The Washington times., 1938-05-10
Pinlico Predkness Rich
In Tradition Of Turf
Race Antedates
Ky. Derby By
Two Years
BY KIRK MILLER


Derby, started in 1878, this
Pimlico PreakneSS which comes
off over on the outskirts of Balti,
more next Saturday has just a
little bit more ivy clinging to it
than the Churchill Downs classic
can dare to boast.
The PreakneSS, as such. was
started in 1873, and with the ex-
ception of 18 years between 1889
to 1909 has been run every year at
the historic knoll of ground that
only this past winter was sub
jected to a face lifting which this
spring presents Pimlico for the
first time as a flat parcel of
ground.
So at last the thousands of
people forced to stand on the lawn,
the brick lawn if you please, of
the grandstand and clubhouse, will
be able to follow the Preakness all
the way around the track, without
the horses disappearing behind the
hump which until this year has
inhabited the infield.
An historic angle of the Freak
ness is the famous Woodlawn vase,
custody of which rests with the
owner until the ensuing Freak
ness.
This richly engraved specimen
of the SilverSmith'S art, standing
nearly three feet high, takes the
form of a cup, supported by a cir
Gle of thoroughbreds.
1t was originally made in 1860
for Col. r. A. Alexander, of Ken
lucky. for the Woodlawn Racing
Association and offered annually
there as trophy.
TROPHY BURIED
When the Civil war broke out
it was buried with the remainder
of the family plate at Colonel
AleXander'S home, Woodlawn. Re
Gently Pimlico adopted the plan
of awarding a miniature of the
WoodlaWn vase for permanent
possession of the winners of
Preakness stakes.
From 1873 through 1889 the
PreakneSs was worth only $1,000
compared to about SIS, 900 the
winner will receive next Saturday,
including the $50.000 added and
| the eligibility entrance and start
ing fees.
In 1919. when the Preakness was
resumed after a lapse of 18 years.
the purse was $4,000 at which
figure it remained three years
through 1911.
Then there must have been a
depression, for from 1912 through
1916, the added money amounted
to only $500.
However, there was healthy
upward trend in 1917, when they
got bighearted over at Pimlico and
put up all of $4,000 70 be split
four ways among the first four to
cross the finish line. That was the
year the Woodlawn vase came into
the picture. donated by Thomas
Clyde. for years a valued Pimlico
patron.
The effect on the attendance
was so exhilarating that 1918
found Pimlico giving away $3O.0O0I
in two purses of $4,000 each, the
race being run in two sections be-
cause Of heavy entry.
ANTE RAISED
For two seasons, 1919 and 1920,
the ante was raised to $25,OOO.
Then a very bold gesture was
made. Forty thousand dollars was
the added money in prosperous
postwar 1921 and Harry Payne
Whitney's Broomspun came along
to win the majority of that.
The Preakness was beginning
to arrive, and the old Hilltop had
stated to rival Churchill Downs
as a spring gathering place for
the racing hordes.
For the II ensuing years, 1922
through 1882, Pimlico adhered to
a $5O,00O added money policy,
until hard times came arapping
at its door and it had to step down
to $4,000 from "a through '36.
Meanwhile, by 1887, young Al
fred Gwynne Vanderbilt became
associated with Pimlico in the
capacity of vice president, and last
year back up to the $50,0 900 mark
went the added money.
Thus the PreakneSS now offers
owners quite as great a sporting
lure as does the Derby, or for that
matter. any other race in the coun-