The Washington times., 1906-05-20
ENGLISH DERBY
ODDS CHANGING
Flair Backed Down to Beat
Lally.
AMERICAN JOCKEYS PRAISED
British Sportsmen Admire Them More
and More-Keene May Buy Sire
of Sysonby.

LONDON. May 19.-WhiIe LaIly is still
a 9-tO-4 favorite for the Derby, there is
a growing disposition to look for a win
per elsewhere on the part OF the wise
bettoTs. who do not fancy laying at such
short odds on so uncertain a proposition
as the Derby
As was indicated in these dispatches
last week, Flair is looked upon as the
most likely contender. This idea has
been strengthened by the hollow style in
which the speedy hlly OF Sir Daniel
Cooper took the 1000 guineas. odds
against her are down to 4 to and 9 to
?. and they are likely to shorten before
Derby Day. May so Several bets at
evens have been recorded with LaIy and
Flair against the field others are back
ed at longer odds for the race.
Gorgos the Agneta colt. Malna. NULL
Secundus. and Picton all have followers
al prices ranging from TO up TO u to
!. but the best opinion is that, barring
accidents. the great race is likely 10 go
10 Flair or Lally. However, there are
few things so uncertain as a horse race.
which is one Of The beauties OF the game.
Danny Maher, the American jockey.
probably will be at the head Of the win
ming jockey list II he keeps in his pres
ent form. He Is getting a good class
OF mounts and as many of them as he
cares TO take. In percentage of wins
he already is we'll in the lead. and is
only few races behind in the actual
number Of wins Skeets Martin also is
doing well. Roth these American lads
are popular. and the reason is not hard
TO find. An owner remarked recently
in speaking about Maher: When
Maher is up YOU may always depend
on seeing not only a skillful ride but
an absolutely straight one. There may
be better and more satisfactory Jockeys
than the American. but ! should hate to
have 10 make the selection.
On the Continent also the American
jockeys are making their mark In
Austria, for instance, two Americans.
the veteran Fred Taral and Harry Birk-
enouth. already have commanding
lead. An event at the opening meet of
the Vienna track. Taral's fifteen-year-
old son Johnny made his debut as a
jockey. When il is told that he rode a
winner against Harry Lewis and was in
the money in both the other races in
which he had mounts IL will be admitted
that he is riding some.
Melton, the sire Of the great Sysonby.
may go to America. At the dispersal
sale OF the stud OF J. muSker, in July.
Melton will go on the block. and there
is a general impression that Mr.. Keene
will buy him.
The manner in which Pretty Polly
romped away from her field in the
Marsh Stakes at Newmarket shows that
May LodeT's great mare is her same old
unbeatable self. That the layers of odds
felt that she was is shown by the pro-
hibitive odds OF from % 10 % TO 1 on,
which was the best they had to offer
about her.
Lord Dalmeny. son and heir Of Lore
Rosebery. is determined TO follow In hi
distinguished fathers footsteps on th'
turf He has string Of horses which
is bound 70 win many races. and whiI'
his ambition as TO the Derby may no
be realized this year. unless the storl
is true that he has offered a blank checl
for Lally, and Mr.. Purefoy accepts and
then Lally wins the race. two rather bis
ifs, ii is altogether probable that he will
in time see his colors in front of the
most coveted prize in the world Of
racing
Lord Dalmeny is said to be some what