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mmmm REFLECTIONS by nelson dunstan CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 3. — Since 1915, when the filly Regret was the winner, the entire horse-loving world has watched or listened as each renewal of the Kentucky Derby has made glory for a certain horse. Newspaper clippings, which are annually brought from the the darkest darkest corners corners of of the the morgues morgues mmmm the the darkest darkest corners corners of of the the morgues morgues of the publishing houses, tell again and again the high-" lights of the yesteryears. Times without number the question of the Derbys greatest winner and its most colorful winners have been debated. Many great horses have won the Derby, and one of its greatest, and undoubtedly the most colorful, was Exterminator, the victor in 1918. The career of "Old Bones" is a story with few parallels in American turf annals. It is one of those stories that would be howled down as impossible if made into a motion picture, and still it is the truest. In 1916, the year when the late Willis Sharpe Kilmer entered racing, he bought a French-bred yearling who had been imported by Del Reiff for ,000. This horse originally had been named Sunday, but Kilmer changed it to Sun Briar. In 1917, Sun Briar was clearly entitled to the juvenile championship, having won the Great American Stakes, Grand Union Hotel Stakes, Albany Handicap and Hopeful Stakes. He was true Derby timber. AAA "Uncle Henry" McDaniel, a veteran wise in the ways of horseflesh, arrived in Louisville early in April, 1918, with every hope that Sun Briar, then a heavy favorite for the Derby, would retain his form and duplicate the terrific speed he had displayed in the Hopeful the year before. But Sun Briar was off his feed and slow in his What Was Derbys Greatest Romance? We Say Exterminator Subbing for Sun Briar From Work Horse to Outstanding Cup Horse Story of Old Bones Would Make Real Movie workouts. McDaniel discussed his fears with owner Kilmer, and from that discussion developed the incident which for sheer domance, is unique in Derby history. They decided that Sun Briar needed a "workhorse" in his early morning trials. McDaniel had observed a rangy gelding named Exterminator in the barn of "Cal" Milam. Something about this big chestnut horse held his attention. Here, he thought, was the ideal companion for Sun Briar. Exterminator had been foaled on May 30, 1915, at Almahurst Farm, which is now owned by Henry H. Knight, and is a landmark of the lovely Kentucky countryside. As a two-year-old, Exterminator had started four times, winning his maiden effort at Latonia on June 30, 1917. He was a good horse but at that time hardly comparable to Sun Briar, the Derby favorite. One week before the big race, it was definitely decided to withdraw Sun Briar and, just to show the Kilmer colors in the race, start Exterminator in his place. AAA On May 11, 1918, before one of the greatest throngs in Louisville history, Exterminator stepped on the Churchill Downs track for the forty-fourth running of the Derby. He was virtually ignored in the betting. With the withdrawal of Sun Briar, the experts agreed that the only hope for an eastern victory was A. K. Macombers high-regarded War Cloud. When a downpour of rain converted the Downs into a sea of mud, the chances of the westerners became even brighter as War Cloud needed a fast track for his top efforts. Off to a good start, Exterminator was in fifth place, and at the quarter was holding his position by a length. At that point, the filly, Viva America, was in front by a length. At the three-quarters, a shout of astonishment rose from the grandstand as Bill Knapp sent the big gelding, Exterminator, to the lead, but it was only to relinquish it to Escoba at the mile pole. Escoba appeared to be all-powerful. At the turn for home, Knapp again sent Exterminator to even terms, and in a bitter finish his mount drew away to win by a length, with Escoba second and Viva America third. It was a stunning upset, as the payoff board showed 1.20 to win, 3.10 to place, and 2.40 to show on Exterminator. After the race, Kilmer expressed the opinion that, had Sun Briar started, he would have won by five lengths, with Exterminator second. AAA Sun Briar recovered and continued to be one of the fastest horses of his years, but Exterminator "stole the show." One of the best natured animals imaginable and without a trace of temperament displayed by so many of his rivals, he became even more beloved than the jumper Elkridge is today. The late Mars Cassidy once said that Exterminator was one of the best assistants he ever had, claiming he would lean against an obstreperous post actor until the latter quieted down. As a four-year-old in 1919, his victories included the Saratoga Cup and Pimlico Cup. His likable qualities and intelligence had been broadcast, and increasing crowds appeared in the enclosure when he was being saddled. They called him "Slim" and "Poison," and the grooms at Sun Briar court affectionately referred to him as "Old Shang," but the nickname of Old Bones was the one that was to cling to him during and after Continued on Page Twenty-One g I 114 14 118 l8 114 14 114 14 14 - DO 14 14 JJ 10 14 jj 3 8 11 11 12 12 12 12 10 10 jj ~? 10 9 9 11 11 10 10 12 12 12 12 8 8 12 12 75 ij 11 10 10 11 11 7 7 7 7 12 12 12 12 11 8 8 75 05 REFLECTIONS 1 By NELSON DUNSTAN 1 Continued from Page Forty a long career. In 1920 his prestige soared with his popularity. That year he won 10 races, six consecutively and five of them cup races. Purchase was a l-to-3 favorite in the Saratoga Cup. Exterminator would have none of that, winning for the second consecutive time. He also repeated in the Pimlico Cup, and many veterans say that was the greatest victory of his long career. A * A In 1921, he won the Saratoga Cup and the Pimlico Cup for the third time, and he then was accclaimed the greatest cup horse ever developed in this country. The following year he won the Saratoga Cup for the fourth year in succession, and that record, which has stood for approximately 30 years, may never be equaled. Although a seven-year-old, his 1922 campaign was an epic for a horse of his years. In his first start that year, he vanquished the crack sprinter, Billy Kelly, at six furlongs, and in the Saratoga Cup defeated his old rival, Mad Hatter, at one and three-quarters miles. The spark in the courageous gelding was to wane the following year, but he continued to race until 1924 when he was a nine-year-old, and that season he won three of his seven starts. He was a sprinter, stayer, probably the most traveled horse in all racing history and, un-- doubtedly, the greatest of all cup horses. Also he was one of the biggest bargains of all time. During his career, he won 52,996. Kilmer purchased him for approximately ,000 and a bonus of two fillies. In those days, that was big money for a horse, and the earnings were, too.
