The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-21
WINNER NEVER HEADED
WENT TO THE FRONT AT THE START
AND WON BY SIX LENGTHS.
Claude Second, Bernays Third and
SavabIe. the Heavily Backed
favorite, Fourth.

CHICAGO. June 20.-The Picket, horse
that never before flashed first past the post.
won the American Derby to-day. He set the
pace every step of the distance. was never
challenged and won in a gallop by six
lengths He the Derby distance. one
and a half mile, faster than it was ever
run before in the race. His time was 2:3s.
Claude. the winner of three Derbies, was
second. Bernays. the Cincinnati candidate.
was third.
1t was a race without the thrill Of an
exciting finish. The crowd Of 10000 persons
which witnessed the sixteenth running Of
the event saw contest that was 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. The roar Of cheers which
greeted the successful horse began when
The Picket was more than an eighth OF a
mile from the wire.
The Derby was a record breaking turf
event in more than the fast time that was
made. Nineteen horses went to the post,
the largest previous field being fifteen. The
largest crowd that ever gathered on a West
ern race track covered the Washington
Park grounds The race worth So, 2,275
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. 1t Is asserted, was wagered on the
Derby than on any other race ever run in
America.
sAvABLE POORLY RIDDEN.
The victory of The Picket was no sur
prise. for a surprise was expected. But
there were some big disappointments. Saw
able, the favored son Of Salvador. thought
by John A. Drake to be invincible. failed
to live up to reputation. He received ride
from Jockey Lester Reiff that seemingly a
novice could have duplicated. Savable was
never dangerous, and the fortune bet on
him by his owner went to enrich the book
makers.
The horses came to the post at o'clock
Starter Dwyer delayed them nine minutes
before he dropped the flag. Sinner Simon.
''ds-r.- horse" was the first to get in mo-
ton. but The Picket did not delay an in
stant- In the first rush for positions he
was successful and had the lead in COM
paratively few strides. Past the stand
Au Revoir, the hope OF Memphis, was run
ming second. with Gilfain. Maxey Blumen-
thai and other inconspicuous candidates in
the next position. There was no hustling
until the fsid struck the back stretch Saw
able vas in seventh place, and In front of
him were The Picket, Au Revoir Linguist,
Bonnie Burr. Gold Bell and Bad News I'm
rnediately behind Savable was Claude
There was not an important move by a
jockey until the field had passed the half
mile pole and struck the big bend. The
Picket, running at his own clip, never fall
tered. An 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
THROUGH A LANE OF PEOPLE.
The remainder of the journey was through
q lane of people who were clinging to the
rails one hundred deep on either side of the
course. There were no electrifying final
struggles. The Picket had his field beaten,
and beaten badly. He was simply running
as ne pleased. Jockey Helgeson eased him
up 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 say he had no CHARGE 20
catch The Picket, and also eased up, but al
most too scon. Bernays, backed by Gin
cinnat enthusiasts, 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 ii by a neck.
Judge Hines, the horse that had jumped
into popularity and was heavily backed
within week, failed to make a showing.
The fast track was against him. He rap
idly went to the last portion after the start
and stayed there. He was forty lengths
behind when The Picket reached the wire.
A WONDERFUL HORSE
The Picket is a bay colt by Falsetta Vol
tario./ He was bred by his owners. Mid
dleton & Jungbluth. at Louisville He ran
last year. but never won. and consequently
carried the light burden of lis pounds The
Picket was regarded as a dangerous candi-
date Last Tuesday he was worked over
the Harlem track in preparation for the
Derby In almost record time. He accom-
pIished the mile and half in 2:33. The time
was so fast that many people doubted the
truth OF the reported workout The race to-
day proved The Picket TO be a wonderful
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