The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-10-05
CLASSIC FIELD WILL
START IN BIG DERBY
Three ThriIIers on Yesterdays
Racing Gard, With One One
s.aea Event-0gden Girl Fa-
vorite to Win Derby Today
BY HENRY VANCE

Today is Derby Day at the Ala
baam state fair grounds, and thou
sands will pour through the gates
this afternoon at witness this Dixie
classic. when a field of six will got
away from the barrier for the real
acid test of the week. The grand
stand at Wednesdays races was taxed
to capacity and the man parking
autos on the infield of the race track
told me that he had been employed
by the fair association for six years
and that more cars were parked in
the grounds at that time. o'clock,
than had ever been parked there in
a single day before.
That simply goes to show how pop
ular the races are, and what big
hit the fair in general has made this
day. Monday saw a record breaking
crowd on the grounds; Tuesday tho
crowds were not SO thick, but even
at that Lew Salter told me 1t was
far ahead of Tuesday of last year.
and Wednesday was the biggest
Wednesday the association has ever
enjoyed.
Ogden Girl Favorite
In the derby, which Will be run
this afternoon. Ogden Girl is the
favorite to win, with Mary Williams
being touted highly by some of the
wise birds Spearline would have
made a strong bid as favorite, but
for the fact that Spearline and jockey
were suspended for two days at
Tuesdays events. Fashion Girl is
also being supported by some who
have been following the races close
ly. Semphoria and Sister Florence
are also entered with dark horse
to be entered in Spearline's place.
Today's starters
The first race of the afternoon will
see a field of five start in the seven
eight mile dash. They are: Legacy,
Harvest Mari. Pergugino, Sovereign
II and Sister Florence.
In the second event, the three
fourths mile race the entries are;
Toy Along, Ruth Wheel, Anita
Springer, Billy Boots, Hotfoot, Ike
Mills and Converse. The favorite
for this event is the last named horse,
Converse and close follower of tina
races told me Wednesday night that
Converse was as good as in.
The third race of the afternoon,
five-eights of mile, will see Loyal
ist, Minnie Mack, Jill, Miss Henrietta.
Links Leader, Alex Gettz, Bridgette
and May Dawn at the barrier.
ThrilIers Yesterday
Wednesdays races were all thrill
ers, except the initial event, which
was rather one-sided. Dainty Lady
took off the honors in this event
with Nashota running second and
Perugino, the English horse, third.
This was the mile dash, and was ne
gotiated In IA 2-5.
the second the three
fourths mile dash. Daddy Wolfe took
the honors Ike Mills running second
and Roy Atkins third. Time 1:16.
Josie German stepped out ahead of
the field in the seven-eights milo
event, with Fashion Girl making a
strong second and Bloomington run
ming third The time was 1881 As.
The last race of the afternoon was
half-mile dash, which May Dawn
captured. with jill running second
and Spicewood coming in third. the
time being 40 seconds.
Secretaries Ralph Flies and B. s.
VanBuren have made a hit with the
spectators by signing Jack McLain
as announcer. Jack megaphones the
results of each race to the crowd.
This is decided improvement over
other meets. and gives the spectators
just what's happening.
Big 'Uns to See Races
President r. A. (Buster) Brown,
and Secretary ]. L. Dent have been
mighty busy men this week, and have
been first at one place on the GROUNDS
and then at the other as the races
we're being run. They have left iron
clad orders with assistants that they
are not to be bothered or interrupted
this afternoon, as they, with other
fair officials, will view the derby
from a special box, and be enter
tanned along with the crowd. Jim
Dent comes from horse country,
Louisville KY, and he had rather sac
a real horse race than eat. President
Brown is also a red-blood, and they
are going to have high old tirne
at the derby this afternoon.
Joe Spanier is having time. He
is three arm numbers short during
the races, and has his eagle eye
trained on the jockeys henceforth.