THIRTY-FIFTH DERBY 1909

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Louisville, Ky., May 3, 1909.—Weather clear, track slow. 1¼ miles. Time 2:08?. Value to winner $4,850, second $700, third $300.

Wintergreen, 117, V. Powers 1
Miami, 117, C. Shilling 2
Dr. Barkley, 117, 3

Sir Catesby, Friend Harry, Direct, Michael Angelo, Warfield, Campeon and Match Me also ran. Betting $5 mutuels paid $14.80 straight. Start good, won easily, second and third driving.

Wintergreen, b c, 3, by Dick Welles—Winter. Owned by J. B. Respess, trained by C. Mack.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RACE

Wintergreen, an Ohio-bred colt, carrying the colors of Rome Respess, ridden by V. Powers, galloped away from his opponents to-day in the race for the thirty-fifth Kentucky Derby. Four lengths behind him came Miami, which carried all the hopes and money of Central Kentucky, and he was three lengths in front of Dr. Barkley, a despised outsider, which beat Sir Catesby a head and gave the latter the place of honorable mention. Wintergreen hardly left the outcome of the race in doubt after the barrier rose. His backers had a moment of anxiety when he was bumped by Miami right after the start and once in the final furlong, when Powers laid the lash on the big bay colt. The rest of the race was play for the son of Dick Welles and Winter. Miami ran a good game race, Direct and Warfield failed to show anything much and Campeon and Match Me were outclassed. Sir Catesby ran the best race behind the winner and would have been second but for bad racing luck. The going made Friend Harry stop.

For a horse that was born and bred in the Buckeye State to win the Kentucky Derby is a new feature in the history of this classic event. California, Eastern horses, and in the majority of cases, Kentucky and Tennessee have furnished all the Derby winners.

Slowly and with Wintergreen in the lead, they filed past the stand and clubhouse and, turning, galloped to the starting point, where Jake Holtman was ready to send them away. The field got away quickly to a good start. Wintergreen and Miami came together as the barrier went up, but the son of Dick Welles was not to be denied and he at once went to the front and there he stayed. Coming past the stand, he had a clear lead, with Miami next and Dr. Barkley and Friend Harry close up. Sir Catesby was on the inside and was apparently trying to run over horses. Going up the back stretch Powers took a nice hold on Wintergreen and the great colt just skimmed along pricking his ears. Friend Harry made a determined effort passing the half-mile post, but it was just a flash in the pan, for scarcely had the cry “Friend Harry is catching him” rung out before the crowd was yelling Friend Harry is beaten, as the Alvey colt’s stride shortened. Miami, which had clung tenaciously to second place, also under restraint, was now sent after the flying pacemaker with a will. But Shilling could not rally his mount and the farther the field went the easier was Wintergreen’s task. Nearing the eighth pole Powers got a little uneasy and gave Wintergreen one good crack with the whip and he bounded away like the others were standing still. Miami was just as easily second and Dr. Barkley just managed to beat out Sir Catesby, the latter coming through the worst going. The rest were pretty well scattered.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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