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r-- -- ------------------------------------- - - -- ----t Twenty Years of Future Books on KENTUCKY DERBY and the Results j 1923 . .--,4 Zev, owned by Harry F. Sinclairs Rancocas Stable, and trained by that master horseman, Samual C. Hildreth, was a horse which pupils of Herodotus have difficulty placing in his proper niche in the hall of fame. Until Sun Beau plodded his way into first place as the worlds greatest money-winning horse, Zev held that honor. He held it for many years, too. He was the horse that defeated Papyrus in the great match race at Belmont Park after Ben Irish brought his Epsom Derby winner from England to take on the best America had to offer. He figured in another exciting match race at Churchill Downs with In Memoriam, and licked that good three-year-old. The match was for 0,000 a side with the Downs adding another 0,000. Zev was a shifty two-year-old. He did not win the Futurity of 1922, but he was a mighty close second to Sallys Alley. Despite all his accomplishments on the turf, turf writers and fans never speak of him as a "great" horse in the same sense they speak of Man o War or Equipoise. All during his career controversies seemed to center around Zev. He was a last-minute addition to the Kentucky Derby field of 1923. A previous race in which he appeared hopelessly outclassed had apparently eliminated him, but last-minute arguments to owner Sinclair and trainer Hildreth made them change their minds. Some credit Earl Sande with advancing the arguments. Sande rode Zev in the Derby. When they sought an opponent for Papyrus several other horses were pushed forward as having a better chance than Zev, but he was the horse that started and beat Papyrus when the latters trainer failed to have him properly shod for a muddy track. Enchantment was the future book choice for the 1923 Derby at 8 to 1. Zev was offered at 12. Sallys Alley was 15. In Memoriam was 40. Gen. Thatcher was 30. Vigil could be had for 50. Rialto was 20 and Cherry Pie 25. The latter later set an American track record for one mile, the record which Equipoise later shattered. The 1923 Derby field was a good one, but not the best that ever started in the race. Nassau wound up the post favorite with the mutuel field of seven horses, second choice. Zev won, Martingale was second and Vigil third. Zev paid almost 20 to 1 in the mutuels and Sande had ridden his first Derby winner. March March March April April May Finish of Derby 11 14 28 1 19 15 Starting: Odds Odds Odds Odds Odds Odds Odds Zev 12 15 ... 15 12 10 9.20 to 1 Martingale 30 30 20 15 .20 12 J19.75 to 1 Vigil ..50 50 ... 50 ... 50 15.25 to 1 Nassau 35 100 ... 60 ... 20 3.25 to 1 Chittagong .100 100 ... 60 ... 25 f5.85 to 1 Enchantment 8 8 ... 8 15 8 2.30 to 1 Rialto 20 40 20 40 ... 15 2.30 to 1 Aspiration 50 50 ... 40 ... 20 z29.20 to 1 Prince K 100 100 ... 60 50 40 f5.85 to 1 Bright Tomorrow 50 40 ... 40 ... 40 28.05 to 1 In Memoriam.. 40 100 20 40 ... 20 f5-85 to 1 Bo McMillan . 50 40 20 40 ... 20 11.95 to 1 Better Luck 100 100 ... 200 ... 60 z29.20 to 1 Wida 200 200 100 200 ... 100 t5-85 to 1 Picketer 100 100 ... 60 ... 75 2.30 to 1 Gen. Thatcher 30 40 ... 30 25 30 12.80 to 1 Calcutta .100 100 ... 200 ... 30 fo.85 to 1 The Clown 100 100 ... 100 ... 50 15.85 to 1 Golden Rule ...100 100 50 50 ... 100 J19.75 to 1 Cherry Pie 25 30 ... 20 ... 40 2.30 to 1 Pravus 50 100 ... 100 ... 100 t5.85 to 1 Sallys Alley 15 15 30 15 12 15 Did not start Horses are listed according to finish of race. fMutuel field. JJ. S. Cosden entry. Greentree Stable and H. P. Whitney entry. zB. Block entry.
