Louisville, Ky., May 13, 1911.—Weather clear, track fast. 1¼ miles. Time 2:05 (equals track record). Value to winner $4,850, second $700, third $300.

$2 mutuels paid $7.80 straight. At post 2 minutes. Start good, won driving, second and third same.

Meridian, b c, 3, by Broomstick—Sue Smith. Owned by R. F. Carman, trained by A. Ewing.

DESCRIPTION OF RACE

Meridian, Kentucky-bred, but Eastern-owned, triumphantly carried the colors of R. F. Carman to the front in the thirty-seventh Kentucky Derby in record time and before a record crowd at Churchill Downs to-day. The Derby was run from “eend to eend” as Frank Harper of Ten Broeck and Longfellow fame, used to say, for the winner set a heart-breaking pace and had the stamina to last the route and get home a scant length in front of Governor Gray. The latter was about 15 lengths in front of Colston, the dark horse for the Derby. The time 2:05, a new mark for the Derby. The best time ever recorded for the sixteen blue ribbon events which have been run at this distance was made by Lieut. Gibson in 1900, when 2:06¼ was made. It also equaled the track record made last year by Royal Report. The race was not a gallop for Meridian for he was a tired horse at the finish and was exceedingly well handled at the end by Jockey G. Archibald. Governor Gray had some bad luck. He was next to the fence going round the first turn, and Troxler was forced to take him back, and he was lengths behind the pacemaker going into the back stretch. The others were not in the same class with the two placed horses and only figured in the race for the first mile. Probably Colston will do better in the next effort and the same could be said of Mud Sill and Jack Denman.

It was 4:55 when the first of the Derby contingent filed through the gate to lead the parade of the field past the sands. The huge crowd applauded vigorously as the horses filed past the clubhouse, where they turned and slowly came back again on the outside. It was easy to tell which was the favorite as Governor Gray got a great reception. After passing the betting shed the field cantered to the post with Mars Cassidy galloping up to the same point on a fiery steed and on the steeplechase track, while the crowd in the field kidded him a bit. There was but a moment’s delay at the barrier. The field would have gotten away at the first line-up, but for Round the World which acted sour and Jack Denman. They were quickly lined up again and in a jiffy Cassidy yelled “Come on!” and the horses were on their way. The start was a good one for all but Col. Hogan, which was last to break, and when he did go went very wide and that settled his chances once for all.

Meridian went to the front at once and ere the field had reached the judges’ stand he was three lengths in front and setting a pace that had the others on their toes. Round the World was second a couple of lengths in front of Colston, which was some lengths in front of Mud Sill, with Jack Denman and Governor Gray close up. Col. Hogan trailed the field.

At the first turn, Governor Gray, which was next to the rail was shut off and Troxler was forced to take him back, and for a few moments it looked as if he were going to be displaced by Col. Hogan. The field went up the back stretch in Indian file, Meridian under gentle restraint but still burning up the track, Round the World hanging on gamely and Colston still holding third position. As the field swept up the backstretch and neared the half mile pole, Governor Gray which was eating up ground, loomed up and was soon in a position to overhaul the leaders. Troxler had him full on his stride and rounding the turn, passed Colston and soon passed Round the World, and there was but one horse to catch and victory was his. But that was a hard task as Meridian was still moving along in great style turning the mile in phenomenal time for a race of that distance. The whole field was under whip and spur when straightened for home, except the Carman colt. As the eighth pole was neared he began to shorten his stride and the cry went up “Governor Gray’s got him.” But this was premature and wrong, for Archibald holding the colt together, urged him on, handriding and he maintained his advantage of over a length until the sixteenth pole, where he swerved over in front of Governor Gray, on which Troxler was making a final effort, but it was not for the Governor. The ground he lost on the first turn and the effort to make it up told on him and right at the finish his nose was opposite Meridian’s tail. Many lengths back came Colston, which was a couple of lengths in front of Mud Sill and Jack Denman, which finished close together in the order named, then Round the World pulled to a walk and Col. Hogan, which had been eased up some time.