History of the Kentucky Derby, 1875-1921   By: John Lawrence O'Connor

by

JOHN L. O'CONNOR

Copyright 1921 John L. O'Connor

CONTENTS

PREFACE FIRST DERBY 1875 SECOND DERBY 1876 THIRD DERBY 1877 FOURTH DERBY 1878 FIFTH DERBY 1879 SIXTH DERBY 1880 SEVENTH DERBY 1881 EIGHTH DERBY 1882 NINTH DERBY 1883 TENTH DERBY 1884 ELEVENTH DERBY 1885 TWELFTH DERBY 1886 THIRTEENTH DERBY 1887 FOURTEENTH DERBY 1888 FIFTEENTH DERBY 1889 SIXTEENTH DERBY 1890 SEVENTEENTH DERBY 1891 EIGHTEENTH DERBY 1892 NINETEENTH DERBY 1893 TWENTIETH DERBY 1894 TWENTY FIRST DERBY 1895 TWENTY SECOND DERBY 1896 TWENTY THIRD DERBY 1897 TWENTY FOURTH DERBY 1898 TWENTY FIFTH DERBY 1899 TWENTY SIXTH DERBY 1900 TWENTY SEVENTH DERBY 1901 TWENTY EIGHTH DERBY 1902 TWENTY NINTH DERBY 1903 THIRTIETH DERBY 1904 THIRTY FIRST DERBY 1905 THIRTY SECOND DERBY 1906 THIRTY THIRD DERBY 1907 THIRTY FOURTH DERBY 1908 THIRTY FIFTH DERBY 1909 THIRTY SIXTH DERBY 1910 THIRTY SEVENTH DERBY 1911 THIRTY EIGHTH DERBY 1912 THIRTY NINTH DERBY 1913 FORTIETH DERBY 1914 FORTY FIRST DERBY 1915 FORTY SECOND DERBY 1916 FORTY THIRD DERBY 1917 FORTY FOURTH DERBY 1918 FORTY FIFTH DERBY 1919 FORTY SIXTH DERBY 1920

PREFACE

With no pretense to authorship or claim for originality on the part of the compiler, this work is offered as a reference book. For many, the plain facts of each year's Kentucky Derby will be of sufficient interest. To the countless followers of Turf happenings the material herein will refresh the memory and awaken happy reminiscence.

This compilation is made mainly from the columns of The Thoroughbred Record , a Kentucky publication, and I am indebted to the graciousness of its editor, Mr. John E. Rubbathan, for the privilege to use the material from his invaluable repository. Mr. Douglas Anderson, author of "Making the American Thoroughbred," by his encouragement has made light the labor incident to compilation. To Mr. Gurney C. Gue, of the New York Herald , I owe a debt of gratitude for his helpful advice.

In conclusion, if these efforts prove acceptable to my brethren of the Turf and tend in any degree to promote and keep up the spirit of Racing, the object in giving as much time to the subject as I have done, will be accomplished and my end attained.

WHITE PLAINS, N. Y.

APRIL FIRST, 1921.

FIRST DERBY 1875

To day will ever be historic in the turf annals of Kentucky, as the first "Derby Day," of what I hope to see a long series of turf festivities. If the officers of the Association could have had the pick from the calendar of the year, there could not have been a more delightful and charming day. The morning broke without a cloud visible in the heavens, while a cool breeze was wafted over the course, tempering the increasing rays of the sun. It was just such a day in May

When the sun is rejoicing above in heaven, The clouds have all hurried away. Down in the meadow the blossoms are waking, Light on their twigs the young leaves are shaking, Round the warm knolls the lambs are a leaping, The colt from his fold o'er the pasture is sweeping, But on the bright lake, The little waves break, For there the cool west is at play.