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Count Turf Gains Stunning Triumph in Kentucky Derby jRoyal Mustang Four Lengths Behind Amiel Colt at Wire Choices for Richest Renewal of Famous Stake Finish Out Of Money as Ruhe Runs Third; Son of Count Fleet Timed in 2:02 3 5; Returns 1.20 as Part of Mutuel Field Coupling By CHARLES HATTON CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 5.— Count Turf amazed perhaps the largest crowd that ever saw a horse race in America when he surged out ol the dust curving for home and won the richest of all the Kentucky Derbys by four decisive lengths. J. J. Amiels colt was one of the "mutuel field," but he left the choices up the stretch, as he led Sam E. Wilson, Jr.s, Royal Mustang by an ever increasing patch of daylight, while the latter was beating Mrs. E. Denemarks Ruhe a nose for the place, with W. C. Martins Phil D., another fielder, in fourth place. The New York restaurateurs surprising son of the Derby winner Count Fleet earned earned 8,050 8,050 for for running running the the historic histc ric mile mile and and a a quarter quarter in in 2:02% 2:02% in in ric mile mile and and a a quarter quarter in in 2:02% 2:02% in in dry going, and returned those who played the mutuel coupling 1.20. Little Conn McCreary, who had won the 1944 Derby on Pensive, had the mount on the sleek bay and gave him the benefit of a well-judged ride. The crowd of more than 100,000 wagered ,294,474 on the seventy-seventh running of the world famous Kentucky classic, and made Battle Morn the favorite at about 5 to 2, with the C. V. Whitney entry second choice and Fanfare third. The only ones with any very noticeable excuse were Fanfare, who was in close quarters momentarily about the sixteenth pole, and Battle Morn, who ran up on Ruhes heels. Count Turf was drawing out so rapidly and running so easily it didnt appear to matter about the result as far as first money was concerned. Third in Sucessive Male Line to Win Race The tremendous throng that filled every nook and cranny of the Downs, to the stable roofs along the backstretch, sensed that this would be one of the best shows in Derby history and they werent disappointed. Though the winner came from an unexpected quarter, he was given a splendid ovation, from the time McCreary guided him up the flower-bordered path to the charmed circle until Governor Wetherby of Kentucky presented Amiel the Derbys gold trophy. Count Turf, a ,700 yearling bargain, incidentally is the third in successive generations of his male line to win the coveted 00,000, event. His sire won the 1943 renewal, his grandsire Reigh Count that in 1928. Count Turf was bred in Kentucky by Dr. and Mrs. Frank Porter Miller, of California. Count Turf had won the Dover in a busy 1950 campaign, and only one minor event in 10 previous starts this season. The Derby time of 2:02% marked a good Continued on Page Five ■""*» *- " WO!* *? - ■ COUNT TURF— Added the "Like father, like son, like grandfather" clause to Kentucky Derby history when he took down the coveted "Roses" at Churchill Downs. His sire, Count Fleet, won the 1943 Derby, while his grandsire, Reigh Count was victorious in the same race in 1928. Count Turf Carries J. J. Amiel Colors To Stunning Kentucky Derby Triumph Leads Royal Mustang Home * By Four Lengths as Choices Disappoint; Ruhe Runs Third Continued from Page One performance, considering the dispatch with which Count Turf disposed of his rivals, though it was seconds slower than Whirla-ways track and stake record of 2:01%. Even more startling than Count Turfs success was that of Royal Mustang in finishing second at a mutuel of 3, while Ruhe paid .80 to show. Battle Morn was the second straight favorite to meet defeat, as Hadnt Orter could only finish third behind D. A. Headleys Crownlet and Mrs. F Sharpes and R. Mullen, Jr.s, Mutation in the fifty-first Debutante. The Duchess of Windsor presented Headley the trophy in this affair, as one of the highlights of the program. Little Interference at Start The Derby field made a colorful cavalcade as they paraded to the accompaniment of the traditional and nostalgic notes of My Old Kentucky Home. They were well behaved, many of them accompanied by ponies, but there was some delay at the double section of stall gates, occasioned when first Snuzzle and then Repetoire twice broke through. Starter White obviously had the gates set to assure the doors would fly open easily. It was a good sendoff, with comparatively little interference, considering the size of the field. In fact, the entire race was run with much less bumping than the previews of recent weeks. Count Turf broke from number 9, about midway the pack in the gate, and he still was midway the field in the run first time past the stand. But McCreary steadied him and he was weli placed and full of run, rating along in sixth place as Phil D., Hall of Fame and Repetoire were blazing the way down the backstretch. The Amiel green and yellow sash began to loom up menacingly on the outside at the far turn. Once Repetoire began to weaken after attaining a clear lead entering the stretch it was just a question of by how far Count Turf would win. Royal Mustang was well placed all the way, never back with Bailey snugging him just off the pace to the stretch, and finishing with pretty much the same unexpected determination he showed in the Blue Grass Stakes. Ruhe was charging at him from the sixteenth pole home, but was beaten a head for the place award as the Wilson representative stuck resolutely to his task. Ruhe ran his usual race. He was one of the stragglers early, still sixth behind tiring horses winging for home, then responded gamely when Jessop called on him and simply wasnt quite good enough. Phil D., another dismissed as categorically a "fielder," ran the best race he has shown this side of the Rockies. He broke fast from far out in No. 18 post position, cut out a busy pace with Hall of Fame prompting him to the first turn, disposed of that rival, and gave Repetoire what contention he encountered going to the front on the home curve. The Texas-owned colt couldnt cope with the first three through the stretch, but lasted to be a rather distant fourth in advance of Fanfare , and Battle Morn. Fanfare finished fifth and might have ! been closer, expect that he was backed out of tight quarters between Royal Mustang and Ruhe coming to the sixteenth 1 pole. The Calumet colt was running strongly at the time, although making no impression on the winner. ,675,542 Wagered on Program Battle Morn still is one of the sort who I always is going to win next time. He was * far out of it early, and Arcaro was lucky to find his way through along the rail in improving his position up the backstretch. * Coming outside to make his move at the end of that path, Battle Morn was flashing [ by the stragglers in a threatening burst " around the last turn, but was unable to reach contention through the long homestretch. Arcaro said after the race that his mount had run up on Ruhes heels in the course of his run, "and almost went to the " ground." Repetoire ran a powerful race for a mile, "* with McLean taking him back off the pace to the turn, where he was set down, but [ then faded as Count Turf went to him i straightening for the run home. "My horse was almost pulling me out of f the saddle on the backstretch," McLean l said. "He wanted to go before I was ready y for him to make his move. The distance e was just a little too much and the track i. may have stung him." Anyoldtime and Sonic had speed for r about a half-mile then retired. Counterpoint - stumbled at the start, and his stable-mate, Mameluke, failed to produce the e stretch run which carried him from last to 3 first in the Blue Grass. He trailed far back c all the way. Timely Reward, Sir Bee Bum, i, King Clover, Snuzzle, Fighting Back and 1 Big Stretch also were far out of it the entire - trip. Doug Dodson said of Big Stretch, t, "My horse refused to do any running. I had 1 a hard time getting him out of the gate." " The Derby handle marked a new race s record by the way, and the days handle of ,675,542 was a new high for Churchill 1 Downs. Apprentice J. E. Turner, who was spilled i from Augustus and Nahms Signaberra soon i after the start of the six-furlong second i race, escaped with a severe shaking up and i - f l y e i. r - e 3 c i, 1 - t, 1 " s 1 i i i i bruises. On orders of the track physician, the youthful reinsman canceled his mounts S for the balance of the day. H. C. Drews s Easy Dixie, handled by Jess Higley, won the sprint from M. R. Latimers Free Me, ., J. H. Donalds Lucile T. and nine other r ordinary three-year-olds. Easy Dixie paid i 8.20. LOS ANGELES, Calif ., May 5.— In a tele- - phone conversation with a Daily Racing 5 Form reporter at his home in Riverside, , Calif., Dr. Frank P. Miller, breeder of f Count Turf, the 1951 Kentucky Derby win- - ner, expressed himself as "very much l pleased." Count Turf was bred and foaled 1 in Kentucky, then brought to Dr. Millers s ranch in California at the age of four or r five months. Then in August of his year-f ling year, he was sent to Saratoga for the sales where his present owner, J. J. Amiel, purchased him for ,700. Count Turf, as s I | he was later named, was the cheapest of f 17 Count Fleet yearlings sold at sales at t Saratoga, Keeneland and Maryland in l 1949.
