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, , i | 1 ] Weighing In I By EVAN SHIPMAN BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 4. — Arthur Helliwell, turf scribe for Britains The People, broadcast his prog . • , i I , j j I I I nostic for the recent running of the Epsom ,Derby with the crack, "What did I tulyar?" Joe Donahue, just back from a flying trip to England, France and Ireland — a trip during which he took in the big race at Epsom, a glimpse of sport at Longchamp and an afternoons card at The Curragh, brings, us a , . | j = I i j . j 1 j j j I j ■ 1 . i : j i j i few of the jubilant Helliwells comments on "The Blue Ribbon of the Turf." Donahue, known to, the English now as the "Ambassador of Racing," left New York on a Tues-I day evening, and drove directly from Lon-| don airport to Epsom. On Thursday, he went racing in France. On Friday, he flew to Ireland toThe Curragh. And on Satur- day, he took a plane home. Helliwell, re-! porting Donahues skirmish with time, says, "It was Joes eighth Derby, and he was confidently tipping Tulyar— just as last year he put all his friends on Arctic Prince, His ambition is, one year, to watch both jthe Epsom Derby and the Belmont Stakes — which is run in America — on the same day. impossible? Joe says no. He figures that when the Comet goes on the North Atlantic run, he will be able to leave Epsom immediately after the Derby, and get to New York in time for a 2:30 post." All we can say is, shades of Jules Verne and Phineas Phogg! From all reports, Charlie Smirke, the English jockey who rode the Aga Khans Teheran colt, Tulyar, to victory in the Epsom classic, was the hero of the occasion. Helliwell says* "Everyone seemed to have backed Charlie, and the only sad faces were among the gray-toppered French visitors who had gambled a fortune in francs on Silnet and Augur, and the bookmakers as they scraped the bottom of their satchels for the big pay-out. Even the shrewdest layers were caught napping by the big and sudden rush of money for Tulyar 10 minutes before the off. I got on at 12 to 1, and by the time I had lit a cigar to sit back and watch the race, he had been backed down to favoritism. William Hill, the book who ruefully calculated that he would have to pay out more than 250,000 pounds about 50,000, consoled himself with a class of water, and remarked, Its the punters turn for champagne! It was definitely the dressiest Derby since the war. The French boys were all togged up in top hats, tails and lavendar waistcoats. Their gay mademoiselles brought a touch of Champs Elysees chic to the Downs. And I even spotted one or two of the soho hounds walking around disguised as gentlemen in hired glad rags!" According to the English Daily Express, the Aga Khan was delighted by his victory at Epsom, the fifth that the distinguished Anglo-Indian sportsman has scored over the years. He was not on hand to witness Tulyars half-length triumph- over Gay Time, but, from his Cannes Villa, sent word, "My 20,000 pound prize money will be divided among the jockey Charlie Smirke, the trainer Marcus Marsh, and his stable boys at Newmarket. They have worked a whole year for this success, and they deserve the money. I am delighted just to get my share of the honor and glory, and, of course, the new value of the horse." The Daily Express reckons that Tulyar, worth some 0,000 before the race, will now be valued at 50,000. Smirke, riding his third Derby winner on Tulyar, smallest horse in the big Derby field, turned down an invitation from Aly Khan, the owners son, to celebrate in Mayfair following the victory. The 46-year-old veteran, according to the Daily Express, yawned and said, "I am tired out, and just want a little supper at home, and then bed." Aly Khan, however, threw a big party. Said the Express: "The original orders at the club were for 30 places, "but fresh instructions were phoned again and again — an extra six places, covers for ten more, the Swed- ish ambassador will be there, until every corner was crowded." Smirke told reporters that, during the running of the Derby, "Tulyar was never out of the first five. For some time, Bob Major, Indian Hemp and I were together, and at Tattenham Corner, Gordon Richards showed up on Monarch More. I went into the lead in the straight and. won comfortably.". Back of Smirke, we gather that all was not so "comfortable." Several experienced jockeys declared, "The race was the roughest we have ever ridden in." Willie Siiaith, rider of Bold Buccaneer, said, "it was a real rough-and-tumble, more like wrestling than race riding." The trouble, according to the turf writer for the Daily Express, was caused when the trailers tried to close up with the leaders coming around Tattenham Corner, always a danger spot. Continued on Page Thirty-Seven WEIGHING IN I By EVAN SHIPMAN Continued from Page Four "Whenever the slightest opening: appeared," this report says, "two or three riders would immediately force their mounts at the gap. Marcel Lollierou, the French rider of Worden II., came back with one eye closed, and M. Marcel Bous-sacs Marsyad was struck while rounding Tattenham Corner. The colt was found to have a broken fetlock, and had to be destroyed. These things happen in racing was Boussacs philosophical comment." ■The excitement at Epsom did not stop with the end of the race. The Daily Express concludes, "Faubourg II. was back first to the unsaddling enclosure, and then Aly Khan led in the winner to loud shouts of, Good Old Charlie! Suddenly it was noticed that the second horses stall was empty. There was no sign of Gay Time. Lester Pigott, Gay Times jockey, came limping in to be pounced on by his anxious father. Wheres your saddle? I dont know, replied the boy, and I dont know where Gay Time is either! It transpired that on pulling up in the paddock, Gay Time had shied at a babys pram, thrown Lester and galloped off riderlessly through the durdans. George Young, Sam Hanleys head lad, was doing odd jobs in the stable yard when the chestnut colt came careening through the stable gate. George, hat-less and wearing an old yellow sweater, promptly caught the horse, mounted him and set off for the race course. Meanwhile, the loudspeakers had announced, the winner has weighed in. The third has weighed in. In the meanwhile, young Lester Pigott, Gay Times 17-year-old joc-. key, had told Mrs. Rank, Gay Times owner, that he believed he had grounds for an objection against Tulyar, the winner. After considerable discussion among Gay Times entourage, Mrs. Rank said, I am sure my late husband would not have objected in these circumstances. And so the 1952 Derby ended finally on a tranquil note."
