The Washington times., 1902-05-04
OLDEST CLASSIC IN
TIE UNITED STATES
The Kentucky Derby Was
First Run in 1875.
Has Been Won by Some of the Mosi
Famous Horses of
America.

~.
won by Alan-a-Dalc. T. c. McDowelrs
chestnut colt. by Halma-SadIe McNairy.
was the twenty eighth running of the
Oldest classic in this country. II IL the
oldest Of all derbies In the United States
and is the only one that has been run
continuously since its inception In 1875.
The Derby received Its name from the
classical English event. which was named
after Lord Derby. the founder of the
race in Great Britain. In England. Derby
day is a national holiday Everybody that
can possibly get to the racecourse m
that day goes. be he rich or poor. Young
or old. Royalty mingles with the mer-
chant. the tradesman. aud the laborer.
When racing first became a popular
sport In this country the Louisville Jockey
Club was the first to organize a Derby
This was in 1875. 1t at once jumped into
popularity, and 1t has been one of the
leading turf events In America since that
time. The Derby. as is well known. is a
race for three-year-oIds exclusively. All
the colts are required to carry 192
pounds. with allowances for geldings.
The First Derby.
The arst Kentucky Derby had forty-two
nominations and fifteen starters. At that
time the distance of the race was ono
and one-half miles. In 1896 the distance
was reduced to enc and one-quarter miles.
Aristides vas the Arst victor In the
Blue Grass race. which was won in 2:s7z.
q WI of he.
s.ant. who beat ten starters and ran the
distance in 2:3SA. Baden Baden. the sire
OF number OF good horses that have run
In this country, won the Derby in 1877.
beating field Of ten. and running the
mile and one-half in 2:37. In 1873 t. ].
Nichols Day Star captured the race
beating eight others and travelling the
mile and a half in 2:37A.
The winners from that time on In suc-
cessive years up to 1890 were L. Murphy:
Fonso. sire of the Metropolitan Handicap
starter. McMeekin; Hindoo. who sired
the famous Hanover: Apollo, Leonatus.
another good sire: Buchanan Joe Cotton.
Ben Ali. who was afterward favorite for
the Suburban. and was left standing at
the post with the co-favorite. Quito:
Montrose. Macbeth III, and Spokane. who
beat the favorite. Proctor Knott.
When Riley Won.
In 1880 Ed Corrigan's good colt Riley
won the race. beating Bill Letcher and
FIVE others. Riley afterward ran in the
Metropolitan Handicap that Tristan won,
when the latter broke the worlds rec
ord. and was the only horse that started
in the race that afterward amounted to
anything. In 1891 the Jacobin Stainless
won a good race. beating three
others. and in 1899 ARA captured the
race on heavy track from two other
starters. Lookout won the Derby in 1893,
Beating five others, and the following year
Chant was the winner. Byron MeCIel-
and's good horse Halma. sire of Alan-a-
Dale. yesterdays winner, was first to the
wire in 1896
The winner Of the race the first year it
vas reduced to a mile and a quarter was
Mike Dwyer's good colt. Ben Brush, who
The next year won the Suburban. In 1891
Typhoon III won. and afterward was num-
bered among the most uncertain horses
IN the country. ]. E. Madden's high priced
colt Plaudit captured the classic In 1898,
md the following year the Eastern own
srs. a. II. and ID. II. Morris. sent Manuel
70 Louisville and carried OF the blue rib
bon. Year before last Lieut. Gibson,
ieavily played favorite, ran away from his
ield. The horse never amounted to any
hing after that start, and was retired
shortly afterward.
Last Years Winner.
The victory of His Eminence last year
n still fresh in the minds OF turf fol-
overs. His Eminence took the lead
hortly after the start and tiptoed his
Ield. winning very easily. while the fav-
rite. Alard Scheck. was bad last. hav-
ng sulked after going half the journey.
Spokane made the best time that was
made in the race while II was at one and
ne-half miles. running the distance in
:34l., which was very close TO the record.
lieut. Gibson holds the record for the
ace since it was reduced TO one and one
ourth miles. having run the distance in
:C6i4.
Alan-a-Daie's Victory Popular.
From this resume Of the Kentucky Derby
will be seen that the winners Of the
vent have been among the best horses
hich ever went to the post in America.
lnee the establishment of the American
erby, the Bluegrass event has become
,condary in Importance. but there are
any persons who consider the Kentucky
assic the most interesting race in this
,untry.
Alan a-Dale's victory in the Derby yes
arday was forecast in The Times
eek ago. A fortnight ago the colt was
doubtful starter. as his foreknees were
bad shape, and it was only by the most
lreful nursing that his owner got him
condition to run. The horses victory
as. therefore. popular one. As a two
'ar-old Alan started only four times. In
$ first attempt in the West the colt won
silly. and his second start was also won
commanding style. He was shipped
ast and won his first start from some OF
e best youngsters Of the year. Alan was
It placed the next time. and was soon
ter retired for the season.