Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-06-24
Good Horse, Spokane.
Of Seven Flyers He Proves
TIE Speediest.
HOW he WON THE CHICAGO DERBY.

Poor Proctor Knott Comes In Last After
Leading for q Mile-An Egregious
Blunder of the Judges on the Last
Race Gives the Money to the Losers,
and Nearly Raises a Riot-Kentuckians
Go Broke on Their Favorite.
CHICAGO, June 24-There was brilliant
gathering at Washington park race course
Saturday to witness the opening Of the sum-
mer meeting. For hours before the time for
the first race Michigan avenue and the drives
leading to the park were crowded with
every species of vehicle and musical with
the sound of the coach horns. The la
dies were out in throngs, and the scene at the
club house and on the grand stand was one
of great beauty. Upper tendon was out in
force, and the opening was the most brilliant
ever witnessed at the park. Everybody was
impatient for the event of the day, the Amer
lean Derby, worth about $17, 900 to the win
ner, and the betting was very lively. 1t is
said that half a million of money changed
hands
The Kings of the Turf
When the Derby was called the seven
thoroughbreds who were to show their mettle
promptly appeared on the track, and to the
uninitiated any one of them was equal to
winning the prize Bat when the tug of war
came, with all the confidence of the true
blooded race horse, Spokane brushed away
from his field at the head of the stretch and
won the famous prize easily by length.
Spokane was favorite at the track from the
time the books opened until they closed, and
the broad brimmed hats of the Montanans
waved over the crowd In the ring and their
makers hoppers In great wads.
The Race She Was Won.
The start for the days event was made
after several breakaways, in which Proctor
Knott was always prominent. Fitzpatrick's
(Knott's rider's) instruction were to take the
track, but when the flag fell he was in
fourth place, Once Again having the adj
vantage. Proctor Knott at once cut out for
the front At the q he was leading. He
remained in front until the home stretch
was reached, Sorrento and Don Jose being
the next, with Spokane last When all was
Strengthened out the colt from Montana
passed his field with the greatest ease, and
amid the hurrah of 40 900 people won the
rich prize by a length from Sorrento, who
was a head in front of Retrieve. Time,
241H The time was not phenomenal, but
the course had suffered like all the others
this year from the continual rains, and was
by no means fast Proctor Knott finished
last.
The winners of the other races on the card
were: Marchma, mile, lac; Penn P, q
mile, lis; Donovan, rs miles, 1:52; Bag
gage, q mile, Los.
An Execrable Blunder.
The only trouble to blot the day came at
the last race By a bad blunder the judges
hpn Re- bar inst IF 4
Lights, and Red Light had really won,
Baggage being somewhere near Pullman
when the race closed The judges refused to
change their decision, although it was clearly
a bull, and trouble was threatened Nearly
$35, 900 was bet on Red Light, and the bet
ters did not propose to let their money slip
from their fingers
An Angry Mob of Betters.
A crowd of angry men gathered around
the judges stand and expostulated. The
judges were obdurate. The crowd grew big
ger and madden. Everybody Kissed. The
judges left the stand and went to the club
house. The crowd followed to the iron fence
and were stopped by the police The judges
sensibly stayed indoors, and the crowd, after
threatening for nearly an hour to do mis-
chief, appointed a committee and adjourned
Bookmakers Paid on Baggage.
The awkward part of the matter was that
the numbers having been put up the book
makers paid out on the strength of Baggage
being the first horse and the Paris mutual
did the same. After the judges had got to
the club house a message was sent to them,
telling them to stop paying out but as an
hour had elapsed the mischief was done, and
the majority of ready money bettors had
been paid.
VIII Make 1t All Right.
A committee was formed and went up to
the club house to ask that justice be done
They were received by Mr. John R. Walsh,
the treasurer, who told them that such an
injustice could not be permitted and that all
would be righted in the end
1t Was Simply a Blunder.
No one for a moment suggests fraud in
connection with the matter. The committee
met the judges yesterday, when Gen. Robin
son, of Lexington. KY, who presided in the
judges stand, acknowledged the error, and
expressed great regret at the unintentional
mistake which was caused by Gen. Robin
son misreading seven for three on the Jockeys
sleeve.
Anorher Meeting To BE Held
No action was taken to correct the blunder
yesterday, but the Washington Park associa-
ton will hold a meeting to-day and decide
Wnat is peSt 10 De done. ten Robinson said
privately last night that he would cheerfully
have given his check for SEQ, 600 rather than
have had the mistake occur.
Fine Racing at Brighton Beach.
NEW YORK, June 24-The racing at
Brighton Beach Saturday was decided i'm
provement on what has been the rule as to
time at the different courses this season Es-
pecially was this the case in the Bay Ridge
handicap "a miles, which was won by In
spector B. in 2:3516; DriEEie won the q mile
in 1:l6, Blue Rock the Is mile in l:29, Inver-
wyck the 4 miles in l sc Is, Torso the u
mile in ! :0l A., and St Luke the X miles
in 2;10 As.
They BLEW in" on Knott.
LOUISVILLE, KY, June 24-The betting
here Saturday was heavy. Proctor Knott
at odds ranging from 2 to to to l against,
was a great favorite with local turf follow
ers, and the bulk Of the money was placed on
him. When 3 to against Knott and 8 to 5
against Spokane was announced from Chi
cago there was great rush to get money on