The Washington times., 1935-05-02

S$=' - outstanding
" Kirk Miller facts sur
rounding it, and if you'll be
patient I'll try to set down
some of the more important
ones.
The first Derby was run
on May II, 1875, when the now
historic old Churchill Downs,
with it's spired clubhouse and
winged grandstands was OPP
ened. This makes the 1885
Derby the Sixty-fifth running.
The original distance Of the
blue ribbon event was a mile
and a half, but in 1896 it was
shortened to its present route,
q mile and a quarter.
twenty-five Start
The largest field to compete
was in 1923 when Reign Count
won from a field of % thorough
breds. On three occasions, 1892,
1899 and 1905, but three horses
faced the barrier.
!, On nine occasions a winner
has paid less than even money
and the only field horse to ever
gallop in to the fore of the
others was Flying Ebony in 1925.
Col, E. r. ("One-TWO") Bradley,
of the Idle Hour Farm, Lexing-
ton, bred and owned four Derby
winners Behave Yourself
1192D; Bubbling Over 1920:
Burgoo King Q932), and Brok-
ers Tip 1888.
The only others who have
duplicated victories are H. p.
Whitney with Regret in 1915
and Whiskery in 1927, as we'll
as George j. Long with Azar in
1892 and Sir Huon in 1906. Re
greet is the only filly to win the
Derby and Nellie Flag will be in
there Saturday trying to dupli-
cate that feat.
Two Ride Three Winners
Two jockeys have been for.
tunate enough to ride three
winners, Earl Sande riding
Zev, Flying Ebony and Gallant
Fox, while Isaac Murphy, a
Negro rider, booted home Blu
chanon, Riley and Kingsman.
And here are some other
odds and ends of Derby back
ground which might not be
amiss as the date for this
years running grows near: %
post-time favorites have won.
The shortest priced winners
paid 1-to-3 and were Hindoo in
1881, Halma in 1895 and Agile
in 1905. Conversely, the long
est priced winner was Donerail
Q913), $184.90 to So for a win
ticket; $41.2o, place, and $500,
show.
The only maidens to win a
race were Brokers Tip three
years ago, Sir Barton in 1919
and Buchanan in 1884. Omar
Khayyam Q91D is the only
imported horse to take down
the top money.
Daddies Beget Victors
The Derby time record is
held by Twenty Grand, mile
and a quarter in 2:01 and As
in 1881. >Fifty-two colts, seven
geldings and one filly have
headed home first and but
two fathers have begotten sons
to win-Halma Q895) string
Alan-a-Dale, victor in 1902, and
Bubbling Over (1926) being the
forebear of Burgoo King, the
1882 winner.
You must be tired of Derby
details by now, and I won't
burden you any longer. I'd
just delight to be able to tell
you one more thing-the win
ner day after tomorrow. but all
I can say in that respect is
Sonny Workman told me that
barring an accident Today
can't lose.
But he was off to the jockey
room before I could ask him:
"Whaddy'a mean accident
Sonny?"
Around and About
Gardner Orme, boat fancier,
is the proud possessor of
Ventnor "91" which he will
race on the Potomac this sum-
mer-the PhilS played eight
games this season before they
turned in an errorless one
the late Earl D. Widegren
won the first Albany-to-New
York motor boat race, a re-
newal of which will be held
a week from next Sunday
Rogers Hornsby has just passed
his thirty-ninth birthday--be-
sides being one Of the greatest
right-handed hitters in the his
tory Of the game. he has
played every position but
pitcher and catcher in his 81
year career-his lifetime bat
ting mark is .359-