Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-07
BEN BRUSHNON BY A NOSE
He Barely Beat Ben Eder in a
Bruising Finish.
A SIGHT WORTH SEEING
Churchill Downs Was Never Before So Crowd
ed on Derby DayAThe Winner Was
Hot Favorite.

Louisville, May 6-Great is Ben Brush.
Today at Churchill Downs, before one of
the greatest crowds that ever assembled
at that world famous track and in fin
ish that tried and showed his mettle to
the very last grain, the homely looking,
but honest, king of all S-year-olds bobbed
his head first under the wire in as bruis-
ing finish as was ever witnessed on
race track. This was the twenty-second
derby that has been run over the Louis
vile course, ana it proved one of the
best in the history of the club. The
crowd was more than the commodious
grand stand could accommodate every
seat being taken, the aisleS jammed with
spectators and the steps packed and
running over, the space in front of the
stand black with humanity and enough
In the field to fill a large theater. The
betting on the big event opened with Ben
Brush the favorite at | to 2, the price
varying from this to 2 to 5. First Mate
was second choice at to l, Semper Ego
and Ulysses next at to / and the others
ranging in price from 10 to SO.
Ben Elder was the first to appear from
the paddock, followed by Parson Ulysses,
the winner, Ben Brush, The Dragon,
Semper Ego and First Mate in the order
named. After delay of about twenty
five minutes, caused by the cranldness of
First Mate and Semper Ego, they were
sent away to good start with Semper
Ego in the lead, Ben Elder second and The
Winner third. Passing the stand First
Mate had assumed command, with Ego
second. First Mate held the lead to the
stretch, where Sims on Ben Brush and
Taber on Ben Elder came to the front,
and the struggle between the son of
Bramble and the son of Fonso began.
They came down the stretch at lightning
speed, their field beaten off and nodding
liza a of ms
chinery, whalebone and steel being
placed at every jump. Seventy-five yards
from the wire 1t looked as if Ben Elder
was the winner, but Sims called on Ben
Brush for a last effort, and the game
brown whrlwind came again and won
his race by a short nose, he and all the
others in the race being all out at the
finish. The fractional time was: 013,
0:25, 0:S7, 0i491s, 1:021A, 1:15h, 1:2S&, LAZY,
1:55.
The other races on the card were very
interesting and enjoyable, but were of
secondary interest as compared with the
derby. Among the most prominent horse
men present were August Belmont, Sena-
tor Charles Fleischman, Mike Dwyer,
Phil Dwyer, Byron McClelland, VIII Wal
lace, Pat Dunno and host of others.
Weather clear; track fast. Summary:
First race, six furlongs-Harry Reed,
1O9 (Sims), 1 to 5. won; Jake Zimmerman
second, Egbart third Time, 1:16.
Second race five furlongs-Stentor, 104
(Sherrer), II to S. won; Chappie second,
Red third. Time, 1:02A.
Third race. the Kentucky derby, a mile
and quarter-Ben Brush, III (Simms),
to 5, won: Ben Elder second. Semper
Ego third Time 207A.
Fourth race. one mile-Paul Pry, 112
(Thorpe), Is to l. won; Sligo second, King
William third. Time, 1:421R.
Fifth race, one-half mile-Turtle Dove,
100 &c. Reiff), even, won: Whitefrost sec
ond Princess Tecl1 third. Time, 049%.
Sixth race. six furlongs-Pallas, 113
(Perkins). to 1, won Roundelay sec
ond, Mate third. Time ZIG.