The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-02
GREAT DERBY WON
BY GOVERNOR GRAY
Race at Moncrief One
OF Greatest Ever Run
on Southern Track.
IN FINE FINISH,
w ms BY LENGTH
Time Beats Track Record by
Fifth Of a Second, and Event Is
Worth $4,000 to Owners.
The Niger Is Second
and Messenger Boy
Third.
Especial 10 The Tlmes.ptspa,ch.


Jacksonville, Fla, April I.-Govcrn-
Byrne In the saddle, won the great
American Derby this afternoon. The
Niger was second AMI Messenger Boy
third Time, 2:o44-5. This is the
story OF the race In Il nutshell. wnicli
was one OF the greatest that was ever
run over Southern track. and some
thing In the nature OF a surprise party
10 the smart men.
For weeks the atmosphere has been
loaded down with Derby talk. and the
wise men had the race figured down
to duel between The Niger and
Star Charter, giving Or. Ducnner
merely an outside change.
When the betting on the race be-
gan In the ring, there was 4 to |
offered against DR. Duenner. - to l
Messenger Boy. 20 / Governor Gray,
6 to 5 The Niger and 3 TO Star
Charter. Under strong play the odds
on star Charter fell to to ., wh..v
The Niger receded to to i. Gov
ernor Gray's fl2 10 and DR..
Duenner To II TO | and Messenger
Roy to - to /. These We're the figures
at post time.
There was but little delay at the
post and when the barrier went mp
The Niger darted to the front. and
set a sizzling pace, being closely fol-
lowed by Or. Duenncr, star Charter
Governor Gray and Messenger Boy In
the order named.
There was no change in these posi-
tions a; the stand and they swung
uiouI.d the turn and into the back
stretch In tile same order. Down tho
backstretch The Niger went flying
but before tho three-quarters was
reached u cry went up: SEQ Messen.
ger Boy aud the white jacket of the
outsider moved UP on the outside and
reached the leaders throat latch DR.
Duanner falling back 10 third place,
willie Governor Gray. who had just
been let down by Byrne, was making
his run. Turning into the stretch, The
Niger was still in front. with Mes
sengcr Boy second and Governor Gray
third. and gaining at every stride. y
furlong out, Star Charter looked dam
gerous for a moment, but he had al
ready shot his bolt and in the next
few yards gave ZIP the struggle. a
sixteenth out cry went up from the
stand, THE Niger whist and then it
died away. and "Governor Gray
echoed among the rafters. Coming
along like n weli-oiied piece OF ma
chnerv. Oh the outside. Governor
Gray challenged. The Niger hung on
t,Hh'Sio, Dttl VIC gallant hGnluCKy
Governor was not to be denied, and
drawing away won by a length from
tho game but tired Niger. with the
dcspised outsider. Messenger Boy the
same distance behind. In t:i~d place
Star Charter was fourth, and Dr. Du.
enner last.
The time beats the track record by
q fifth OF n second and Is a wonderful
performance. as the track was not as
& mi rh
was worth $4,000 to the winner. and
James T. Williams, who is part owner
and who brought the colt here from
Latonia. was ono OF tho happiest men
at the track. isyrnc rode a perfect
race on tho winner. and was loudly
cheered when he was presented by
Manager Brown with the handsome
gold mounted saddle, which was offered
10 the winning rider. Jim Everman
the trainer. received a handsome golt
cup as his share Of the spoils
The crowd present was All enormous
one. II is estimated that between
Continued on Twelfth Pago.)