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See Sixty-Eighth Running 4 As Adding Another Thrilling Chapter to History of Event LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 1.— In all the runnings of the Kentucky Derby whose performance stands out as the most thrilling? There are many answers to that question, depending upon the point of view, and any one of them could be correct, for the long history of this spring classic for three-year-olds is chock full of gripping feats never to be forgotten by those who witnessed them. There were those Derby champions who, as the saying goes, won the hard way, by going to the front at the start and leading their rivals over the entire mile and a quarter to the excited delight of their supporters. There were others who inspired the same emotions by the fury of belated charges that carried them from far back in their fields to first place at the wire. Some of those in the modern history of ! the Derby who, like true champions, went to the front and stayed there were Johns- J town in 1939, War Admiral in 1937, Clyde Van Dusen in 1929, Bubbling Over in 1926, ! Zev in 1923, Morvich in 1922, Paul Jones, Sir Barton, Regret and Old Rosebud. The day Old Rosebud won in 1914 and set a Derby record of 2:03%, horsemen said that no thoroughbred who ever lived could have beaten him at the distance. At the end he was in front by eight lengths, and jockey Willie McCabe still had him under stout restraint. Regret Easy Winner The victory of Regret the next year stands out in bolder relief with each succeeding Derby renewal, since she was the first and still is the only filly ever to capture the classic. This daughter of Broomstick made her own pace and when roused in the last eighth she emphasized her greatness by drawing away from her nearest rival, Pebbles, and winning as she pleased. The victory of Paul Jones will long be remembered because of the stubbornness with which he fought off the challenge of Upset in the run through the home stretch. Upset drew alongside Paul Jones soon after entering the final straightaway and they battled head-and-head the rest of the way. For a time it appeared that Upset might get there first, but Paul Jones steadfastly Continued on Page Three — _ i Derbys Thrilling Finishes Discussed Some Took Hard V/ay by Leading Throughout — Others Came From Behind Continued from Page One refused to give up and emerged the winner , ! by a head. Johnstowns triumph is another which will be remembered for the consummate ease with which it was achieved. The Be-lair Stud colt took command quickly after the beginning and he exercised his mastery over his opposition so as to leave no doubt as to who was best. He also won with eight lengths to spare. Some of those who raced from far back to achieved fame at Churchill Downs were Whirlaway last year, Omaha in 1935, Cavalcade the year previous, Brokers Tip in 1933, Twenty Grand in 1931, Omar Khayyam in 1917 and Donerail in 1913. Few who saw his performance will soon forget the great rally Whirlaway uncorked on his rivals last spring. He exploded this charge at the three-furlong pole and by the time he reached a position halfway down the home stretch he was three lengths in front. He won by eight and set a new track record of 2:0125. Omaha inaugurated his charge a little sooner in his drive to everlasting turf glory, v, hile the run Cavalcade made was more of a steady mowing down of rivals, though none the less efective. Brokers Tip came from eleventh place in a field of thirteen to score his triumph and his Derby charge was further enlivened by a personal battle between his rider, Don Meade, and Herb Fisher, who rode the second horse, Head Play. Brokers Tip emerged from this melee with a nose decision after one of the wildest battles ever to mark an important stake. Twenty Grands Great Closing Rush Twenty Grand, who broke Old Rosebuds record and held the new one until Whirlaway came along, was in tenth place in a field of twelve after completing a half mile. Then he set sail in another of the most thrilling displays of speed many fans have ever witnessed. Those who saw the 1917 Derby may recall that Omar Khayyam, the only imported horse ever to take down the Churchill Downs event, came through on the inside to drive past Ticket and on to victory, and that he hugged the fence so closely that his riders boot was half torn off. Charles Borel guided this winner. Donerails success will remain notable as much for the lack of esteem in which he was held by the public as by the manner in which he made up ground to get under beaten with an eighth of a mile to go, but the wire first. He had only three horses Roscoe Goose drove him furiously and urged him past Ten Point in time to score by a half length. The mutuel return on his chances was 84.90 for . Then there were winners who neither went to the front and stayed there nor came from great distances back to earn their laurels, but who turned in brilliant efforts nevertheless. In recent years there was one horse who turned in an amazing performance only to miss victory by inches. He was Brevity, who was knocked to his knees at the start of the 1936 Derby and then ran around almost the entire field to finish within a head of the winner, Bold Venture.
