ucky 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 2:06-1/4 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 o