The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-21
WAS A FAMOUS DERBY.
The Great Race at Washington Park,
Chicago, Was Sensational
Event.
High Tariff, a Fine Montana Horse,
Falls Dead on the
Track.
Poet Scout, Another Montana Animal,
Came In just Behind strathmeatIl,
the Winner-Other Sports

tile Winner-Other Sports
CHICAGO, ILL.,, June 2O.-Death to one
horse, $4,000 to another. That was the
American derby of 1891. A scarlet flash Oh
the horizon, fifty thousand people breath
less. CLEAN of white beneath the wire, and
the richest stake race in the west was over
1t was by Strathmeath, New York's favor
lite, that the battle was won. Half mile
oil, where had been the thick of the fight
Law motionless on tho track the corpse of
High Tariff. Tom Kelly, the gallant
beasts rider, twice n derby victor on that
course, had this time pushed the limit OF
equine endurance. There was sudden
plunge upward, queer stagger OF twenty
yards, and High Tariff sank down into the
mud lifeless Whether in point of horses.
famous Jockeys magniticence of fashiona-
BILE display and marvellous outpouring of
people, Us we'll as sensational incidents and
bulky purse, probably no such race was ever
witnessed this side of the Alleghenies.
Certainly not in Chicago. No one of the
seven derbles that in preceding years have
made Washington parks celebrity, moro
than ftlnged in interest to-days event.
The weather was very good being just
cloudy enough to prevent the hot June sun
from making the day uncomfortable. 1t
had been raining here for three days, but
not drop fell to-day. Such number of
ladies AS put in an appearance at the track
was something unprecedented, and SO great
was the crush that hundreds of men were
wedged helplessly in an enormous mob of
male sports that packed the lawn solid in
front of the betting ring. No aisle or stair
way in the grand stand offered an inch of
standing room. Galleries and roof were
black with people, while approaches
from end to end of tue stretch, in
Guiding even club house grounds, were
full almost to suffocation. In the field
showed line offer line of all manner of We
hicles, loaded down with people. Every
body agreed that despite the yielding. Gust
less condition of the soil that the rain had
had left. the race. with its array of power
full animals entered was to be magnificent
struggle. So intent was the huge concourse
of people on the real event of the day that
the first two races passed almost unnoticed,
except when IsaAc Lewis, who was to ride
kingman in the derby, appeared in the Sec
ond race astride of Santiago. Friends of
the Blue Grass derby winner gave Lewis
volley of encouraging cheers, which were
re-echoed as he brought Santiago in Win
ner. Many misguided Kentuckian. and
other well meaning persons, now straight
way went to the betting booths and
pinned their money and faith on
kingman. The confusion in the bookmak-
ers' qual ters as the time for the big race
approached was the worst ever witnessed in
Washington Park, and the bedlam. scarcely
tnH AYnpn fr rN{h how
ground. Tho roof over the bookmakers'
heads, in front of whom were thousands of
eagor gamesters, had become thick with
other thousands. The police, fearing the
trail supports would give way, causing per-
hars loss of life, attempted to clear the
platform. Many jumped promptly into the
mass of people on the lawn. Suddenly the
supports creaked as a line of police forced
back the crowd en- masse. and the fact was |
clearly demonstrated that it was less per- |
ilous to allow the reckless mob to remain |
unmolested.
The hubbub was at its height when the |
horses came out for the derby, the favor
ties being warmly received. This was the
way they were recorded: SNOWFALL. 122,
Garrison; Pessara. 129. Taral. post betting
dowie, 125, Hill, 15 to L; Michael, 125.
Fitzgerald, to /; Kingman, 129, Isaac
Lewis 4 to l; High Tariff, 127, Riley. and
Poet Scout, 115, Overton, IL to 1; VALERA,
~, Britton, II to l; Strathmeath, 122, G.
Covington, to l. Balgowan was scratched
about an hour before the race. AS the last
bugle sounded for the race a frightful rush
began In the fruitless attempts of the less
fortunate to secure advantageous positions
from which to view the race. Starter Sheri-
dan mounted his box and lectured the bows.
Then the horses were placed in line and
ready for the start.
The first trial was false. half dozen re-
fuslng to break. The second attempt was
without result. At the third trial the horses
moved in solid phalanx toward the starter.
up from the multitude, and then the tip
toed thousands realized that the great
derby WAS on.
Forerunner jumped to the front, and,
closely followed by Pessara and Poet scout
led to the first tuln. Lodowic was last,
i've lengths away. Coming down the
stretch Poet Scout had forged to the front,
strathmeath moving up to second place.
and Kingman third. Passing the stand
these positions were sturdily maintained.
AT the turn Michael had worked to the
front and set merry pace down the back
stretch. Poet Scout was still second, while
hingman and Strathmeath went back to
the bunch.
1t was at this point that the sensation of
the day took place. High Tariff had started /
through the heavy going, Notwithstanding
ms l2' pounds weight. Riley. by sheer
force of will, seemed determined to show
equal to his past record and, if within hu-
man possibility, to again carry off the
laurels. High Tariff WAS visibly gaining and {
had passed three competitors when nature :
rebelled. An instant later the fleet racer :
was helpless cripple, foundering wildly in =. .
The mre, Riley regretfully trying to check !.
The poor wreck and Mt last succeeding. only
a moment later to feel the animal trembie
and fall in heap. The jockey hastily ex-
trica ted himself unhuft
Meantime the pace of the others was get II
ting hotter and hotter and the horses swung n
into the stretch with Poet Scout in front, !,
second and Michael third. L
ove'ton now began to ride, firing the leader q
desperately, and for Il moment il looked as r.
4 he might win; but Covington slyly 9
o'ought Strgthmeath up to the outer rail q
With rush, stealing the former tactics of I,
Ningmnn's rider, and won by an open @
ength without the use of whip or spur. S
oct Scout was second. half length before O
.ngmnn. Time, 2:A4. II
Or the Other races two were won by fR- d
tes and as Strnthmeath carried the "
'ulk of the money in tho derby, the crowd
vent home happy.
Three years old and upward. one mile
90 Carter won, Yale ~ second, Labold =,
bird. Time. 1:531a. u
Three years old and upward, milo and o.
ne e-eighth-Santiaso won, Sportsman Sec Il
nd, Diokerson third Time, 200. /
Three years old and upward. mile and d
ne RlIl0enth--St. Albuna won. Marian | g,