64 HISTORY OF THE 



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 the other hand, was in his first race of the 

 season, and while he was by no means much too "high" and out 

 of condition, still he had a host of other engagements up the 

 line, some of them far richer in money than the Kentucky Derby. 

 Ten thousand seemed to await him at Oakley, $12,000 at Latonia 

 and $20,000 at St. Louis and Mr. Dwyer is not a sentimental 

 man. His trainer could not afford to have Ben Brush too fine, 

 and when the struggle came with Ben Eder the Bramble colt 

 had only his class in his favor, and this was supplemented by 

 Simms. 



It is true there were many spectators who honestly believe 

 that Ben Eder won, but the obstruction offered by the judges' 

 box makes it impossible for anybody but the judges or those 

 in the timers' stand to tell, and there seems no doubt, from the 

 statements of those in these positions, that Simms (as a great 

 jockey will) saved just one more effort in Ben Brush and using 

 it in the last desperate leap, shot the hair on his nose in front of 

 his shorter whiskered opponent. 



Then too, there must be considered in estimating a popular 

 verdict the natural and noble disposition to cheer the under dog 

 when he gains an advantage and the sportsmanlike instinct to see 

 an overwhelming favorite beaten. 



First Mate ran like the flashy cur that he showed himself to 

 be in all of his races. He will likely do in shorter contests or 

 in which he can overwhelm his opponents by a bust of his speed, 

 but nature obviously designed him for the role of a gentleman's 

 saddle horse, in which he can show high head and flaming tail 

 in harmless curvetting, which will not be taken as a challenge 

 to -battle-— at which his soul sickens. 



