The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-05-09
uALMA. WITH PERKINS D w
pAssED Under THE WIRE ON
AN EASY WINNER.
OVER TWENTY THOUSAND PEG
PIE IN ATTENDANCE.
Rasso Was Second and Laureate lhird
Rockies Could Not Handle Half the
Money-Great Event From
Start to Finish.

their handkerchiefs and sturdy men
Joined in the lusty cheer that greeted the
great son Of a sire when Halma passeu
nnder the wire a winner Of the twenty
first Kentucky derby this afternoon
Such reiuvenated activity and enthusiasm
was never before witnessed on a race
course. and the historic Churchlnll Do"hS
presented a scene that will go down 10
posterity.
The Kentucky derby is an event 10
which all Kentuckians look forward 10
with a just pride and this afternoon 'he
new Louisville Jockey club, through the
efforts of its efficient secretary, Charles NJ
Price Col. Lewis Clark and other OIL
cioIs Of the club. established a new era
in racing in Kentucky, the nome vi tlJ
+horouphbred 1t was not only gfahu
victory for Byron McClcllands entry,
but a magnificent victory for the new
IouisyiIle Jockey club as well. Money has
been spent lavishly in equipping q course
which for elegance is surpassed by none
in the west. and that it was appreciated
is best evidenced by the crowd tnat
thronged the superb stand, betting ring
and every other available place to see
the classic event.
II will never be known just how many
pair of eyes centered upon Soup Perkins
when he guided Halma under the WIRE
an easy winner, but the most conserVa-
tive place the number at 10000.
Before the arrival of the noon hour
the tourney of thousands to Churchlll
Downs began. The boulevard leading to
the course was crowded with vehicles OF
every description from the antiquated
two-wheel conveyance to more modern
English cart All the city buildings ana
many of the larger establishments gave
n half holiday to their clerks and all went
to see the derby.
At the Downs there was scene never
before witnessed in the history of that
grand old course. The magnificent new
stand, which has n seating capacity OF
nearly 10000 was inadequate to hold
the vast throng. Every place Of vantage
about the stands, the paddock and the
stables. was occupied, while in and about
the betting stand it was one solid mass OF
humanity. The betting stand from the
time the first odds We're chalked on the
board until the flag fell in the closing
event was almost one immOvable mass.
Men jostled against each other and es-
sayed to elbow their way through the
throng in their effort to place their
money. but the 100 boOkies who where
there to accommodate them could not
handle more than one half the money.
Halama won the derby as he pleased
and not once did Perkins find it necessary
to use the rawhidc, for the colt assumed
the lead from the start and set the pace TO
the finish. He was not urged foot en-
route and when he passed the stand for
the last time there were four good lengths
of day light between the son of Hanover
and Basso, who was second.
There was enthusiasm when the first
two events We're run, but when the win
ners were posted in the second race there
was augmented activity for the Twenty
first entucky derby would soon be thing
of the past. The sound of the saddling
bell had hardly died away before Curator,
with OyertOn up came out of the paddock
and canter around in front of the stand.
The Bashford-ManOr colt was applaud
ed, but when the appearance of Laureate
was announced and when IIalma with
Perkins up and Basso with Martin astride
him paraded in front Of the vast stand it
gave vent to its approval with one long
continuous cheer that lasted almost until
the candidates had reached the half mile
pole, where Starter Pcttingill, with flag
in hand, awaited them While thousands
were eagerly watching the horses that
were to contest for the grand event all
was activity in the betting ring. Every
body wanted back their choice in the
Kentucky derby and the bOokies found 1t
an arduous task to handle half the bills
that were showed at them. Halma on
previous performance was entitled to be
favorite and he was. in the judgment OF the
talent and the bookies for the first odds
were at to =. Even ut these prOhibitivc
odds there was n rush to place money on
him. He finally went to | to 3 and some
books scratched him off the boards alto
gether
Basso was second choice, for carly in
the day the information was circulated
that he would be n winner and loads of
money was put on him AT to | to win
and 3 to ; for place. but once did the odds
change as they had been posted. Laurc'
ate, too, had big place at to 2 and A to .
for place. while Curator at long odds was
not altogether friendless.
At $3.50 o'clock all eyes We're turned
toward the half-mile pole for there Were
the four derby candidates awaiting the
order to start on the journey which was
to make one Of their number famous
They lined up and in the first attempt
were sent we'll punched with Halma show
ing in front by n neck. Basso second
Laureate third and Curator last. Their,
was not n lengths difference. however
between the four As they rounded tn,
first turn Halma had the lead by hcaC
from Curator. who had gotten up to sec
ond. while Laureate was third and hal
length back. 4 hearty shout went NJ
in the stand rs IIalma and Laureate pull
ed for the wire with Little Perkins tug
ging Mt the reins. IIalma and Laurcat,
went neck and neck around the lowe
turn and when they reached the three
quarter Perkins mount was leading by
head with Laureate still after him an,
Curator head in front Of BaSso
'Basso has quit" was the murmur thai
passed from lin to lip. and the Falsctto',
colt was indeed showing signs of fatigue
hut when they had passed the mile Mar
tin took her up and when they showed il
the stretch for the final run Basso wa.
second.
"Basso wins" was shouted almost sim
ultaneously from q thousand or NOR,
Threats rs Martin. riding with might an,
main and plying the whip vigorously
went after Halma. who apparently wa
running with the same ease rs when h,
went up by the stand for the first time
The bay colt, however. had run his race
and although Martin rode him to the yer!
wire the best he could do was Ia come il
four lengths behind IIalma, with Iaurc
ate third. the same distance from Bass,
and Curator last by two lengths.
1t was a hollow victory for Halma, anC
the great son of Hanover landed the GOV