Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-25
New York's Favorite First i'm the
Great American Derby at
Chicago.
High Tariff is Pushed Too Hard
and Falls Dead on the
Track.
Account of One of the Most Success
full Meetings Ever Held in
the West.

CHICAGO, June 2Q-Death to one horse,
S19, 900 to another-that was the Ameri-
can derby of 81. A scarlet flash on the
horizon, fifty thousand people GREATNESS,
CLEAN of white beneath the wire and the
richest stake race in the west
was over. 1t was by Strathmeath,
New York's favorite, that the
battle was won. A half mile of where
had been the thick of the fight. Law
motionless ON the track the corpse OF High
Tariff. Tom Kiley, the gallant beasts
rider, twice a derby winner on that
course, had this time pushed pas. the
limit of equine endurance. There was a
sudden plunge upward, a queer stagger
of twenty yards and High Tariff sank
down into the mud lifeless. Whether In
point of horses, famous jockeys, magni-
ficence of fashionable display and marvel.
Gus outpouring of people, as well
as the sensational Incident and
bulky purse, probably no such race was
ever witnessed this side of the Alleghen-
les. certainly not in Chicago. No one of
the seven derbies that in preceding years
has made Washington park celebrated
more than fringed in interest today's event.
The weather was very good, just cloudy
enough to be comfortable. Such multi
tude of ladies as put in an appearance at
the track was something unprecedent-
ed, and so great was the crush that hun
dreds were wedged helpless in the enor-
nous mob of male sports that packed the
lawn solid 10 front of the betting ring.
No aisle or stairway in the grand stand
afforded an inch of standing room. The
galleries and roof were black with people,
while the approaches from end to end OF
the stretch, including even the club house
grounds, were full almost to suffocation
So intent was the huge concourse of peo-
pie on the realevent Of the day that the irst
Two races passed almost unnoticed, except
when Isaac Lewis, who was to ride King.
man in the Derby, appeared in the second
race, astrlde of Santiago. Friends of
the blue grass derby winner gave
Lewis a volley of encouraging
cheers. which were re-eChoed as he brought
Santiago in winner. Many a misguided
Kentuckian and other welI-meaning per-
sons now straightway went to the
betting booths and pinned their
faith and money ON Kingman.
Thu confusion in the book-makers quart
ers as the time for the big race approach
ed was the worst ever witnessed
IN Washington park, and the bed
lam, scarcely mltlgated spread
to other portions of the grounds. The
hubub was at its height when the horses
came out for The derby the favorites being
warmly received. This was the way they
recorded: SNOWFALL, 1872; Garrison and
Passana, 1873; TaraI,, post betting, 4 to l.;
Forerunner, 1875; Allen, 10 to l; Lodo-
1876; Fitzpatrick, s to i; King
- 1 ,o.h
Tariff, 1877; Kiley and Poet Scout, lis;
Overton, IL to 1; Valera, 1877; Britain,
IL to l.; Strathmeath, 1872; Covington, 3 to
hour before the race. AS the last bugle
sounded for the race a frightful
crush began in fruitless at
tempts of the less fortunate to
secure advantageous positions from which
| to view the race. Starter Sheridan
mounted his box and lectured the boys
Then the horses were placed in line and
ready for the start. The first trial was
false, half a dozen refusing to break. The
second attempt was without result.
but at the third trial the horses
moved in a solid phaianx
towards the starter The red flag descend
ed, mighty roar went up from the null
titude and then tip-toed thousands real
I'D the great derby was on. Forerunner
] jumped to the front, and closely followed
by Passara and Poet Scout,
led to the first turn. Lodo-
wick was last, five 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
Scott still second, while King
man and Strathmeath went back to
bunch. 1t was at this point that the SEN
sation of the day took place, High Tariff
had started sixth and had been showed
relentlessly through the heavy going, not
.vithstanding his 1877 pounds weight
Kiley, by sheer force of will, seemed de-
termined to make showing equalling his
past record and, if within human pos
sibllity, tc again carry off the laurels
High Tariff was visibly gaining and had
passed three competitors when nature re-
belled. In an instant the late feet racer
was bel pless cripple foundering wildly in
the mire. Kiley regretfully tried to check
the poor wreck and at last succeeded,
only moment later, to feel the animal
tremble and fall In a heap, the jockey hast
lily extracting himself unhurt Meantime
the pace of the others was getting hotter
and hotter, and the horses swung into
the stretch with Poet Scout In front,
Strathmeath second and Michael third.
Overton now began to ride the firing
leader desperately and for moment it
looked as if he might win,
but Overton slyly brought Strathmeath up
by the outer rail with rush, stealing the
former tactics of Kingman's rider and
won by an open length without the use of
whip or spur. Poet Scout was second,
half length before Kingman, third
Time, 2:491a.