Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-12
THE TENNESSEE DERBY,
Tom Elliott Wins the Event in Good Time for
Heavy Track.


q Heavy Track.
The spring meeting of the Memphis Jockey
Club opened yesterday. The track was ankle
deep In mud. The event of the day, the Ten
nessee derby, was won by J. NJ. Browns bay
colt, Tom Elliott, by Luke Blackburn, in 2.03sI,
which was good time for the day.
The starters were: Tennessee derby-one and
one-eighth miles. Jim Murphy, 122 OR. Will
iams); Tom Elliott, lis (Britton); Lew Weir,
122 Delong); Little Billy, 11S (Hoggett); Phil
Dwyer, 122 (Overton).
1t was evident as soon as the Corrigan entry
appeared on the track that the two horses had
been overturned. Phil Dwyer looked the pink
of perfection, but his step denoted too much
training on lumpy track. Little Billy and
Tom Elliott. frisky as kittens, cantered by the
grand stand, and few minutes after the Cor
rigan horses appeared. looking fine, and were
apparently pleased with the mud. Jim MUIR
ply, upon whom a lot Of money had been
placed, came out last, and the FIVE racers were
given as rousing a cheer as q. 900 shivering peo-
pie could well put up they went to the post.
AS the horn sounded. odds were: Jim Muir.
ply, to l; Tom Elliott and Little Billy
browns entry, to 2; Phil Dwyer and Lew
Weir eCorrigan's entry. Z to 10. Britton, with
his usual tactics, kept Tom Elliott hugging the
rail and had his horses nose in front when
Sheridan let them 60. Jim Murphy was sec
ond, but only by nose, for Little Billy was
anxious to be at the side of his companion and
was pushing ahead. Corrigans horses were
close up and made fine bunch as they came to
the stand. In passing the stand Little Billy
had passed both Elliott and Murphy and was
smelling clear air for the stuff Murphy was
third, with Corrigan's horses no better off than
when they started.
At the quarter Little Billy had increased his
lead to half length and his stock went up.
Tom Elliott, still on the rail- was running easy
and seemed to be helped along by his COM
panions and good riding. Dryer had made a
squirt by this time, and had forced Murphy
back to fourth, while Weir brought up the
rear. At the half their positions were I'M
changed. excepting that Billy had increased his
lead and was three-quarters of length ahead
OF Elliott. As they reached the three-quarters
Weir 8 jockey seemed to get trlfie nervous
He leaned forward more than usual, brought
his whip down once or twice, and succeeded in
bringing Weir up to second place. Not con-
tent with this he tried to pass Little Billy, but
the game youngster objected and made a little
squirt. leading past the three-quarter pole by .
good length; Elliott was third and Dryer
fourth, with the Irish horse two lengths in the
rear.
Into the stretch came Billy first by about half
length and Weir crowding him hard. Elliott
still running with apparent ease, was third, with
Britton looking out casually to the right ard
left from under the viso- of his cap. Well, in
the stretch, when all were going fast, the negro
was seen to pull himself still further forward in
his saddle, and. with a grunt and cut of the
whip, had his horse past Weir and on even terms
with Little Billy in a twinkling. 1t was soon
over. Another move of this kind and Elliott
was up with Billy. The latter, however, was
game. and objected to being put down. But
Elliott had a swing ON himself which could
not be broken, and Britton kept him going
He had been well saved for the finish, and
showed it as he came down the stretch. He
seemed to go faster nearing the end of his
journey, and was going at a tremendous pace
when he passed under the wire one length in
front of Billy. Lew Weir was the same distance
ahead of Murphy and the Corrigan star, Dryer,
last. Time. 2:039l.