view raw text
Fate Spared Jet Pilot in 46 CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 5. — Two days prior to the running of the 1946 Kentucky Derby, one of the worst fires in racing history destroyed 22 two-year-olds owned by Maine Chance Farm at Arlington Park. The youngsters had cost their owner 82,700 as yearlings the preceding summer. Newspaper stories said the only two-year-olds of Maine Chance Farm that were not lost were War Fan and Jet Plane. These two had been shipped to Churchill Downs along with Lord Boswell, Perfect Bahrain and Knockdown, who made up the Maine Chance Farm entry in the 1946 Derby. Actually, it was War Fan and Jet Pilot that had been sent along with the Derby candidates. The latter was started at Churchill Downs on Derby Day and galloped home an easy winner in the first race of his career. The following season, he won the Kentucky Derby.
