n 2

Pastime Stable's ch g Laureate, 3, by Volante, imp. Laurel; 122
lbs., 5 to 1, A. Clayton 3

Bashford Manor Stable's b c Curator, 3, by Alarm, Katie Creel; 122
lbs., 20 to 1, Overton 0

Time--2:37-1/2

TWENTY-SECOND DERBY 1896

The Kentucky Derby is over and Ben Brush wears the crown, but his victory
was obtained only by the narrowest of margins, and while his neck was
clothed with flowers after the race, his sides were sore and bleeding from
the marks of the spur, and his giant muscles ached as they never did
before. Simms gave him the garlands, Ben Eder caused the other things. Ah!
it was a "hoss-race!" Such a field of three-year olds had not met since
the old standard of Spokane-Proctor Knott Derby, in which Once Again,
Bootmaker, Hindoocraft, Cassius, Sportsman and Outbound followed behind
the fighting leaders. And in the finish of the race to-day there was the
same desperate, hair-raising finish, which marked that most famous of
Derbies. Ben Brush was all out. Not only that but he needed all of the
skill and strength and vim of a jockey famous on two continents to help
his quivering nostrils first under the wire. And withal he is the best
horse in the race. Not that Ben Eder with jockeys changed might not and
probably would have won, but it was a matter of condition. Ben Eder was
fit to a hair. Made fit in the only way to secure perfect condition, i. e.
in actual racing, and McGuigan, after three months of constant care and
thought, brought him to the post as exquisitely adapted for this
particular race as any modiste fitted a Worth gown to a Parisian belle.
There is now no doubt that all of Ben Eder's "prep" and races down the
line were made with an eye single to this one race. And how artistically
Bill McGuigan managed it. Always racing, yet taking on no penalty, and yet
thanks to Lady Inez the only genuine "Umbrella" McGuigan still took down
the money. Then came the time when Lady Inez would no longer do. The
finishing touches must be given; the razor edge put on. This was done, and
when Ben Eder cut a hair at Nashville his trainer knew he was ready and
that in the Kentucky Derby Ben Eder would race the race of his life. And
he did. He will never run a better one, perhaps, while Ben Brush will.
This is the difference.

Ben Brush, on