day to day, for
weeks prior to the Derby of 1889, so that when the great day rolled around
thousands of people went to the track impelled by an uncontrollable
curiosity to see the horse that had been written so much about. Well,
every one who went on that day, saw a race, the like of which they never
saw before nor since. The idol was dethroned but even in defeat he was
greater in the hearts of his admirers than was the winner.

But the Derby this afternoon presented none of the attractive features of
that great event won by Spokane. The horses trained here and, of course,
around whom most of the local interest would naturally attach had not
shown any trials upon which to place much faith in their prowess, with the
possible exception of Pearl Song. The others had been tried and found
wanting, and, as a matter of course, the public could not make an idol of
common clay. Along up the line from Memphis to this meeting came a horse
that had run races at three other tracks with considerable success, and
whose muscles had been hardened for a journey of a mile and a half by
actual racing, which is admitted by all trainers to be a better
conditioner than private work. This horse is Chant, and he won the
Kentucky Derby this afternoon just as he pleased. There may have been
horses in it that will be better than he later on, but there was nothing
in it that was within ten pounds of him to-day. There was nothing in it
that could make the son of Falsetto stretch his neck and think seriously
that he was running for a stake or merely out for an exercise gallop. The
time was exceedingly slow, and this was partially due to the soft
condition of the track, but more particularly due to the fact that there
was nothing in the race that could make Chant run any faster. Chant was a
strong favorite in the betting, his odds being uniformly 1 to 2, but after
viewing his easy victory one was impressed with the idea that those odds
were really quite liberal. It was only a matter of loaning one's money to
the bookmakers for a little while, to be taken back shortly with fifty per
cent interest. There were five starters in the Derby all with the same
impost--122 pounds. Goodale was on Chant; R. Williams on Pearl Song;
Overton on Sigurd; Ray on Al Boyer, and Irving on Tom Elmore. As remarked
before Chant was a strong favorite, and Pearl Song was second choice. Not
a few backed the latter to win, and as is always the case in every race,
straggling bets