County Delight Easily Wins Dixie: Leads throughout as Pimlico Opens, Daily Racing Form, 1951-05-07

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t County Delight Easily Wins Dixie JOCKEY CONN McCREARY— Won his j second Kentucky Derby when he guided j Count Turf to victory in the Derby. : j j : [Leads Throughout As Pimlico Opens On the Mark Forces Issue, But Is Unable to Menace Fast Rokeby Stable Colt By PALMER HEAGERTY Staff Correspondent PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 5. — In one of the most convincing victories in the history of the famed Dixie Handicap, Rokeby Stables County Delight this afternoon accounted for the fifty-third running by two and one-half lengths over King Ranchs On the Mark. Another two and one-half lengths back was Brookmeade Stables Why Not Now, with a similar distance separating him from Sylvester W. Labot, Jr.s, Arcave, the only other starter in the mile and three-sixteenths classic. Cloudy skies prevailed for the opening of the Maryland Jockey Clubs 19-day spring session, but a pleasing turnout of 15,821 witnessed a well-contested program. County Delight, while being timed in 1:58% for the distance, picked up a purse of 8,650 for Paul Mellon, owner of the Rokeby establishment. Backers of the victorious son of Count Fleet were rewarded at the rate of .20 for . Jimmy Nichols handled the strapping bay faultlessly and made his trip from New York a profitable one. Following the victory of County Delight, trainer Jim Ryan, repersenting the Rokeby Stable, accepted a handsome trophy from John O. Needles, secretary of the host organization. Sprints Clear of Opposition The start was effected following a slight delay and County Delight immediately demonstrated his superiority, sprinting clear of the opposition in the run by the stands for the first time. Nichols had an armful of horse rounding the clubhouse elbow and still his mount drew clear until he was six lengths clear entering the homelane. * Jimmy Lynch, astride On the Mark, almost "bit the dust" entering the back-stretch ! and only his good horsemanship i kept him from being unseated. Why Not ] Now, just in front of the King Ranch colt, drifted out slightly entering the back-stretch j and when he did, On the Mark attempted to savage the Brookmeade j colorbearer. Lynch was forced to take up ! sharply and when he did his mount broke ■ stride. Once recovered, On the Mark was able to retain a position within striking distance and moved up to displace Why Not J Now for the runner-up position with but J a half mile to go. While he was cutting down the margin between himself and County Delight, it was apparent to the crowd that the task confronting On the Mark was a hopeless one. Only once did Nichols raise his whip to County Delight, and that was merely a reminder entering the stretch. Once aware of the fact that he was still in competition, j County Delight drew clear to win in a common gallop. On the Mark was just as clearly the best of the others, while y Why Not Now outfinished Arcave, who faltered badly following a mild challenge on . the turn. Charles Givens, substituting for the ailing j Joe Culmone astride Why Not Now, was fortunate to escape without injury when , he fell from his mount while pulling up. The ambulance was sent to the three-quarter pole to aid Givens, but the veteran pilot walked off unassisted.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1951050701/drf1951050701_3_1
Local Identifier: drf1951050701_3_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800