John Lawrence O'Connor

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

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.