The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-15
DERBY DAY IN KENTUCKY
MURPHY LANDS RILEY A WINNER
DESPITE THE sLUsH.


Tho Time siow-The Other Horses in
the Race Were Robsspierre. Bill
Letcher, Palisade, Prince Fonso, and
Outlook-Twenty Thousand Specta-
tors and a Boom in Betting.
LOUISVILLE. KY, May 14-The features
of the opening day of the spring meeting Of
the Louisville Jockey club were tho great
crowd. some lively though not particularly
heavy betting and mud. The Kentucky
derby was run in the slowest time on record.
The nearest approach to it was in 1888,
when Leonitus galloped away from Drake
Carter and the rest In l ;4S 1t rained all
night, continuing till 10 o'clock this morn
ing. Then the clouds began TO break
and there were occasional glimpses of the
sun. The track was slushy at the opening.
| The slightest canter scattered slop for
several feet on either side. AS the race
progressed the mud dried little and be-
came more sticky.
A SUMMARY.
Following is summary of the days
| events:
FIRST RAcE--A fve-furiong dash Grandpa
won, with liberty Bell second, and Gen. Cald.
SECOND. RAcE-0ne mile. Uncle Bob won, with,
gockner second, and Warpeak third Time
| 1854.
THIRD RAcE-The Kentucky derby. Riley
| won it because he was q long way the best
| horse started None OF the other five could
touch him on that muddy track, and it is doubt
| full whether BIZ Letcher, who alone proved to be-
In the same class, could have pushed the great
son OF Longfellow even over dry track. The
starters were Riley. Bill fletcher, Robespierre.
Palisade, Prince Fonso and Outlook. They
| finished in the order named. Time l:42.
| FOURTH -Three-quarters OF a mile. In
the first heat White Nose won with Loveland
/ And md Trfa I'D Tfr,aaf .I0f IT,
| the second heat White Nose won, with Love-
land second, and Banner Bearer third. Time 1:20.l
THE STORY OF THE DAYS BIG EVENT.
| At 2 o'clock the heavens were clear and
the derby track at Churchill Downs lay
like bright yellow ribbon glstening in the
sunshine. Throngs Of people had been
| crowdiDg the street cars and scores of car
riages aud vehicles Of every kind blocked
the way for hours. When the bell called
for the first race the grand stand, the area
| in front, and the betting stand, which are
free on derby day, we're filed as never
before. Twenty thousand people were
| present There were more strangers
than for years The Cincinnati and Lex
ington contingents came this morning
looking much bedraggled by the rain, but
they were dried off and in high feathers at
the track.
THE BETTING.
The aggregate of the money that changed
hands was very great. The pool room at
| the Louisville hotel was packed this morn
| ing, and though there were twenty-five
bookmakers at the track and auction pools
the Jam was great that many were unable
| to place their money. Whenever good
odds went up there would be O.
crush in that direction, and only the
strongest aud most courageous could push O
way through aud secure the advantage
There was not much plunging, owing to the
| uncertainty of the principal event.
RILEY NOT OUT OF CONDITION.
All the talk about Riley being out OF con-
dtiou was nonsense. He was never more
fit. Clean of limb, sound and strong, there
was no sign of a cough or other indisposi-
ton. His eye was clear and bright and he
looked like q winner. Then there was
lsaac Murphy's riding. The occasion re-
quired Jockey who could keep his horse
in hand. Murphy did this.
GREAT GENERALsHIP.
He had his horse under control through
out. He held him back TO let others set the
pace through the mud, but kept a way open
before him to take advantage Of every
favor the dreadful track offered and be
ready at the moment to make the running
and win the race. At the sharp turns, be-
yond the stand and near the five-eighths
mile post Murphy rode his horse on the in
side track, saving two or three long jumps
at each place, and at the right mo-
ment came out on the high center
of the track where going was the lightest.
Then at the three-quarter post, coming
home, he let him out, and came under tho
wire fresh and strong, an easy winner.
FRANCIS UNABLE TO MANAGE HIS HORSE.
In contrast with this was Robespierre's
management by little Francis. For some
reason Just at tho last moment Kiley, the
trainer, was taken Off and Francis was sub
stituted. He was unable to control his
horse.
There were six starters. As expected,
Riley. with Murphy up, was received with
| tremendous cheering, meant as much for
the rider as the horse Then came Primes
Fonso with OvertoD, followed in order by
Palisade with Britton up, Bill Letc Ter with
Allen up, and Robespierre ridden by Francis,
and Outlook ridden by Breckenridge.
Letcher and Robespierre were greeted with
rounds of applause at the start. In the bet
ting Robespierre was a hot favorite on any
terms. Riley suddenly dropped to to /,
aud Letcher was at the same figure. They
cantered leisurely around to the half post
opposite the stand.
The timers were Norvin Green of New
York, John Funk and G. Barnes. The
Judges were Col. Lewis Clark, Col p. II.
Wheeler of Chicago, and Gen. James +.
Robinson of Lexington. The starter was j.
|