Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-10
SPOKANE'S DERBY.
He Beats the Record and Proc.
tor Knott.
TURF TALENT SURPRISED,
The FaYorite SWerYes and is De-
feated by a Nose.
M'LAOGHLIN RULED OFF THE TRACK
He is Charged With Pulling Terra Gotta at
Nashville.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAT
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAT
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DrspArcH.,

weather was more like summer than spring,
and, being so warm, everybody seemed anx-
ious TO escape the heat and dust of the city
and spend the afternoon in watching the
thoroughbreds contend for supremacy on
Churchill Downs. But the 5000 people
who went to the downs did not escape the
dust and heat. for the latter was almost as
unbearable and the former frightfully
sitting. The people were packed In the
grand stand like sardines in a box, and
there they sweItered, breathing dust and
shouting themselves hosrse over the wins of
their favorites. The field was filled with
all manner of vehicles, on top of which stood
thousands of men and boys of all colors and
nationalities each one straining his neck to
catch glimpse OF the racers. ofthe
HOST OF NoTABLEs PRESENT
perhaps one of the most eagerly looked at
was the noted ex-train and bank robber Frank
James, who, in a light suit of Clothes carrying
an umbrella, strolled around through the bet
ting stands placing bets here and there on his
favorites. he was very lucky and quit the
meeting several thousand winner.
The jam in the betting ring was so great that
the light-fngered gentry were able to ply their
vocation to an extent that was truly alarming.
R. E. ]. Miles, the well known theatrical man
ager Of Cincinnati, was the first to suffer, he
losing Sl.5O0 diamond pin. The nextt squeal
was S. Thurman. an old gent of Albany, Ind,
who lost quite sum of money and some valu-
able papers. John Merrill, the well known
horse platter was the next TO suffer by losing
SIPS Then came New Orleans gent whose
thousand roll mysDeriously disappeared. Many
of the patrons of the turf feared that the as
sOciatiOu booKmakers would not 60 on here,
but last night Colonel NJ. Lewis Clark leased
4ha haiti fO a
Bourline Co., of this city, for 81, 600
THE BETTING ALL RIGHT.
They have taken entire control of the bet
ting and the Association therefore will do
business here during the balance of the meet
ing. The track was in bad condition, being
heavy with dust and slow, so that the time
made was exceptionally good. The first and
second races were productions of some excite
ment but not half so much as did the appear
ance of Proctor Knott as he came on the track
for his warming up. He was greeted with
cheer after cheer, and his thousands of ad-
mirerS asked time and again, How can they
beat him?" As be galloped along with his big
open gait jumping like a rabbit, it did look as
If he was unbeatable. but old man Noah Arm
strong had a chestnut colt that few people gave
q second thought to, who was destined to make
for himself not only winning brackets, but to
capture the rich stake in the fastest time 1t was
ever run m. and that, too, oysT track at least
a seCOnu SLOW.
When the Jockeys had weighed in for the
Derby the betting ring became perfect pan
demonium and men
CRAwLED OVER EACH OTHER
in their frantic efforts to get the first and
best odds laid against their choices. Proctor
Knott started to 2 but the worshipers Of Sam
Bryant's supposed to be invincible colt jumped
on the booEies so strong that they soon had
only ] to against him. This had the effect of
driving of many of the big colts favorites,
and they began backing Milt Young's entry,
Bootmaker and Once Again for the place, but
the odds soon went down on them, and it was
only to ! against them straight when the post
bell rang. The bluegrass contingent plunged
on Hindoocraft backing him strongly for
place, but the others had very light following.
When the post bell rang the first horse TO
come past the stand was Cassius, then Out
bound and Spokane following closely after.
The latter was looking fit to run for a mans
life, and right well did he justify his appear
ance. HindoOcraft came next, followed by
Sportsman, and then came the popular Proctor
Knott He was cheered to the echo. and with
his goggles on, he made rather an unique ap-
pearance as he would shake his head in his
violent effort to get away from Barnes, who
was so light he had TO carry much lead The
last TO come before the judges was Milt Young's
pair, and as Once Again passed before the
stand. looking every inch race horse, he was
loudly cheered.
KNOTT DIDN'T ACT WELL.
Knott failed to act well when going to the
post and had to be led to the starting point in
the chute At the third attempt the Derby
competitors were sent away to splendid start,
with Hindoocraft first, Spokane second and
B0otmaker third. Proctor Knott at once took
the lead and with little Barnes pulling his head
nearly Of he set the pace redhot reaching the
first quarter three lengths in front of Hindoo-
craft in the fast time of 243z seconds. Passing
the stano the first time the big chestnut had in
creased his lead TO five lengths with Sportsman
second, HindoOcraft third, Bookmaker fourth,
Outbound nth, Spokane sixth, Cassius sew
enth. Once Again last Knott was still trying
to get his head, but Barnes seemed to be GET
ting him under control, and the field passed the
quarter pole in the same order. Hindoocraft
then began to come up and at the half he was
second within three lengths of Proctor Knott,
who was still running easy and Once Again in
fourth place. Spokane third.
sPoKANE'sHows UP.
The latter here began to crawl up. and at the
three-Quarters he was a good second, with
Once Again third. As the start had been made
out Of the chute Proctor Knott upon reaching
it evidently thought he ought to go back to the
starting point and he turned up the chute,
thus giving Spokane the inside Of the track.
Barnes succeeded, however. in pulling Knott
back into the track, but so much ground had
been lost that he was only able in one of the
most desperate finishes ever seen in the West
to come in second, Spokane being first by
head. Proctor Knott four lengths ahead of
Once Again third Hindoocraft fourth, Cassius
fifth, Sportsman sixth, Outbound seventh,
BOotmakeT last and broken down. Time in de-
tail, 24s4, 4S1i, ll41 l:4l1S, 20e1S, 1884 Thisis
the fastest time the Derby was ever run. Ben
Ali, heretofore. had the record, 1854
Everybody expected to see a horse race yet no
l.
out to be. Not only from a racing standpoint
but as Proctor Knott was the strongest favor
ite that ever started for the stake no one ex-
pected to see him beaten. But it required
RECORD sMAsHER
TO do it Spokane is a chestnut colt Is hands
inches high, rather good-ooking youngster,
with faultless action, as he steals along without
comparatively any effort. He was bought
with his dam when sucking by his present
owner Noah Armstrong, of Montana, from
General Rockwell, of Illinois. He is by Hider
Ali, dam lnterpOse, which makes him full
brother of Queen Bess and Graycloud.
His first race was run last year In the HYDE
Park stakes in Chicago, which he ran unplaced
TO Caliente, Unlucky and Mamie Fonson. He
next start was at Datonia, where he won the
Maiden stakes, after being almost left at the
post in a gallop beating Sportsman, Sir |
Edward. Lennes and Longside A short time |
aItef lnat ne was DeaJen at DapOnla Dy Ienny, |
be running unplaced. The last race in which |
be started in 1oSS was purse at Nashville in |
the fall, which he won by beating Long Dance. |
Julien and four Others This was his second |
start this year. his first race having been run at
Memphis, where he finished second TO Stride |
away, with Hypocrite Comedy Clay Stockton, |
Long Chance and Endurer behind him. SDo- |
kane is engaged in the American Derby at /
chicago and in the Clark stakes here next /
Tuesday. In this latter race he will again meet
Proctor Knott. Following are details of this /
afternoons sport:
Kentucky DERBY, mile atd a half, s-year-olds,
800 entrance, e, 500 added:
y: Armstrong 9 SPOKANE, ch. g., Hyder Ali-ln.
-lo k1lev.
sam Bryant's Proctor Knott, ch. C., Luke