Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

It was one of the great sporting days of the year in Spokane: the running of the Spokane Derby.

A record-breaking crowd of 35,000 attended the race, which was one of the culminating events of the Interstate Fair. The prerace pageantry was described in the Spokane Daily Chronicle like this:

“Red and white, the derby colors, were in evidence everywhere. …

“Princess Spokane (Miss Marguerite Motie) had them combined with her Indian costume when she appeared in the ‘royal box’ ready to place a red and white floral collar about the neck of the derby winner.

“Suspended across the track, above the finish wire, held in place by heavy red and white ribbons, was a silken purse in the same colors, containing $2,000 in greenbacks, to be taken down by the winning jockey.”

And the winner was … Imprint, ridden by a jockey named Matthews.

Imprint passed a horse named Henry Walbank at the 60-yard pole and won by half a length.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1957: The Space Age began as the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into orbit. James R. Hoffa was elected president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The family comedy series “Leave It to Beaver” premiered on CBS.