Omaha Finishes Second to Quashed in Ascot Gold Cup: Woodward Colt Beaten by Head in Great Finish, Daily Racing Form, 1936-06-19

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Omaha Finishes Second to Quashed in Ascot Gold Cup Woodward Colt Beaten by Head in Great Finish Yankee Star Defeated but Not Disgraced Before Crowd of Almost 200,000. Special Cablegram. ASCOT, England, June 18. Lord Stanleys Quashed, a brown four-year-old filly, won the 125th running of the Ascot Gold Cup today, whipping William Woodwards Omaha in one of the most stubborn stretch duels in the history of the ancient classic. While a crowd of almost 200,000 top-hatted gentlemen, smartly-gowned ladies and ordinary citizens cheered themselves hoarse, Quashed and Omaha matched strides through the last three furlongs. A few steps from the finish, the son of Gallant Fox Flambino faltered slightly, and the English mare stuck her head in front to win a purse of approximately 5,000. As had been expected, the punishing two and a half mile race over a track that was sloppy from early rains developed into a two-horse duel, with Omaha, Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner, failing to live up to the expectations of his supporters, who had made him the favorite at odds of 11-8. In losing the first of three starts on the English turf, Omaha joined four other American horses as runners-up in the Gold Cup. The only American-bred winner was James R. Keenes Foxhall, in 1882, but Omaha came closer than any of his predecessors in joining Foxhall in Ascots hall of fame. In third place, five lengths behind Omaha, was Baron E. De Rothschilds Bokbul, a French horse. Sir Abe Baileys Robin Good-fellow finished fourth in the field of nine. Quashed, the second favorite, paid 3 to 1 to win, and 4 to 7 to place. Bokbul was backed at 100-6 to win and 11 to 4 to place. Omaha was "out" for place. The Stanley filly, the first of her sex to win since La Fleche in 1894, covered the course in 4:33 compared to the best time of 4:17 recorded by Golden Myth in 1922. Quashed, a daughter of Obliterate Verdict, carried 123 pounds three less than Omaha and was ridden by jockey Richard Pcrryman, who also, was upon King Edwards Fairey, which won the Waterford Stakes, the event after the Gold Cup. Omaha, ridden by the veteran Pat Beasley, seemed to find the punishing distance too much for him to handle and faltered near the finish. He swerved slightly to the left just a few yards from home the break Continued on third page. OMAHA FINISHES SECOND IN ASCOT GOLD CUP Continued from first page. which prevented what appeared to be a certain dead heat. A French horse, Chaudiere, led for the first half mile, with Omaha and Quashed well back in the field. At the mile and one-half post Lord Glaneleys Buckleigh was out in front, followed by Chaudiere, Quashed and Omaha. At the two miles post Buckleigh still led, put Quashed and Omaha were coming along fast. As they entered the straight Quashed took command, with Omaha breathing in her ears. The rest of the field was far behind. A quarter of a mile from home Quashed still had a slender lead, with Omaha hanging on close. Each matched the other stride for stride, waiting for one to start a sprint. At the last furlong post both jockeys gave their mounts the rein. Omaha, appearing much lighter than when he won the jVictor Wild Stakes and Queens Plate last month, was sweating profusely. He seemed to have been rated slightly off the pace and for that reason faltered to the left a few yards from home, and Quashed, with a final burst of speed, went over the winner. Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, Omahas English trainer, said it was the grandest race he ever had seen. "Ive no excuse to offer," he said. "Im quite satisfied with Omahas race." Jockey Beasley said if there had been a few more yards left Omaha would have won. "I dont know whether Omaha ever was out in front," he said, "because I was too excited. All I could see was two animals racing neck and neck. I think a dead heat would have been wonderful."


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1930s/drf1936061901/drf1936061901_1_4
Local Identifier: drf1936061901_1_4
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800