Worth, the favorite, won the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs this afternoon, just beating a heavy rainstorm, and by so doing saving the day for the moving-picture operators. The Kentucky Derby of 1912, the thirty-eighth renewal of the classic stake event, went to the horse which nine out of every ten horsemen and turf patrons conceded to have the race at his mercy. He did not win as easily as many expected, but he won, just lasting long enough to get the money and the honor from a dark horse. Duval, which would have paid 20 to 1 had he popped in front, was second, and Flamma, the only filly in the contest, was third. The time, 2:09?, is about four seconds slower than that made by Meridian, the winner last year. Worth won by a neck, while Duval was five lengths in front of the filly, Flamma.

Worth established his claim to the three-year old championship for the 1912 season, although he will have to win many more races this year to hold that title. At the present time he is the best of all three-year olds. To-day, just as last season, there were many doubting Thomases regarding his ability and class. It took the celebrated match race at Latonia last fall to convince these persons that he was the best two-year old out in 1911, and this spring the Kentucky Derby race is the one which sweeps aside all chances for an argument.

The colt was dead tired when the race was finished, and had to be urged hard in the last furlong. He was “prepped” for this race, and lasted long enough to win it, which ends all arguments what might have happened had the race been 20 or 30 yards more. Shilling, who rode him, announced before the race that he did not intend to have mud slung in his eyes, and he kept his word. The beaten ones in the contest had no excuse; they were beaten fairly and squarely, luck never entering into the result in the least.

There were no unusual incidents connected with the preliminaries to the big race. The crowd during the interval between the ending of the third and the time to go to the post in the big event, wended its way to the paddock and stood several deep around the railing, each and every one anxious to get a good look at the contenders. Promptly at 4:30 they left the paddock and paraded down past the judges’ stand. Flamma, the only filly in the race, leading the procession, but she was a little shy and on several occasions refused to come down in front. Wheelwright, with Byrne up, followed with free Lance, sporting the colors of George J. Long, the Louisville turfman, leading Guaranola, which was directly in front of the favorite, Worth. Sonada and Duval brought up in the rear in the order named. The clouds were hanging quite low and it was doubtful if the race would be finished before the rain fell.

The horses pranced down the stretch to the quarter pole, where Starter Cassidy told riders just what was expected of them. Several times they could have been let go, but Flamma was still in an ugly mood and she broke up many perfect starts. After about two minutes of work at the post the simultaneous cry from 18,000 throats proclaimed the fact that the big race was on.

Shilling pushed Worth into the lead, and the big brown son of Knight of the Thistle went about his work in a determined manner. He needed no urging to keep him in front and ran straight and true under the clever guidance of his rider. Free Lance cut across at the start and took the second position, laying back of Worth about a length, although Wheelwright breaking first, did not get to going right away. Sonada broke well, with Duval only a short distance back. Guaranola was a couple of lengths behind soon after they got to going, with Flamma bringing up in the rear, the filly having been caught unawares. Shilling took no chances with the Hallenbeck colt, but held him right to his knitting, coming down the stretch for the first time.

Passing the wire, Worth was easily a length and a half to the good of Free Lance, which was laying back in a contending position at all times. A length back of Free Lance, hugging the rail, came Sonada, which was only a head in front of Duval. Wheelwright followed Duval, being three lengths back of him. Guaranola was two lengths in front of Flamma, which gives an idea of the poor start gotten by the filly. Around the turn going into the backstretch, Worth was still leading by his length and a half advantage. Free Lance was still holding on, although half a length separated the Alvescot colt from Guaranola, which had slipped up on the rail. Duval was laying back in fourth place on the outside, being half a length in front of Flamma, which had passed Sonada and Wheelwright. Sonada had dropped into last place and Wheelwright was not much better, both of them running neck and neck for the booby prize. It was plain to all that they were outclassed and the crowd passed them up and centered all their attention on the leaders. Away over on the far turn, those without glasses could still distinguish that Worth was in the lead, although it was growing dark fast. They also noticed that Duval had slipped upon the inside and was now only a length behind the Hallenbeck champion. Flamma, on the outside, had also passed Free Lance, and it was quite patent here that the Long colt could not go the route, for Guaranola had also passed him. Sonada and Wheelwright were trailing nearly ten lengths back. Worth still held his advantage turning into the stretch, but Shilling was becoming nervous, for he felt the colt was tiring.

It was now a question with him as to whether he could stick out the last furlong. Drawing his whip he gave him a couple of blows and the big fellow hung on. Duval was only a length back and in this way they raced to the sixteenth pole, with Flamma in third place. Duval was gradually gaining on Worth and Fain started to ride hard. Shilling again pulled his whip at the sixteenth pole and applied it vigorously. It was well he did, for the colt was dead tired, but still game. Fain had no whip, but proceeded to give Duval a hand ride. Shilling held Worth’s head straight during the last gruelling sixteenth and the colt dashed before the grand stand a neck ahead of Duval. Fain rode his mount out, but he could not get up in time. Five lengths back of Duval came Flamma, after running a good, game race. Four lengths behind Flamma was the dead tired Free Lance, a length ahead of Guaranola. Sonada finished away back and Wheelwright was pulled up.

Worth had won and the crowd was satisfied that the best horse was the victor. As was said before, there is no use considering “if the race had been a few yards longer” the result might have been different.

The jockeys hurried back to the grand stand, the usual wreath was placed about the neck of Worth, Shilling was given a bouquet of roses and then came the deluge.

SUMMARY

May 11, 1912. Track muddy. Purse $6,000. Net value to the winner $4,850. 1¼ miles. Time, :24?, :49?, 1:16?, 1:42?, 2:09?.

Worth, br c, by Knight of the Thistle—Miss Hanover, 117 lbs., ridden by C. H. Shilling. Won by a neck; 4 to 5. Duval, 2nd, Fain. Flamma, 112 lbs. Loftus, Third. Also ran Free Lance, Peak; Guaranola, Molesworth; Sonada, Koerner; Wheelwright, Byrne. Owner H. C. Hallenbeck. Trainer F. M. Taylor.