The herald., 1895-05-07
Halma, the Son OF a Worthy Sire,
Wins the Race
WAS GREAT ENTHUSIASM
Ladies Waved Handkerchieis and Men
Cheered Lustily
Good Sport on the Bay District Trlct in san
Francisco = Four Favortes Win
Out-Other Events

men JOlneu III Ine iusiv cheer tudt STeebeu
the son of the great sire, when Halma
passed under the wire winner of the
twenty-first Kentucky derbi this after
noon. Such rejuvenated activity and en-
thusiasm was never before witnessed on a
race course, for the historic Churchill
Downs presented scene that will go
down to posterity. The Kentucky derby
is an event to which all kentuck aims look
forward to with Just pride. and this
afternoon the New Louisville Jockey club
established a new era in the history of
racing in Kentucky, the home of the
thoroughbred.
1t W as grand victory, too. for Byron
McCleland's entry. That kentuckians
have not lost their enthusiasm for the
horse was evidenced by the crowd that
thronged the superb stand, betting ring
and every other available place to see the
classic event. lG will never be known just
how many pairs of eyes centered upon
little ''Soup" Perkins as he guided Halma
under the wire an easy winner but the
most conservative place the number at
25, 900. Before the arrival OF the noon
hour the journey of the thousands to
Churchill Downs began. The boulevard
leading to the course was crowded with
vehicles of every description from the
antiouated two-wheel conveyance to the
buildings and many of the larger estab
lishments gave a half holiday 70 their
clerks and all went to see the Kentucky
derby. At the Downs there was a scene
never before witnessed III the history OF
that grand old course. The magnificent
new stand, which has a seating capacity
of nearly 10000, was inadequate to mold
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 were chalked on the board un-
til the flag fell in the closing event, was
almost one inmOvable mass. Men jostled
against each other and e;sayed to elbow
their way through the throng in their
efforts to place their money, but the fiji
teen bookies who were there to accommo-
date the public could not handle more
than one-half the money.
s..Halma won the derby as he pleased.
and not once did Perkins find it necessa-
ry to use the rawhide, for the colt as
sumed the lead from the very fall of the
flag and set the pace to the finish. He
was not urged foot of the 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 the
hardrden Basso. who was second.
There was enthusiasm when the first
ners were posted in the second lace, there
was augmented activley. for the Ken
tucky derby would soon be a thing of the
past. The sound of the saddling bell had
hardly died away before Curator, with
Overton up. came ou. OF the paddock and
cantered around III front o: the stand.
The Bashford Manor colt was applauded,
but with the appearance of Laureate it in
creased. and when Haima, with Perkins
up, and Basso. with Martin astride. pa
raded in front OF the vast crowd it gave
vent to its approval with one long-con-
tinued cheer that lasted almost until the
candidates had reached the half-mile pole,
where starter Iettingill. flag in hand,
awaited them.
While the thousands eagerly
watched the horses that were to contest
for the event. all was activity in the bet
ting ring. If 10000 people endeavored to
place a bet on the tirst two races, every
body wanted to back their choice in the
derby. and the bookies found it an ar
duous task to handle half of the bills that
were showed at them.
Halma, on performance, was entitled to
be the favorite, and he was in the judg-
ment of both the spectators and book
makers, for the first ODDS posted were =
to.5. Even at those sprohibiti odds,
there was a rush to place money on him,
and when til flag went down the best OBJ
tainable was ! to 3 while several books
W
not without friends. and loads of money
went on him at to | to win and ) to )
Tor the place, and not once did the odds
change after they had once been posted.
Laureate, too, had big following at 8 to
, and TO for the place while Curator
at 10 to was not altogether friendless.
At 300 all eyes were turned towards
the half-mile pole. for there the derby
candidates awaited the order to start on
the journey which was to make one of
their number famous. Thev linea up,
and at the first attempt were sent away
well punched, with Halma, the favotrite,
showing in front by 4 neck. There was
not a lnegth's difference between the
four horses.
Martin wanted to save Basso for the
final struggle. and as they rounded the
first turn he drew the colt up. and at the
quarter he was last, but he took good care
that the distance which separated him
from Halma did not become too great.
Halma had the lead by head from Gu
rator. who had moved up to second
while Laureate was third, and half a
length back. \ mighty shout went up as
Halma passed unler the wire for the first
time with Perkins pulling at the rens.
Laureate was second and Curator third
Halma and Laureate went neck and neck
around the lower turn and when they
reached the tbree-quarters Perkins mount
was leading by head, with Laureate
still after him and Curator a head in
front of Basso.
Basso has quit" was the cry that
passed and the Falsetto colt was indeed
showing signs OF fatigue, but when they
had passed the mile Martin began riding
and when they showed in the stretch for
the final run Basso was second.
Basso wins. was shouted almost 81
multaneously from a thousand throats
as Martin riding furiously. went after
Halma. who apparently was running with
the same ease as when he went by the
stand for the first TIM. The bay colt.
however, had run his race. and although
Martin rode him to the very wire, the
best he could do was to finish four good
lengths behind Halma with Laureate
third. the same distance from Basso, and
Curator last by five lengths from Laure-
ate 1t was Il hollow victory for Halma.
and the great son or Hanover landed the
prize without a struggle.
There were no sensational finishes and
but two favortes won. potentate, in the
first event. broke the track record for six
furlongs. which was ls.
Six misunderstanding won. Sister
Mary second, Insomnia third; time.
:13M.
Four furlongs. maiden 2-year-olds-R
prieve won. Realm second. Forget third;
time. 0:49.
The Kentucky derby for 3-year-old..
mile and a halt. worth S3300-Byron Me
Cleland's $ black colt Halma, by Hanover
Julia L.. I'D, (PerkinsI to 3, won G.
ii. Smith $ black colt Basso, by Falsetto.