Evening star., 1901-06-06
WHITNEYS GREAT VICTORY
Eow voIoDyoFsk1 Wos THE
DERBY
The Lessee nessM osttl he Success.
OF the Thorousiiered and Orders
Wine for All Gravesend.


Mr.. w. c. Whitneys capture Of the derby
on EPSON Downs yesterday was the first
time an American has won that classic
event since Pierre Logrilards Iroquois ran
first across the finish in 1881, with an En-
glish jockey, Fred Archer, in the saddle.
Yesterday was the first occasion on which
an American horseman proved successful
Lester Reiff being the mount.
There was some delay at the start, but
eventually an excellent one was effected,
and Mr. FoXhall Keene's jockey, Henry, on
Olympian, got away like shot from gun.
He set the pace a. cracker, and before Tot
tenham Corner was reached had spread
eagled his field. AS they rounded and came
into the straight it was seen that Volody-
ovski was right there, running with great
resolution
A tremendous roar went up when 1t was
seen that he had got on even terms quar-
ter of a mile from home, coming along at a
rare clip, with William III in hot pursuit.
"Volly,' as he is called, left his opponents
In great style, all but "Morny'' Cannon S
mount, hard ridden, which was running
game as pebble at the favorite's girths.
And so the pair passed the post.
Mr. Douglas Baird's Veronese, a 40 to /
chance, was third, four lengths away and
the French jockey Watkins, on Floriform,
just missed the place by a head. The bet
y
The time, 2m. 40 4-5s, is a record for
the race.
How Mr.. Whitney Took His HOnOrs.
1T muses. UP the business of the day
to win the derby" Mr.. Whitney said, with
a weary smile, when seen at his home in
New York. It's quite a piece of work,
but very pleasant labor. But the greatest
pleasure of it all to me is the fact that so
big a share of the victory belongs to an
American trainer ard an American jockey.
l am quite sure that Mr.. Higgins is the
first American who ever trained the win
ner of the derby. And as for little Lester
Reif, the first of our boys to ride a win
ner In that event, he must receive his full
share Of the praise.
Il was very confident OF course you
know never bet on a race myself. But
told my friends that the three-year-old was
In perfect form, and that l confidently an
ticipated victory. I should not be sur
prised to learn that good many Ameri-
cans are happier by many dollars over the
outcome of the race.
1.-The last time | saw Volodyovski was at
Goodwood last fail, when he won handily
as tWo-year-old He was in great form
then. 1 then formed my opinion Of the
horses qualities, and saw in him danger
Gus competitor for the classic derby, and l
have since had no reason to change 1t.
The horse was then running in the stable
Of Lord William 3eresford, in which l
owned a part interest. When Lord Will
lam died. five or six months ago, the ques-
ton arose whether 1 should take over his
entire stable. including both Trainer Hug
gins and Jockey Reiff, or seek new part
ner. I decided to take over the stable. I
paid for Volodyovsks s racing qualities and
l shall keep him until the end of his fourth
year. l expect other big things from him.
But this, Of course, is the capital prize, be-
yond which there Is nothing.
Conditions Were Favorable.
IT understand that the track was good,
and that was in his favor. When he ran
to defeat for the Newmarket biennial
stakes on the opening day OF the Craven
meet there was a heavy, muddy track,
which was not at all TO the liking Of Mas
ter Volodyovski, so I was not at all dis
couraged by his failure then. He carried
126 pounds in this race which was the
weight carried by all the horses, so he was
not handicapped by his weight. Volodyov-
ski was to before the race. 1 am told
and was strong favorite. The conditions
were all favorable for him, but you must
not forget to give all possible credit to Mr.
Higgins and to Jockey Rein:
You have many horses in England, Mr..
Whitney?'
"Well, from twenty to thirty. No. say
about twenty. 1 have several American
bred horses among them"
And what is to be the next big vtctory?"
Mr.. Whitney smiled at this.
"Ah, we must wait for that" he said. II
sent over kilmarnock, expecting to hear
good things of him. I am in hopes that he
will carry off the Ascot cup on the 20th.'
Free Punch for All.
According to the New York Times Mr..
Whitney sent the following to P. ]. Dwyer,
president Brooklyn Jockey Club:
'The winning Of the Derby Is a real
triumph for Mr.. Higgins, who has SO
many friends among racing people that 1
cban hou
'Huggins punch free to ALL as tribute
to his Skill
This notice was posted early, copies of
the announcement being displayed con
closure of the Brooklyn Jockey Club at
Gravesend, L. I. Mr.. Whitney may
have meant something else, but it was in
terpreted by the race track crowd as
meaning "free drinks and the word was
passed with speed.
Free drinks they were. from the excu-
sive confines of the GlHb house to the last
as there was to get In and make the most
of the opportunity has never been seen be-
fore on the Brooklyn race track. The
Brooklyn handicap day.
whitney pays" was the cry when the
rush began. High balls whisky straight
and commonplace mixed drinks at first
the Derby winner, until some genius in the
throng boldly demanded cold pint of
wine" No quicker ordered than it was
served. Others saw the man and instantly
fell into line 'Cold bottles for everybody
were in order from that moment. McGrath
rubbed his hands in glee.
Soon the bars were surrounded by mobs.
In the field the rush Of imbibers all but
swamped the bar. In the grandstand in
closure men were reeling under their un-
accustomed choice of liquors early in the
aft ternoon. By the time the second race
was run, intoxicated men were stumbling
over the grandstand and lawn. and by the
time the third race was run there were
sleepeing examples of the evil of drink ali
over the lawn.