Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-06-20
Flyers at Chicago.
Thoroughbreds Preparing for
the American Derby.
POINTS GATHERED AT THE STABLES

Sam Bryant Predicts Fine Weather, but
Not Sanguine to Proctor Knott-The
Sure Starters-Comments on the Horses
Base Ball and Race Track Records
The Champion Checker PIayer-Dunra-
VEINS Yacht, the Notwithstanding
Tournament.
CHICAGO, June 20.-Horses are as thick at
Washington park now as cobblestones in
Philadelphia street, and their numbers will
be largely augmented before the great meet
ing begins. There is every prospect that the
Derby, which will come off Saturday when
the meeting opens, will be an open race. OF
the seven trainers who expressed themselves
regarding the contest yesterday at Washing
ton park, three declared that Spokane stood
the best chance to be first past the post, and
the others had an idea that Don Jose would
have first crack at the SIT 900 prize Sam
Bryant said that Once Again was the fittest
for hard race. He will start Proctor
Knott, but does not think the great son of
Luke Blackburn within a hundred yards of
the form he was in when he started for the
Kentucky Derby.
Not Sanguine for Proctor Knott.
"My horse is not only poor in fiesh," said
he, "but short of preparation He will fall
away beaten at the head of the stretch. ex-
pect Should it be heavy track, / will
start Come-to-Taw, too, for he is as good
horse as anybody has when the going is bard.
In my opinion the fight at the finish will lie
between Once Again and Don Jose. But
mark you, l don't want TO underrate Spokane
He Is a great race horse, but he has not got
over the stomachache old Proctor gave him
at Louisville"
Weather reelection.
Sam thinks Saturday will be beautiful
day. Il can always tell" he exclaimed,
when it is going to rain better than any
weather sharp you ever saw. When you
find stable free from flies in summer, like
mine is to-day, for instance it is not going to
rain to amount to anything for some time to
come"
Wants Me LaughIin to Ride.
George Buchanan, the trainer of Sorrento,
thinks the race will be a very hard one from
start to finish. He would fancy his horse
better if he was between thirty and fifty
pounds heavier. Sorrento is a small but
compactly built animal, a beautiful chestnut
in color, with shapely limbs and neck. He
has the name of being wonderful goer in
night and day that the track will be light and
dry, for then he thinks the colt will stand
better show Dan McCarty was at Sheers
head bay yesterday negotiating for Nc
Laughlin to ride Sorrento The colt gal
Hoped over the Derby distance yesterday in
$40.
Keeping Watch on Once Again.
1t is as difficult TO get near Once Again as
it is to obtain admission inside the walls of
Auburn prison, unless you should be in the
clutches of the law. The system of espionage
so noticeable around Haggin's stable is vigor-
ously enforced The colt has been worked
during the night, but this much is certain lie
has greatly improved since he ran for the
Kentucky Derby. He is simply in the best
possible shape and will have the pick of the
jockeys in the saddle, for Isaac Murphy, "the
smoked Englishman,' will ride him Neither
Garrison nor Fitzpatrick will ride him, they
having mounts at Coney Island Saturday
How spokane Strikes Them.
Spokane was being led around the lawn in
front of his stable yesterday. He looks to be
in fine trim, although he has done no heavy
work since he has been at the track His
flesh is hard and his muscles stand out like
whip-cords, while his eve is as bright and
clear as the monday sun. Noah Armstrong
thinks his colt has the race won already
Long Dance will be in the race at all its
stages. George Ryce has backed his horse
and is looking for the best of unengaged tai
ent to ride him. He, too, wants Mclaughlin
to ride for him. If he does not get Jimmy,
the probability is Williams will have the
mount
The Sure Starters for the Derby. v1
The sure starters for the Derby are Spo-
kane, Sorrento, lie Premier, Long Dance,
Brown Princess, Retrieve, Don Jose, Proc
tor Knott, and Once Again, while the doubt
full ones are Outbound, Sportsman, and
Come-to-Taw. If only the nine named as
positive starters compete the race is bound to
be the finest in the history of the club. Spo-
kane was last night the :favorite in the bet
ting with Once Again and Don Jose alter
nate second choices