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►| ; ., ™*" | JOHN D. HERTZ— Reigh Count and Count Fleet his favorites. Like Father, Like Son Holds True Reigh Count Initiated Trio Of Successes Back in 1928 , Then He Begot Count Fleet/ 43 Victor Who Later Sired Count Turff Winner in 1951 By DON FAIR Staff Correspondent I CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 1. — "Like father, like son," an old ■proverb, proved itself in the 1928, 1943 and 1951 renewals of the Kentucky Derby. Reigh Count whipped a field of 21 starters In the 1928 running of the rich Downs "classic and then sired the 1943 Derby victor. Count Fleet, who in turn, begot Count Turf, successful in 1951. Reigh Count and pount Fleet carried Mrs. John Hertz silks, while Count Turf sped safely home under the colors of the New York restaurateur, 8. J. Amiel. It was the writers good fortune to witness Reigh Counts accounting and call this newspapers Derby charts on Count Fleet and Count Turf. Reigh Count, an unusually handsome chestnut colt, the get of the imported sire and dam, Sunreigh and Contessina, respectively, was coupled in the Derby with Otto Lehmans Reigh Olga, who finished fifth. The pair was saddled by Bert S. Michell and Chick Lang rode Reigh Count while Earl Pool had the mount on the bet-ter-than-average Reigh Olga. Reigh Count and his running-mate, favored at slightly more than 2 to 1, made excellent physical appearances in the post parade. Lang sent Reigh Count into a good position at the start of the gruelling mile and one -quarter test while Le Mar Stock Farms Misstep set the pace. The latter held sway until inside the stretch, but he lacked the stamina to repulse Reigh Counts final surge. The Hertz colt scored by three lengths and appeared to have something left at the wire. Misstep had two fengths on E. B. McLeans Toro for place honors and W. J. Currans Jack Higgins was fourth in the bulky field. Heavy Going Prevails The Derby, which fell to Reigh Count was decided in heavy footing, a rarity at the Churchill Downs course, which seldom becomes deep and holding. The final time of 2:10% was considered good on that afternoon a quarter of a century ago and, certainly one of the real highlights of the day, was Langs well judged ride, a potent factor in Reigh Counts well-deserved victory. After Reigh Counts retirement to stud, he sired many quick sons and daughters but there is no question that Count Fleet was much the best of his offspring. To say that Count Fleet was and is a good individual would be an understatement. The brown son of Reigh Count and Quickly, by Haste, definitely must be ranked as one of this nations great thoroughbreds. Starter Reuben Wesley White, who will send the Derby on its way tomorrow, perfectly dispatched the 10 starters in the ~ ► : 1943 field. Count Fleet, ridden in all major engagements by Johnny Longden, popped out of the stalls with a slight lead but he was taken back and slightly restrained during the run to the backstretch, while Mrs. Vera S. Braggs Gold Shower set a brisk pace. Just before reaching the half-mile mark, Longden permitted Count Fleet to go into command and the finely-trained colt never left the issue in doubt from that point, sweeping under the wire with a three - length margin. Allen T. Simmons Blue Swords, another speedy racer of that time, was second, six lengths before W. E. Boeings Slide Rule. Dixianas Amber Light saved fourth while Gold Shower, weary after his display of early speed, wound up a soundly-beaten eighth. It should be added here that Count Fleet came up to his Derby with an outstanding record of 12 victories in 17 starts and that he went on to capture the "Triple Crown" before leaving the racetrack for stud duty. No less than seven of his sons were nominees for this years Derby, Greentree Stables Straight Face, Charles Bonns Count Nimble, John W. Galbreaths Lord Jeffrey, Louis B. Mayers Swell, Starmount Stables Fleeton, Cornelius V. Whitneys Counterfeit and Mrs. E. duPont Weirs Kris Kr ingle. Count Fleets Derby winner, Count Turf, annexed the coveted event before a record crowd just two years ago. The Ariel colt, whose dam was the Pompey-sired Delmarie, defeated 19 rivals in garnering the 8,050 prize and gold trophy. Benefitted by a clever ride from Conn Mc-Creary, who handled Calumets Pensive in 1944, the New York invader raced the 10 furlongs in a commendable 2:02%. Continued an Page Forty -Three Adage Like Father, Like Son Figures in Three Renewals Continued from Page Forty-One McCreary had Count Turf in a good position from the outset and after his mount entered the back stretch, it was apparent that the pair would take some beating. Phil D., Repetoire, and Hall of Fame, all forwardly placed to the last quarter-mile, displayed signs of having had enough during the long drive and Count Turf disposed of them to earn a four-length triumph. Wilson Stables Royal Mustang ran sceond, Mrs. Emil Denemarks Ruhe closed strongly for third with the tiring Phil D. lasting for fourth by a head over Calumets Fanfare. There will be many Kentucky renewals in the years to come and it is our humble opinion that the line founded in this country by Sunreigh and Contessina will produce other winners of the most famous race contested on this continent.
