The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-05-10
MONTANA'S PRIDE.
The First Great Event of the Racing
Season Captured by Noah Arm
strong's Spokane.
Many Good Horses in the Contest
The Derby Record Lowered by
the Winner.
Deer Lodge. Owned by Larabie a Eastmaa,
Wins at Nashville-The League and
Association Games

LOUISVILLE, May 9.-The spring meet
ing of the Louisville Jockey club opened
to-day The weather was very fine and
the largest crowd ever known was present,
being variously estimated at from is, 600 to
., 900. The track was in good condition.
well sprinkled, hard and safe, though with
two inches OF dust and little fast. Mon
tana answered TO California in the results
of the day. All else is eclipsed In the Ken
lucky Derby. 1t had been in sight and
hearing for weeks. AS three years ago
Haggin brought Ben Ali out Of the west to
lower the Kentucky Derby record to
2:S6jS, so Armstrong came to-day with
Spokane and two seconds more disap-
peared. A little crowd Of far-west turf
men were present, and with little ado they
went about backing their favOrites. Arm
strong q year ago said he was going to take
this, the highest honor OF the west. There
were not enough coast people TO overcome
the immense enthusiasm and backing OF
the home horse, Proctor Knott, so the
money was nearly all laid one way. The
first pool this morning was $50 for Knott
and Sill for the field, and while much bet
ter than this was done for both later, especial
Iy in private bets, this shows the strength of
the sentiment All bets against Knott were
considered a snap, and the only reason
Kentucky is not broke tonight is lack Of
men from the west to take their offers.
AS the horses filed up the track for the
great event, all appeared In perfect cOndi-
ton. The game chicken on the great
Futurity winner was cheered tn the echo
as he came out sixth. and the youngest
entries who followed were received with
applause. Spokane was hardly noticed,
though a quiet tip was out among the
knowing ones that he had been saved for
the occasion.
At the facing post the starters and
riders were: Sportsman. I1s, Isaac Lewis;
Spokane, lis, Kileti; Proctor Knott, 1ls,
Barnes; once-Again, lis, Murphy; Book
maker, 1lS, Warwick; Cassius, 11s, Faral;
Outbound, liz, Halls; Hindoo Craft, IFS,
Armstrong.
The race was run out of the chute. Fer
guson had little difficulty in getting them
off together, and the start was very even.
HindOo Craft was ia front, BOokmaker
second, Spokane third AT the head of the
stretch the positions were little changed,
though the crowd was closing up on
Knott, who was evidently waiting for the
finish. AS they turned the stretch the race
commenced and seldom was such a run
witnessed in America Knott was let out
but Spokane came up with a 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 under the wire winner by
a nose, Once-Again third, three lengths off.
The rest were strung out. The race was
worth "a, $50 TO the winner.
Quarters in the Derby were run as fol-
lows: First quarter, 24ls; half mile, 4S5S;
three-quarters, 1:l45G; nile, 1;4l1.
The following is a summary of the other
races: Maiden two-y ear-olds, seven
eighths of a mile-Swifter won, Pinkie T.
second, Morse third Time 1:l49<.
One and One-sixteenth of a miIe-COme-
tO-Taw won, Badges second, Lavina Belle
third. Time l:5I1&.
All ages, thrre-fOurths of mile heats
First heat, Bravo won, Tudor second,
Naeauley third, Weeks and Vanguard
distanced. Time Eli. SecOng heat, Bravo
first, Prother second, Mscsuley third.
Time 1:lls1-