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Kentucky Derbys of Past-Charts and Future Books 1931 I I A....--.-------.. .-4 j The greatness of Equipoise and Twenty Grand was reflected in the I short prices future book operators offered against the notable pair in the j pre-post wagering on the Kentucky Derby of 1931. Both were remarkable horses and the field that was expected to oppose them was considerably above the average in general class. Subsequent turf history proved that the layers who picked Equipoise as the favorite in the future book opening line in that season knew something about horses, and their selection of Twenty Grand as second choice and final favorite when Equipoise failed to train, also confirmed their knowledge of equine capabilities. Equipoise opened at 4. Twenty Grand at 6, but by May 4 the latter was the choice at 3 to 1 and Equipoise was still at 4 to 1. Equipoise did not get to the post and Twenty Grand won the Derby in record time, lowering Old Rosebuds record, which had stood for many years through many and varying changes of track conditions. The 1931 Derby field was one of the best that ever faced the barrier for the great race. Sweep All was second, Mate third, Spanish Play fourth, Insco sixth, and Pittsburgher seventh. Mate was third choice to Equipoise and Twenty Grand. He had beaten tnem doui, in iact naa outrun equipoise on two occasions; tnen, in later years, went to England and gained international fame. Insco later sired a Kentucky Derby winner in Lawrin, and only recently died. Equipoise ranks with Man o War, Colin, Sysonby, Exterminator and other great American horses. Twenty Grand, the 1931 winner, was not only the champion three-year-old but best horse of that year. He was gifted with extraordinary speed and, in addition to holding the record for the Derby, ran the fastest mile ever credited to a two-year-old. The chart of the 1931 Kentucky Derby discloses the great speed of Twenty Grand in running a mile and a quarter in 2:01, as a glance at the following shows: FIFTH RACE 1 1-4 MILES. Woodtrap, May 21, 1921 2:03 7 106. Fifty-Seventh 58996 Runnins KENTUCKY DERBY. 0,000 Added. 3-year-olds. Weight-for- May-1G-31-C.D Net value to winner 8,725 and gold trophy; second, ,000; third, ,000; fourth, ,000. Index Horses Eqt A Wt PP St 1 Str Fin Jockeys Owners Equiv. Odds Strt 587282TWENTY GRAND wb 126 5 9 104 and1 22 H 1 KurtsgerC Greentree Stable J88-100 588113SWEEP ALL wb 126 1 10 4 3 1J 23 2 ColtilettiF Dixiana 2696-100 58728MATE w 126 10 11 7h 4and 3 3 3 EllisG A C Bostwick 283-100 588112SPANISH PLAY w 126 6 4 84 8 64 52 44 AlIenCE Knebelkamp and Morris 4509-100 58701 BOYS HOWDY wl26 7 3 2 5 5 4 5 RileyG H C Hatch 2326-100 58701 INSCO wb126 12 6 9h U1 83 6s 6 ODonnellS G Watkins 2291-100 I 58811 PITTSBURGHER wl26 9 7 ll3 101 9J c 7 CorbettC Shady Brook Farm Stable 849-100 58811 THE MONGOL w 126 3 1 5 9 11 9i 81 McCoyJ Hamburg Place 587283LADDER wb 126 4 2 3J 1 43 7 9 SchaeferL W J Salmon 2600-100 58330 ANCHORS AWEIGHwb 126 2 12 12 12 104106 102 SteffenE Greentree Stable t 58728 SURF EOARD w 126 8 8 6 7 7 Hi 11 WattersE Greentree Stable t 58811 PRINCE DAMOUR wb 126 11 5 P 2J 12 12 12 JamesE J Leiter 7623-100 fMutuel field. Coupled as Greentree Stable entry. Time, :2Zys, :47, 1:12, 1:37, 2:01 new track record. Track fast. , HUT DELS PAID , , OFFICIAL BOOKING ODDB GREENTREE STABLE ENTRY $ 3.76 $ 3.00 $ 2.60 88100 50100 30100 SWEEP ALL 15.58 7.16 679100 258100 MATE 3.62 81100 Winner B. c, by St. Germans Bonus, by All Gold trained by J. Rowe, Jr.; bred by Greentree Stable. WENT TO POST 5:02. AT POST H minutes. Start good out of machine. Won easily; second and third driving. TWENTY GRAND, much the best and slow to begin, was sent up slowly after a half, raced strongly on the outside at the second turn and, wearing down SWEEP ALL, drew away fast and won with speed in reserve. SWEEP ALL broke slowly, but saved ground while working his way up fast in the first quarter, followed the leaders under restraint in the back stretch and raced into a good lead on the stretch turn, but could not -withstand the rush of the winner, yet he was easily best of the others. MATE improved his position fast in the first quarter, saved ground on the second turn and failed to rally under vigorous driving in the stretch. SPANISH PLAY began slowly and closed with good courage. BOYS HOWDY began fast and finished well after dropping back on the far turn. INSCO held on well. PITTSBURGHER began slowly, met early interference and was never a factor. LADDER quit badly after a mile. PRINCE DAMOUR showed early speed. Scratched 58728 Equipoise, 126; 58770Up, 126; 58701 Don Leon, 126. The Future Book prices from the opening quotations until the day of the race follow: Feby March May May Horse. 22 16 4 11 Odds Odds Odds Odds Twenty Grand 6 7 3 2 Sweep All.. 40 50 25 20 Mate 8 10 6 3 Spanish Play 40 50 25 20 Boys Howdy 100 60 30 30 Insco 10 25 15 20 Pittsburgher . . . 80 100 20 25 The Mongol 80 1,000 Ladder 80 100 30 30 Anchors Aweigh 40 60 25 SO Surf Board 40 60 12 30 Prince d Amour 40 200 40 100 Equipoise 4 4 3 4