, 1891-06-21
THE AMERICAN DERBY.
A Great Race Witnessed by a
Large Crowd.
Strathmeath Wins it by a
Length in 2:49 Ia.
The Racer High Tariff Drops
Dead on the Track.

CHICAGO, June 2O.-Death to one
horse, $4,000 to another-that was the
American Derby of 1891. A scarlet
flash on the horizon, SO, 900 people
breathleSs, a CLEAN OF white beneath the
wire and the richest stake race 10, the
West was over. 1t was by S%trathmeath.
New York's favorite. that the battle was
won. Half a mile of. where had been
the thick Of the fight. lay motionless on
the track the corpse OF High Tariff. Tom
Kiley, the gallant beasts rider, twice a
derby victor on that course, had this time
pushed the limit of equine endurance.
There was a sudden plunge upward, a
queer staGNer OF twenty or thirty yards
and High Tariff sank down into the mud
lifeless. Whether in point of horses.
famous jockeys, magnificence of fashion
able display, and marvellous ontpouring
OF people. as we'll as sensational incidents
and a bulky purse, probably no such race
was ever witnessed this side of the ALE.
ghenies. certainly not in Chicago. No
one Of the seven derbies that in preceding
years have made Washington parks eel
cbrity more than famous approached in
interest today S event.
The weather vas very good, being lust
cloudy enough to prevent the hot June
sun from making the day uncomfortable.
1t had been raining here for three DAYS,
but not a drop fell today. Such a multi
tude of ladies' as put In an appearance at
the track was something unprecedented.
and so great was the crush that hundreds
of them were wedRed helplessly 10 the
enormous mob of male sports that packed
the lawn solid in front OF the betting ring
No aisle or stairway in the grand stand
afforded an inch of standing room. The
galleries and roof we're black with people.
while the approaches from end to end of
the stretch, including even the club house
grounds, were full almost TO suffocatlon.
10 the field showed line after line of
all manner of vehicles, loaded down with
people. Everybody agreed that despite
the Welding, dustless condition Ofthe soil,
that the rains had lett, the race, with the
array If powerful animals entered, was to
be a magnificent struggle. So intent was
the huge cnncOurse 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 second race
astride OF Santiago. The friends of the
blue grass derby winner gave Lewis a
volloy o. encouraging cheers. which were
re-echoed as he brought Santiago in a
winner.
Many a misguided Kentuckian snd
other well meaning persons now straight
way went to the betting booths and pinned
their faith and money on Kingman. The
confusion in the bookmakers' quarters as
the time for the hig race approached was
the worst ever witnessed in Washington
park, aud the bedlam, scarcely mitigated.
spread u other portions of the ground.
The roof over the bOokmake s. heads, in
front OF whom clamored thousands of
eager Gamesters. mad by this time become
thick with other thousands. The police.
fearing that the frail supports would give
way, causing perhaps a loss of scores of
lives. attempted to clear the platform.
Many jumped promptly into the mass of
people on tn" lawn Suddenly the sup
ports oreaked as the line of police forced
back tho crowd en- masse, and the fact was
clearly demonstrate that it was less peril
Gus To allow the reckless mob to remain
unmOlested.
The hubub was at its height when the
horses came out for the derby, the favor
ties being warmly lec, iyed. This was the
way they Wero recorded: Snow Ball, l22.
Garrison, and Passara, I29, Taral. post
betting, 4 to J.: Il ,%rerunner. l25. Allen,
10 to l. l%ndnwiek, 100, Hill, Is to l.:
Michael, lbs, Fitzpatrick. 8 TO |; King
man. 1873. Isaac Lewis. 4 TO l; High
Tariff, III, Kiley and Poet Scout. ll5,
Overton. ~ to l; Valleria, 1871. Britain.
- to | Strathmeath, 10, G. Covingtnn.
3 to l.. Balgowan was scratched about
an hour before the race,
At last the bugle sounded for the race
and a frightful crush began in tho fruit
less attempts of the less fortunate to
secure advantageous positions from which
TO view the race. Starter Sheridan
mounted his box and lec'ured the bows.
Then the horses were placed In line and
were ready for the start. The first trial
was false, half a dozen refusing to break.
The second attempt was also without re-
suit. At the third trial the horses moved
ina solid phalanx toward the starter.
The red fltP descended, IA mighty roar
went up from the multitude. and then
the tip toed thousands realized that the
great derby waS on.
Forerunner jumped to the front. aud.
closely followed by Pessara and Poet
Scout, led TO the first turn. Lodgwick
was last. five lengths away. Coming down
the stretch Poet Scout had forged t, the
trent, Strathmcath moving up to second
place and KinGmau third. Passing the
stand, these positions were sturdily main
tanned. At the turn Michael had worked
to the front, and set a merry Pare down
the back stretch, Poet Scout still second.
while KinRman and Strathmeath went
back to the bunch. 1t was at this point
that the sensation OF the day took place.
High Tariff had started sixth and had