Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-23
SPOKANE ONCE MORE.
Noah Armstrong; Wonder Wins the Ameri-
can Derby, Beating Proctor Knott.

Noah Armstrong; Wonder Wins the Ameri-
can Derby, Beating Proctor Knott.
CHICAGO. June 22.--The sixth American
Derby was won by Spokane to-day in the
presence of the greatest crowd that has
ever assembled on an American race course.
Fully $4,000 people were in attendance.
There was hardly a vacant foot of standing
room on the ground and not a vacant seat in
the huge grand stand. The track was in
fair order but not fast. The betting, es-
pecially over the American Derby, was
something tremendous. 1t was almost at the
risk of life that the bookmakers' stands were
reached. the struggle In the betting ring beg
caring description.
Noah Armstrong; horse farm lies in the
Rocky Mountain divide, between the Columbia
and Missouri rivers, in Montana, close to the
Indian reservation. Two years ago Armstrong
purchased at The Meadows, near Carlinville,
Ill, yearling thoroughbred by Hayder Ali,
out of Interpose. When General Rowlett saw
the newly foaled colt he declared the youngster
must be shot He was puny and out of pro-
portion that it would not pay to raise him, so
the General said. However, when Mr.. Arm
strong priced this weakling among other racers
its owner thought himself well rid of cast-off
for $40. Armstrong shipped the colt to his
Montana farm. The rawboned 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 became rock
strong, and turning into his third year the Illi-
nois outcast 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 to Kentucky, 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 ideal in the classic derby week after
ward the pair again met in the Clark stakes
and again Spokane's chances were scoffed at
But the great futurity winner once again 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 fleet racers, the very cream of 147
horses originally nominated for the greatest g.
year-Old prize, the American Derby. Of no
avail was the blue grass of Kentucky on which
Proctor Knott, Long Dance and Retrieve had
fed: to no purpose had Once Again been care
fully nourished on famous Tennessee bran; i'm
pure must have been the air in California's
glorious climate for Don Jose and So
rento, for Spokane. cast from the prai-
ries of Illinois and nursed to life by
the dew of the Rockies and the little wild
mower OF LDe ldU-hedu WeQlClD6 man, raced
away from them all and became at once an
equine marvel, winner of triple event. Forty
thousand people shouted in appreciation of the
performance and nearly Sl.O0O, 600 changed
hands on the result. The race was an exciting
one because the tremendous crowd made it so.
The great show was made in the preliminary
parade, in which
EACH OF THE CONTESTANTS
looked fit to compete for the valuable stakes
M xua lrSt op ba oh with in
the saddle. Then Proctor Knott, with Fitz-
patrick. appeared and was followed by Long
Dance Barnes, Don Jose winchiel IL Lewis)
and Once Again (AIurphy). Last came Spokane,
whom Tom Kiley allowed to lope past the
cheering crowd to the post During the three
breakaways, Proctor Knott broke away in form
each time, plainly showing that Bryant's disap-
pointment was to be the pace-makeT.
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 flash, Once Again being
taken back by Murphy. The pace was fast
and seemed content with the positions which
down the stretch and past the stand were not
changed except that for 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 club house, with its wealth of fash
ion, Knott lost some of his lead and as the
seven horses raced past the three-quarter pole
Sorrento was one and half lengths behind the
leader and one-third that distance better than
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 running
easily in second place all along was cut off on
the great turn, and while making for the
stretch was actually last. Then Taral pulled
the Californian to the outside, and, making up |
lost ground few to the leaders SO rapidly that
his hackers trembled with joy. As the home
stretch was touched he was second again to |
Proctor Knott but there the futurity winner
gave out and there
SPOKANE MADE HIS RUN.
So fast did the Montana colt come that rush. |
ing past the last quarter be was actually lead
ing while Knott had already fallen into third |
place, Retrieve dividing the pair. Again Sor-
rento advanced gamely, but though stronger
than those behind could not disturb Spokane, |
who came away under Kiley's upraised hand, |
but without tasting whip or spur, and won very
easily by full length. Sorrento was second, a |
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 saddling 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 haunches.
So much money came down from the North |
west that Spokane went to the post a heavy |
favorite at to s. The closing odds about /
Knott were to l; Don Jose, to l; Once Again, |
6 TO l; Sorrento, to /; Long Dance and Re- |
trieve, 20 to ] each. When Spokane reached |
his stall he was almost mobbed by the Montana |
stables frenzied attendants, who
CLUNG ABOUT HIS NECK,
and would not allow 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 the
fire and filled it with some white leaves taken
from a bag. 1t was the medicine mans life
giver, and il was being prepared for Spokane's
next meal. Shortly a tall red faced man with
2 brown beard, and his hands thrust clumsily |
in his trousers pockets, sauEtered along the /
stable path. II was Sam Bryant on his way to
his own stables. As he passed the Montana
stables he was attracted by the laughter and
talk, and turning in that direction saw the big
darky stirring steaming mass in pot. his
mouth stretched into broad grin as he stirred
and added the white leaves he sang, the only