The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-05
Abe Frank Runs Fourth in the
Great Event.
A SPLENDID CONTEST
Alan-a-Dale in Front Only by q
Narrow Margin.
Inventor Would Have Led
Thirty Yards Farther.

Louisville. Ky, May 5.-Tom Nc
1owens Alan-A-Dale, ridden by the
little eolored jockey. WINFIELD, won
the twenty-eighth Kentucky Derby at
Churchill Downs Saturday.
The Lexington colt, Inventor, also rid
den by colored pockey. r. Williams,
finished second, a neck behind, and a
half length before Alan-A-Dale's stable
companion The Rival The American
DERBY favorite A be frank was the last
OF the quartet which started in the Ken
CueAy classic, still a neck further BACK
The race probably was the best con-
tested of all the Kentucky DeroleS since
the first was won by Prince McGrath's
little red horse, Aristides- The finish
was spectacular and aroused the eHIhu-
siasm Of the most blase regular to the
highest pitch. At the head of the stretch
IL looked as though any one Of the four
starters might be returned the winner,
and AIan-A-Dale got the verdict simply
on his courage.
The event was looked upon as repe-
tition of the annual duel in recent years
between Kentucky and Tennessee. ana
Kentucky tiumphed again. Every sec
ton Of the blue grass district was rep
resented at the Churchill Downs, ana
every train which entered the city Sat
urday morning brought large delega-
lions from Lexington. HarrOdsburg5
owensbOro. Paris, Georgetown, FRANK
fort and other breeding centers OF the
state. Memphis, Nashville, and Chicago
were well represented, fully 10000 peo-
pie viewing the race.
The struggle was a gallant one and
the race was won by a gallant morse
but one which likely viii never again
face the starter. The son OF Hanna hsad
received a most careful preparation Iof
the race. He had been troubled with q
bad knee for long time, and It was
feared early in the spring that ne would
not again stand training His owner
worked him to a sui2y over the trotting
track at Memphis, and only three or
four times had he been set down with a
jockey on his back, as Mcdowell was
afraid to put weight on the horse. When
he was taken back to the stable after
Saturdays race, wearing floral blank
ct. and followed by the cheers OF the
multitude it was found that the tendon
in his right fore leg had given way from
davoriug his bad knee. The veterinary
who examined him expressed the opIn-
ion that his racing days were over
Alan-A-Dale was one OF the best OF last
years 2-year-olds and his greatest race
was in the Brighton handicap, run at
Brighton Beach, in which he defeated
among others. Goldsmith
Abe Frank was an Odds-On faVorfte
ct to s. and McDOwelfs entry was
second choice at to 2. Inventor being
the outsider at u to l. The Iennes-
seeans were willing to take any price
against Abe Frank and bet heavily on
him, but the Kentuckians were loyal to
their own and more than offset the pay
on Benefits colt.
In the parade past the stand Abe
Frank was fighting for his head, and
before the sixteenth pole was reached
Coburn had to let him gallop to the post
There was a delay Of five minutes at
the barrier and when Starter Hoffman
released # the four were about on even
terms. The Rival was the first to show
but Alan-A-Dale soon passed him and
went out to make the running coming
down to the stand in "a seconds. He
was a length and a half to the good at
this point with Abe Frank, The Rival,
and Inventor running Tapped behind
him ia that order.
There was no change on the turn,
only that AIan-A-Dale had increased his
lead to three lengths and kept on widen
ing the margin between him and the
others until = the half mile ground he
was six leng' S before Abe Frank. Then
Coburn sat Gown on the Tennessee colt,
end gained steadily, and at the turn TO
the stretch was only two lengths away.
Inventor had changed places with Ihe
S7ival and was the same distance be-
fore the latter.
There was a general closing up to the
eighth pole. where the quartet was on
almost even terms and all driving. Abe
Frank seemed to be wearing the leader
down, and when the sixteenth pole was
resched tt looked as though he had him.
sAian-A-Dale was not to be denied, how
ever, and he responded gamely to Wink
Reid. who was riding like wild man
About the middle OF the stand the
four We're Tapped and Abe Frank was
beginning to hatten out and Coburn
could not get him an inch nearer.
Thirty yards from the end Inventor
had passed all but Alan-a-Dale and
his head was at the latter's giIth. He
was gaining inch by inch, but the dis
tance was too short and he was beaten
by a neck when the line was reached
The Rival passed Abe Frank IN the
final strides.
Had the race been thirty yards fur
ther Inventor would have won. The
latter Is owned by Thomas W. Moore
of Lexington and is trained by the vet
eran John ROdegap. He is a slashing
big chestnut, By imp. Ingolds, dam
imp. Duchess Caroline, and IS sure to
be heard from In the. 3-yeax-old stakes
later on
The first mile was a fast one. the half
mile being run In ;4S5t- I'VE furlougs
ia lso1sts six furlOngs in ia. seven
eighths In 1-z65a. and the mile In 1.40sS
The last quarter was slow and the race
was finished cut In 2-o8st. which Is two
and one-ha3f seconds slower than Lieu
tenant CszbsuIl's record
l0ere was never a fAlrex Derby day.
INA sun shonB bElRht and WAS warm.
The track was at Its best. and tna 50
cdaty Of the South lard was In the
stand private boxes and carriages II
the Em11RlG- GiCTea13uT Earkhaxn and his
star we're there. and many nGtansss
from All over the country
The gTand stand proper ara the sEeps
leading 10 To It were banked With per-
pie UuE1 they cGGaa h1ld no uzare- Il
was a great hillside CT co2nE. dotted
OF snowy white. and Ia patches whers
the sunlight s1IUck 1t ashanti Il vas
ainad uddh bl11s and ErduEed With sszSan
gleaIHE- Beuaa11 tha stand hay 5z51s
1ts thousands. Was a vide lawn fuI-
Ct 1ostnuE. sufEiag men ard be#ond
chs stand On either Eille. Ike zssa1Tugzfs
% 9 wire were men ard bsSz. hun
drsds 81 them. lining the outside aE tha
track with wide fringe Of black
Across the track from flaa sEaz1 the
ezElE field was dotted hpss sad
there With carriages and eua1pazes 81
al descriptions. each flied win gavIy
ees3El1aa women. while an a71auA were
Et7aas boys and track attaches. many
coapE1a sweaters and blankets. eiVins
"a 40 --l- "a.