Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-06
CROKER GAINS
L|FE'S AMBITION
JOHNNY REIFF RIDES 0RBY TO
VICTORY
Great Derby Annexed by American
Owner and Jockey, with Irish
Bred Horse of Ameri-
can Dam
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
LONDON, June 5.-Richard Croker
today won the Derby at EPSON ana
gained the ambition of his life, his
colt Orby, bred from an American dam
and ridden by an American jockey
Johnny Reiff, having beaten all the
British cracks and captured the blue
ribbon of the worlds turf by two
lengths. His time was 2:44.
Wool Wilder, ridden by Madden, the
English jockey, was second, and SlleV
Gallon, an Irish horse, ridden by
Higgs, an English jockey, was third.
Orby was bred in Ireland out OF an
American dam, and thus the DERBY mas
been won by an American owner whose
horse was ridden by an American
iockey and whose mount was out OF an
American mare.
Much of the accustomed gayety and
picturesquesnesS were lacking IN the
familiar Derby day scenes upon the
road to EPSON today. Torrents of rain
poured down up to 10 O'Clock, ana tne
muddy dismal procession bound 10 the
Downs looked uncommonly like the re-
turn of the procession after the down.
fall of the favorite.
The usual Derby day types We're
present, but they were sadly reduced in
numbers, and the intermittent attempts
of the holiday makers to inject some
of the old time hilarity into the scene
failed to remove the general gloom OIL
the umbrella marked crowds. All those
whose plans were alterable abandoned
the road in favor of trains, and scores
of specials took enormous crowds to
Epson.
King Edward elected to travel by
rtU included the
prince and princess of Wales, the duke
and duchess of Connaught and the
Grand Duke Michael of Russia.
The rain cleared off before noon, and
by the time the race commenced the
Downs presented a cheerful and pic
turesque appearance.
Mr.. Croker with a party of friends,
including August Belmont, watched
the race closely but calmly from box
overlooking the post. He led the rush
toward the track when Orby came up
the stretch in front of the other COM
petitors, and he was ready when john
nv Reiff had brought the winner back
to the Judges box to lead the horse on
which he had placed his confidence
past the royal box, occupied by King
Edward and his guests, and thence to
the paddock, where he received the
CONGRATULATIONS of hundreds Of his
friends.
Among the first to offer fluctuations
were Lord Rothschild and Sam Dar-
ling, the trainer of Sieve Gallon, but
the crush was so great that Mr.. Croker
was only able to return thanks with
smiles. His face was wreathed in
them.
He remained in the paddock until
after the last race, but the excitement
and the anxiety of the crowd to see
the winning horse and its owner were
so great that he was unable to discuss
quietly what he called the greatest
event of his life until he had settled
himself in his automobile to return to
London.
Mr.. Croker himself however, had
been most sanguine concerning the out
come and had expressed to everybody
his complete confidence that his horse
would win, and this belief was justified
by his brilliant victory. The time was
2:44. There was only lukewarm en-
thusiasm by the general public.
Aside from the enormous PRESTIGE of
winning the blue ribbon of the turf
Mr.. Croker made a fortune today.
Beside the stakes, $32,50O, he had the
opportunity of making any number of
bets at about 10 to l, and fil.ally the
value of Orby has increased to such
an extent that Mr.. Croker may, if
he desires, sell him for an immense
sum.
In one and another way, his financial
fruits are placed at about $250,000.
Lord Roseberry's Benson.an, ridden
by Danny Maher, was fourth.