Evening star., 1928-05-20
IM|SSTEP IS SECOND;
TORO A POOR THIRD
Lang Puts Up Fine Ride on
Favorite to Win Before
Rain-Soaked Throng.
sno,isl nlsrstcl, % the Star.

Special Dispatch 20 the star.
CHURCHILL DOWNS. Louisville
Ky, May la.-Mrs. John y, Hertz's
Feigh Count won the fifty-fourth Ken
tucky Derby of SOS 900 al Churchill
Downs here today in a tempest of noise
and shower Of mud.
The gates Of riches and of prestige
swung s}ar for MlSStep, owned by Leo
u Marks Of Lexington, only TO be
slammed in his face,
He forced the pace and made brave
fight. but Reigh Count drew out un-
Ger pressure in the last sixteenth TO
win by three lengths.
E B. McLean'S Toro earned the third
money two lengths behind MiSStep,
while Jack Higgins was fourth.
Relch Count ran the mile and q
quarter through the sloppy. greasy 60
5nr J.. 2.i0 2-S. The time meant no.
thing under The frightful conditions.
huf his manner Of winning meant
much. II was decisive and convincing.
Spectators Rain Soaked.
Relgh Count came splashing down
through the stretch between human
12ne Of 10000 madly shouting men and
women. letting off from sheer neces-
sity the steam of their emotions. Many
Of these were soaked TO the skin and
dripping by being forced to stand
through the drenching shower which
broke over the course as the fourth
race was run, but they cheered just the
same
Hundreds rushed out on sloppy track
q make a circle about the winner.
II was a triumph for the Middle West,
Sectional feeling ran higher than usual,
Fn6 the Kentuckians were happy with
their first and second,
The score in the last nine years now
reads five for the East and four for the
Middle West,
REICH Count was the favorite in the
biggest field which ever faced the starter
s.a this classic of the turf. He paid S6.l2
IN the 81 mutuels, or slightly better than
9 70 l. He paid S576 TO place, or bet
ter than TO s., In truth by one OF
those freakish twists Of machine bet
ting. he paid about as much for second
ss he did for first.
Misstep paid S8.2S to place, or slightly
more than 10 !.
Lang Displays Skill.
Chick" Lang handled Reign Count
with rare judgment and skill. He was
alert at the barrier and when pinefed
Of in the first furlonE and bottled up in
.tl1s deepest going on the rail he was
quick TO work his way out Of a danger
Gus situation
He used his whip through the stretch.
but more for insurance than form ne
Gessity.
Gov. Sampson watched the race from
the stewards stand with Mayor Walker
snd others. After the son of Sun Reign
had been duly decorated with a floral
blanket and Lang with a huge bunch
Of roses. he presented the gold cup TO
Mrs. Hertz
The race had gross value of s64 900
Cf which S5A 900 and a gold cup went TO
the winner
Misstep earned $4,000: Toro. $4,000.
end Jack Higgins. 81 900 as consolation
prizes
the muteuIs machines and profits to the
association from the fake-off Of 6l2 per
cent were not far short of 100000.
Rumpei Stiltskim. Dowagiac. Mop
Tp and Col. shaw were scratched. This
left % striving for the princely prize.
Start Delayed. But Good.
The start vas delayed about 10 min
utes. but Bill Hamilton finally sept the
field of we'll Misstep was quick as
Get and showed in front with Black
wood. Reign Count Reign Olga. Don @.
end Toro in close pursuit. Some Of the
others including Strolling Player, Sortie.
Distraction, Vito and Peter Wrack.
sarne OF the Eastern hopes we're caught
r. slight Jam right after the break
and their chances we're literally ruined.
Misstep breaking from the rail posi-
tion. had the foot 10 go right 70 the
front and. working out slightly from
the deep going, showed the w. around
the first turn. There he stayed until
Rnirh Count. working his way UP from
fifth place in the r7ln-up. gave chal-
lenee rounding the far turn.
Thereafter il Was a two-norse race.
Toro did move up In threatening way
making the home turn. but the others
were reeiing dizzy and half blinded by
the flying mud and hopelessly beaten.
When Strengthened out In the stretch.
both Garner on Misstep and Lang on
Reign Count went 70 the whip The
fhrOng was shouting In semi -gysteria.
Hats began ~ fly For a sixteenth the
two leaders battlcd neck and NECK. and
then with ma icstic stride and bold man
ner Reign Count drew out and came
away 10 win by three lengths.
Toro finished rather a distant third
after being IN the thick of the fight
all the way. Reign Count literally
brokes his heart, as he did the heart Of
Nisstep and the others. Jack Higgins,
winner Of The Louisiana Derby. also
held a forward position most Of the
many considered he had The others
were badly strung out. The blasted hopes
, O. many high expectations
30 excuses can Dc offered for the
frajlers They simply were snothcred
f31 tne geiter of mud. Discouragcuent
CaYle W no9St q! them BY the time six
flrion2s nd been covered
aa-