Echoes Of The Last Derby: Competent Judges Call It "True" Race, Applaud Winner.; Agree That Blue Larkspur Was at Real Disadvantage in Mud and Hope for Fast Track for the Belmont., Daily Racing Form, 1929-05-21

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ECHOES OF THE LAST DERBY * Competent Judges Call It "True" Race, Applaud Winner. ♦ Agree that niue Larkspnr Was at Real Disadvantage in Mud and Hope for Fast Track for the Belmont. » LOUISVILLE. Ky. May 20.— Low temperatures and dreary skies, following in the wake of the series of the severe rainstorms that drenched this section and particularly the Churchill Downs race course last Saturday, were responsible for unusual hurried departure of the thousands of Derby visitors from this city. Thousands of them succeeded in getting started homeward only a short time after the running of the race, while many who were required to remain through Saturday night, got away by rail, motor, water and air Sunday. Hotel officials reported that not in several years has the scattering of visitors for the race been more hasty. It was calculated that due to inability to obtain changes of attire, sadly needed after they were drenched to the skin while at the Downs Saturday, many of the throng were forced to leave more hurriedly than anticipated. Others who escaped a wetting found the chill of the weather that followed the downpours too penetrating to permit them to remain for more Downs racing. Only a few remained and visited the track this afternoon. CALL IT "TRUE" DERBY. Wet or dry, departing enthusiasts left singing praises of Clyde Van Dusen, the superior muddy-track runner, which carried the colors of Herbert P. Gardner, of Amsterdam, N. Y., to an easy victory in Saturdays race. Horsemen, too, joined in the chorus of approbation, thus assuring that the geldings victory was clean-cut and the race, ofttimes decided by racing luck, truly run. Competent judges were agreed that Blue Larkspur, the favorite, was at a big disadvantage in the mud and water of the track. They noted that he "rolled and sprawled in the going and considered his finishing in fourth place a noteworthy performance brought about entirely by his gameness. it is doubtful if by his Derby showing the colt lost any of the large following he had for the race and the high regard in which he has been held appears likely to prevail until he has had opportunity to engage his rivals for the three-year-old crown over a fast track. Also, no small number of horsemen are satisfied that Naishapur, which finished second, will not improve upon his Derby performance over a dry course. Excepting Prince Pat and Bay Beauty, which received a few minor cuts about their hind legs, all of the Derby participants came out of the race unscratched. Clyde Van Dusen, trainer of the Derby winner named for him, reported the diminutive racer in fine fettle. He was not under saddle Sunday and had only a light gallop this morning. Under present plans he is not going to dodge any of his important engagements and his next assignment is the 5,000 added Fairmount Derby on Saturday, June 1. Following that race he will go to Washington Park for the American Derby. Trainer Van Dusen has not definitely decided upon a program for shipping him, but expects to keep him here until the last of the week at least. Blue Larkspur, Bay Beauty. Buddy Bauer and Botanical left early Sunday morning for Mr. Bradleys Idle Hour Farm, from where they were scheduled for shipment to Belmont Park this morning. At Idle Hour Farm about six additional racers were to join the stables stars. The shipment is in charge of Richard Gardner, one of trainer H. J. "Dick" Thompsons assistants. Thompson continues to make favorable improvement and the attending physician Is well satisfied with his condition. At Belmont Park Blue Larkspur will have his next important engagement in the Belmont Stakes, in which he is expected to meet some of his Derby opponents and others. MLNOTAUR COMES TO CHICAGO. Voltear, Folking and The Nut entrained early Sunday morning for New York. Essare will remain here for several days, trainer Johnson having brought along from New York several other racers which will be seen In action here. Minotaur left Sunday for Washington Park. He was accompanied by four of the horses of the Wild Rose Farm. Jockey Floyd Halbert left for Aurora, where he will report to C. Lawrence, his contract employer. John McKee, trainer of Naishapur, announced Monday morning that the colt will be pointed for the Fairmount and American Derbys. McKee is pointing Mr. Earls Jim Dandy for the coming Bashford Manor Stakes here and will be quite busy saddling the youngster for the stake on May 30 and Naishapur two days later at Fairmount Park. Jockeys Mack Garner, Willie Garner, Steve ODonnell and A. Robertson, who came from New York to ride in Saturdays race, lost no time returning to Belmont Park. Trainer Walter Fenwick let it be known that Baron Longs Ervast, which did not contest the Derby, due to track conditions, will be sent along in training and probably fill his engagements in the Derbys at Fairmount Park and Washington Park.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1920s/drf1929052101/drf1929052101_20_1
Local Identifier: drf1929052101_20_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800