Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-21
NINETEEN STARTERS PUT UP BRAVE FRONT
wonderful Horse Distances All at
start and Leads Practically from
Post to Wire, Winning by
six Lengths.

six Lengths.
CHICAGO. June 2O-The Picket a horse
that never before flashed first past the
post, won the American Derby today. He
set the pace every step OF the distance,
was never challenged and won in a sallop
by six lengths. He ran the Derby distance,
one and half miles, faster than it was
ever run in the race. his time being 2:Ss
Claude, the winner OF three Derbies, was
second. Bernays, the Cincinnati candidate,
was third.
The crowd OF 10000 people which wit
messed the sixteenth American Derby, saw
a contest which was already decided when
the field turned into the stretch. In front
Of a struggling field, The Picket ran so
easily and truly as to leave no doubt where
he would finish. consequently the roar OF
cheers which greeted him began when he
was more than an eighth Of a mile from
the wire.
Breaks All Kinds of Records.
The Derby was a record breaking turf
event in more ways than one. Nineteen
horses went to tho post, the largest previ-
Gus field being fifteen. The largest crowd
that ever gathered on a western track
covered the Washington Park grounds. The
race was worth S32,275, gross value. the
richest in the history Of the race with one
exception. Betting on the result began In
March and continued until the horses went
to the post. More money, it is asserted, was
wagered on the Derby than on any other
race ever run In America.
The victory Ct The Picket was no sur
prise, because a surprise was expected,
but there were some big dsappointments.
Savable, the favortte, son of Salvador.
| 81 h. Iabp A 10. 70 ha
failed to live up to his reputation. He re-
ceived a ride from Jockey Lester Rein that
novice could have duplicated. Savable
was never dangerous and the fortune bet
on him by his owner all went TO enrich
the bookmakers.
! Starter Dwyer delayed the start nine min
utes before he dropped the flag sinner
/ Simon. a dark horse. was the first to get
in motion. but The Picket did not delay an
| instant. In the nrst rush for positions he
was successful and he had the lead IN com
paratively a few strides. Past the stand Au
Revoir. the hope Of Memphis, was running
/ second, with Gilfain. Maxey Blumenthal
| and other conspicuous candidates in the
next positions There was no hustling un-
! til the field struck the back stretch. Sava-
BILE was In seventh place and in front OF
him were The Picket, Au Revoir. Linguist.
Bonny Burr, Gold Bell and Bad News. I'M
! mediately behind was Claude.
Picket Never FaIters.
There was not an important move by a
| Jockey till the field had passed the half
mile pole and struck the big bend. The
Picket then running at his own clip, never
fatered. Au Revoir began to weaken, Lin
guist was all through and began to drop
back. Claude made his move and quickly
advanced to fourth place. Savable at this
| critical place only held his own. The grad
ually lengthening field OF horses was at the
head Of the stretch. The remainder Of the
Journey was through lane of people who
were cIinging TO the rails 100 deep on either
side of the course. There was no electrify-
ing final struggle The Picket had his neld
beaten, and beaten badly. He was simply
running he pleased. Jockey Helgeson
eased him up a bit as he neared the wire.
The race was over and Kentucky horse
had won.
Claude was easily the best Of the other
starters He came fast in the stretch, but
little Johnny Daily saw he had no chance
to catch The Picket and also eased up.
but almost too soon, as Bernays came on
grandly from the center OF the field and
hitched up in a drive with Savable for the
shortest end Of the purse. Bernays got 1t
by a neck
Judge Hines the horse that had jumped
into popularity and was heavily backed
within a week. failed 10 make a showing.
The fast track was against him. He rap
idly went to last position after the start
and stayed there. He was forty lengths
behind when The Picket reached the wire.
The Picket is q bay colt. by Falsetto-
VoItario He was bred by his owners. MID
dIeton & Jungbiuth. at Louisville He ran
last year. but never won, and consequently
] - - -.
Picket was regarded a dangerous can
didate. Last Tuesday he was worked over
the Harlem track In preparation for the
Derby IN almost record time. He covered
the mile and a half in 2:Ss. The time was
50 fast that many people doubted the truth
Of the reported workout.
{ Track Betting Is Light.
The betting at the track was the lightest
in years. The bookmakers wrote as many
tickets as usual. but the amounts were
small. as all the big bettors laid their
= money IN the future books.
; The Picket opened at 20 l and advanced
20 10 to l before post time. Claude ad-
! vanced from 70 TO l. Bernays remained
stationary at to 1. while savable went
: from 10 20 70 1. Fore and Aft. the
Tennessee horse. was perhaps the best
2 played OF any on the field. The largest
! bet won by Joe Yeager, who had a
' ticket calling for $4,000 70 500. He made
the bet three months ago.
! Chicago did its best for the big race.
a The Derby Is made the occa sion for the
= greatest outdoor display OF fashion every
D., season. and this year fairly outdid all pre-
- vious Derbies The grand stand enlarged
. for the occasion, was packed to the roof.
The inheId was almost completely covered
T by hundreds Of fashionable turnouts. Au-
y, tomoblles were not permitted within the
track enclosure, but were cared for oppo-
n site the main entrance. II took ten acres
: OF ground 70 accommodate them.
The weather was perfect. The day
Y opened dismally with a drtzzle. but the
r. sun came out before the races began and a
cool breeze made the great crowd COM
n Portable. Results:
/. First, purse loo. one mile: Gregor K
j won. Beau OrmOnde second. Bnndsge third.
!. | Time: 1.59M-