was actually last. Then Taral
I IL H. I,11 a. .I1 4. 4
making up for lost time. flew TO the leaders
rapidly that his hackers trembled with Joy. As
the home stretch was touched he was second
again to Proctor Knott but there the futurity win
ner gave out, and there Spokane made his run.
| SO fast did the Montana colt come that rushing
past the last quarter he was actually leading
/ while Knott had already fallen into third place.
| Retrieve divided the pair. Again Sorrento ad-
vanced gamely, but though stronger than those
behind, could not disturb Spokane, who came
away under Kiley's upraised hand, but with
out tasting whip or spur, and won very easily
| by full length. Sorrento was second, head
| before Retrieve, third, followed by Don Jose,
/ Long Dance, Once Again and Proctor Knott
The latter, cut up and very tired, stopped at
| the sadding paddock and was taken to his
stable, while the crowds hurrahed and the
| band played as a saddle of roses was being
| placed upon the winners launches.
So much money came down from the North
west that Spokane went to the post a heavy
/ Knott were two to one, Don Jose four to one,
! Once Again six to one, Sorrento eight to one,
Long Distance and Retrieve thirty to one each.
/ When Spokane reached his stall he was al
most mobbed by the Montana stables frenzied
! attendants, who clung about his neck and
would not allow him to rest until the trainer,
! Rodegap had shouted himself hoarse. He was
/ rubbed down and lightly fed, and as the
went down the stable boys gathered under his
! shed and told of the great horses prowesS A
! lusty darky placed big pot on the fire and
I filled it with small white leaves taken from a
! bag. 1t was the medicine mans" life-giver,
and it was being prepared for Spokane's next
| meal. Shortly a tall, red-faced man, with a
! brown beard and hands thrust clumsily in his
/ trowsers pockets sauntered along the stable
! path. 1t was Sam Bryant on his way 20 his own
/ stalls. AS he passed the Montana stables he
| was attracted by the laughter and loud talk,
/ and turning in that direction, saw the big
/ darky stirring the steaming mass in pot, his
! mouth stretched in broad grin. As he stirred
4 and added the white leaves he sang, the only
! ineligible words being Spoke, my spoke"
Sam Bryant sighed, tear glistened in his eye,
and he continued his way to join Proctor Knott.
| Good Work.
I nj