The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-06-23
The Great American Derby Run and
the Pride of Montana the
Victor.
Starting Last, Armstrong; Flyer is
First Under the Wire, Without
Whip or Spur.
Over a Million Dollars Wagered on the
Result. of which Amount the North
west Gets n Big Slice.

CHICAGO, June 22,-FOrty- y-seven thous!
and people paid their money at the gates
at Washington Park to-day, and then saw
Spokane win the American Derby, worth
$4,000. spokane had been the favored
one, still other horses had their hackers.
Proctor Knott, though defeated on more
than one field, was not considered dis
graced and many thousands of dollars
were staked upon his ability to win the
the race. Don Jose, too, was also consid-
cred by many to be every bit as good
chance as Spokane. There was also a
strong tip on Once Again.
AS the time of the race drew near the
noise made by the bookmakers grew louder
and longer, and odds we're cried in vocifer
Gus tones on every hand The rush about
the betting booths was enormous and hun
dreds of people were unable to get within
fifty feet of a bookmaker. Spokane was a
hot fsvorite at to 5, though large sums of
money were also got on nearly every other
horse in the race. Nearly sI,OOO,OOO
changed hands on the result.
The race was an exciting one, because
the tremendous crowd made it So No great
show was made in the preliminary parade,
in which each OF the contestants looked fit
to compete for valuable stakes. Sorrento
was first on the track, then Proctor Knott
appeared, and was followed by Long
Dance, Don Jose, Retrieve and Once
Again. Last came Spokane. During the
three breakaways Proctor Knott broke in
front each time, plainly showing that
Bryant's horse was TO be the pace maker.
When the flag fell to an excellent start
Once Again was in front, followed
b. Sorrento, Don J6se, Proctor
Knott, Long Dance, Retrieve and
Spokane in the order named.
The Dare Devil Immediately piled the
whip and Knott shot ahead like a fash,
Once Again being taken back by Murphy.
The race was fast, and all seemed content
with their positions. which down the
stretch and past the stand were not
changed, except that for a moment Don
Jose made a squirt. Knott had an ad-
vantage of two lengths over the others,
bringing up the rear under KiIey's strong
pull. Knott lost some of his head,
and at the three-qusrter pole Sorrento was
gaining. Then the race became desperate.
When the one-half mark fell behind the
racers there was just daylight between
Knott and Retrieve, while the others, ex-
cept once-AgRin, were pulling up. sOr-
rento was cut of in the turn, but the
jockey, pulling him TO the outside, made up
lots of ground so rapidly that his hackers
trembled with joy. AS the home stretch
was reached he was again second, but there
Proctor Knott gave out, and there Spokane
made his run. So fast did he come that
rushing past the last quarter he was ac-
tually leading, while Knott had already
fallen into third place. Again Sorrento
advanced, but though stronger than those
behind. could not disturb Spokane,
who came away under Kiley's uprzised
hand. but without tasting the whip or
spur, and won very easily by a full length,
Sorrento second, head before Retrieve,
third. followed by Don Jose, Long Dance,
Once Again and Proctor Knott. The lat
ter. cut up and very tired, stopped at the
ssddling paddock. and was taken to his
stall, while the crowd hurrshed and the
placed upon the winners launches.
So much money came from the north |
west that Spokane went TO the post a
heavy fsvorite at 6 to 5. The other closing |
odds were Knott to l, Don Jose 4 to /,
Once Again to l, Sorrento 70 l, Long /
Dance and Retrieve 80 to / each. The Of
fetal time of the Derby was 2:4l4.
When spokane reached bis stall be was
almost mobbed by the Montana stables
frenzied attendants, who elung about
his neck and would not al
low him to rest until Trainer
Rodegap had shouted himself hoarse.
He was rubbed down and lightly fed, and
as the sun went down the stable boys
gathered under his shed and told of the
great horses prowess- A lusty darky
placed big pot on fire and filed il with
small white leaves, taken from q bag. IL
was the medicine mans Iife-giver, and was
being prepared for Spokane's next meal.
Shortly . tall. red-faced man, with q
brown beard, and his hands thrust clum-