Wichita eagle., 1889-05-10
SPOKANE WINS THE DERBY.
The Great Kentucky Race Won BY the
Montana Stables.

| LOUISVILLE, May 9.-The spring meet
| ing of the Louisville jockey club opened
today Judges-M. Lewis Clark. z. j.
! Megibben, General j. F. Robinson; timers
Major B. g. Thomas. John Funk and
| ". S. Barnes; starter-Jame5 B. Fergu-
| son.
The weather was fine and the largest
crowd ever known was present, being
variously estimated from $1,000 TO p, 600.
The stand was oyerfowing and every
available space full, while the field was
blocked with struggling humanity. The
track was in good condition. well sprink-
led, hard and safe, though two inches OF
dust and little fast.
! Montana answers to California in the
result of the day. All else is eclipsed IN
the Kentucky derby. 1t has been in sight
and hearing for several weeks A grace
was expected and the expectation did not
rise to the reality, as three years ago
Haggin brought Ben Ali out of the west
| to lower the derby record to 2.S61G, SO
Armstrong came today with Spokane and
two seconds more disappeared.
| A little crowd of far west turfmen were
| present, and with little edo they went
about backing their favorites. Armstrong
| year ago said he was going to take the
| highest honor of the west. There was
not enough coast people TO overcome the
immense enthusiasm which backed the
| home horse Proctor Knott, and the bet
| ting was nearly all one way.
| The first pool sold this morning was $50
| and Sill for the field. and while much bet
| ter than this was done both in the book
and especially private bets, this showed
the strength of the sentiment. All bets
against Knott were snapped, and the only
reason Kentucky is not broke tonight is
| lack of the men from the west to take
their offers.
As the horses filed up the track for the
great event all appeared in perfect con-
dition. The game chicken on the great
futurlty winner was cheered TO
the echo as he came out sixth,
| and Young's entries who followed were
lost in the applause. Spokane was hard
ly noticed, though a quiet tip was out
among the knowing that he had been
saved for the occasion.
Facing the post the starters and riders
were: Sportsman, lis, Isaac Lewis; Spo-
kane, lis, kiley; Proctor Knott, lis,
Barnes; Once Again lis, Murphy; Book
maker, u.s. Warwick; Cassius. lis, Taral:
| outbound, Hollis; Hindoocraft, 11S. Arm
strong. The race was run out of the chute
Ferguson had little difficulty in getting
them off together and the start was very
even. Hindoocraft was in front, Book
maker second, Spokane third. On his way
down to the stand Barnes gave Proctor
Knott his head and the great gelding
bounded forward like flash, passing the
stand five lengths in lead, Hindoocraft
second. and Spokand third, Young's pair
being close behind All the way
round to the head of the stretch the posi-
tions were little changed, though the
crowd was closing upon Knott. who was
evidently waiting for the finish. As they
turned around the stretch the race COM
menced and seldom was such run wit
messed in America. Kuott was let out but
Spokane came up with tremendous rush.
Half way down the stretch Knott swerved
and Spokane forged to the front by two
lengths. Barnes wheeled the favorite into
line just as they reached the distance
stand and he came up like a bolt; 1t was
too late, however, and Spokane passed I'M
der the wire winner BY a nose, Once-Again
third, threellengths. The rest were strung
out.