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► .1 i ii mm i- i i I 4 JOCKEY HENRY MORENO— The Chicago reinsman gave Dark Star a million-dollar ride to win the Derby. Dark Star Victor in Derby Head Before Native Dancer Hitherto Unbeaten Gray Colt Bows to Son of Royal Gem II. Cain Hoy Stables Bargain Yearling Purchase Makes All of Pace and Withstands Favorites Final Charge; Invigorator Third, Royal Bay Gem, Fourth; Time, 2:02 for Ten Furlongs By CHARLES HATTON CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2.— Native Dancer met his Waterloo in a heartbreaking finish before a Kentucky Derby throng .j of record proportions at the Downs this sunny afternoon, when he came A to the finish cutting down the lead of Harry Guggenheims Dark StsuM with every stride, but the brown son of Royal Bav Gem II. respondjM gallantly to Henry Morenos call the last yards after making virtualNM the pace and would not be denied. The Derby Trial winner still wasH head before the charging gray at the finish and it was five long lengtbJP back to the Saxon Stables Invigorator, third of the 11 participants in this most dramatic "Run for the Roses" in many years. Eugene Constantin, Jr.s, stretch-running Royal Bay Gem, who is, incidentally, by the same imported Anzac sire as the winner, finished in fourth place, another two lengths back. Thoroughly beaten after having raced prominently into the stretch were Correspondent, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, and Greentrees Flamingo winner, Straight Face. Distance Runs Out on Favorite This Derby was packed with thrills from the outset, and ended on a note of pathos for those who sent the hitherto undefeated Native Dancer away at odds on, for with all due respect and admiration for the brilliant performance of the winner, the Saga-morean was probably the best horse. Ironically, while pedigree pundits have for months questioned his capacity to stay M blistering mile and a quarter of the DertH the furlongs ran out on him and it aV peared he would certainly have won wit-B just a bit farther to go. V The successful Dark Star rewarded th« comparative handful of this crowd esti- mated at more than 100,000 at the rags i to riches rate of 1.80 for and earned a net purse of 0,050 for his sporting New York owner. Guggenheim has for years invested heavily in bloodstock, seeking such a colt and purchased him at the yearling sales for ,500. This Derby was, regrettably, not without its untoward "racing luck," and some of it befell Native Dancer and the second choice, Correspondent. The Dancer was roughed at the first turn when Money Broker ranged alongside and Correspondent was bumped soon after the break by Ace Destroyer. Conversely, the favorite was fortunate enough to get through on the inside Continued on Page Five 4 ► — — - — — i— DARK STAR — The Derby winner, shown following a recent workout prior to his earlier success in the Derby Trial. HARRY F. GUGGENHEIM — Owner of the 1953 Kentucky Derby winner. Dark Star Dark Star 79th Winner of Derby Outpoints Hitherto Unbeaten Native Dancer by Head Under Henry Morenos Hard Urging Continued from Page One and save ground curving into the homestretch. He caught Correspondent, who was vainly trying to bring down Dark Star about the furlong pole, and drove on after - the flyins pacemaker, coming outside for this move. He gained with tremendous .strides all the last sixteenth, but "the pardon came too late." Following the race. Moreno said, "I had planned to lay third behind Native Dancer and Correspondent, but I had so much horse under me I changed my mind going under the wire the first time. When did I think I had it won? When I got under the wire the second time." Guerin commented, • Mv horse got sloughed on the first turn. Didnt seem to like the track." This latter comment Bteam rather strange, in view of the final time of 2:02. just three-fifths of a second behind Whirlaways record. Record Derby Day Handle The mutuel handle of ,532,731 on the Derby wm shohtly under last years ,565,-901. the total for the day was certain to eclpise last years worlds record total, as the total on the first seven races was well ahead of 1952. There was the usual colorful scene in the bedlam of the innerfield following the stunning finish. The sporting crowd cheered Dark Star as he proudly posed under the traditional wreath of American beauties, while photographers by the score captured the historic moment on film, and an estimated 40,000,000 TV fans throughout the nation looked on. Governor Law-• rence Wetherby cf Kentucky presented the coveted tall gold vase to owner Guggenheim. In addition to the acclaim, financial reward and lasting prestige for the winner, there were awards also for his more contentious rivals, and prizes for the trainers and breeders. Second money in the Derby is 0,000, with the third horse collecting ,000 and the fourth ,500. The trainees of the first three will receive ,000, ,000 and ,000. respectively, of the 00,000 added, and ,000, ,000 and 00 are deducted from the jackpot for their breeders. A bright sun greeted the Derby visiters this morning, and they began wending their way to the Downs at an early hour. Hundreds were present when the gates were opened at 8 oclock and an hour later there were perhaps 30,000 on the scene of the classic. Many had "Kentucky breakfasts" of ham and mint juleps awaiting the 11:30 first pest time. And wagering on the early races and at the auxiliary Derby betting booths was running in advance of the action on corresponding events last May. when the play totaled a record ,064,420. The beautiful weather made the scene along the quarter mile of stands and lawns and in the crowded innerfield a spectacular panorama of colors. Flags fluttered in the breeze, bands blared, glasses tinkled and the gay throng amused itself trying to pick the winners of the earlier events while awaiting the magic moment when the Deby went to the post. Dancer Walks Nonchalantly to Gate The Derby field was well behaved on the post parade, and the striking gray favorite elicited a ripple of applause as he walked nonchalantly to the cate atop the quarter mile homestretch. All of the entrants were warmed uo briefly around the turn. Starter Ruby White had little difficulty with them, except for Ram o War breaking out of his stall in his anxiety. They left on the same i stride and raced fairly even for perhaps a sixteenth, when Dark Star, who drew in number 11 spurted to the front and angled for the rail when he was well clear passing the stands the first time. Correspondent, recovering quickly from big bump at the break, was rating along a length and a half off him and Straight Face was on the Californians tail going into the fust turn. At this juncture Na- tive Dancer was being per/nitted to drop lengths off the pace and Money Broker gave him an assist hi passing. The order going up the backstretch remained unchanged up forward, with Morenos mount skipping along exhuding speed in reserve and Correspondent and Straight Face following him like a shadow. But behind them The Dancer was beginning to move up on the outside of the field I and Invigorator was maintaining a position to challenge. The favorite came to the inside and cut the corner atop the homestretch and was entering contention with space devouring strides. He ranged alongside Correspondent running on the rail about a furlong out and Arcaro, looking over at him, dug into the little Guiberson colt, but he had had it. So, ■ too. had Straight Face, whom Atkinson i WM flailing on the outside to no avail. It i became clear that if Dark Star was to be beaten this fine day, only Native Dancer I was likely to encompass his defeat. Guerin , was driving the big gray with hand, whip and heel and. coming outside Dark Star at a loss of ground, the Vanderbilt colt was , diminishing the distance with every bound. j Moreno, alert to this, had Dark Star straight ; as the proverbial string. For a split second just inside the final sixteenth, it appeared j Native Dancer would get up. but he still was I a head short of his target at the line. Invigorator Closes Willingly Invigorator ran a steady race, though no match for the first two. He was in cramped | quarters momentarily going up the back-stretch, but closed willingly, if not fast enough, and beat tired horses for third. Royal Bay Gem was his customary sluggish | self early, had to lose some ground while weaving through the stragglers and finished j : stoutly though he was beaten off in taking the fourth award. Money Broker had a spurt going into the backstretch but tired badly the final quarter. Following the race, Willie Shoemaker on i Invigorator said. "My horse van a good race. He got bothered a couple of times." Corn-best on Royal Bay Gem also opined, "My ! horse ran a good race." Arcaro on Correspondent observed, "My horse didnt run very much. Dont know why. Only time he ever ran bad for me." Dodson could offer no excuses for Ram o War, nor Popara for Money Broker. 1 Atkinson, who had the mount on Straight Face, said, "No excuses. When I was third I thought I was going to get something, but he didnt have it after that." Adams, . who rode Social Outcast, said "My horse ran a fair race. He might not have liked the track." Though there was a good deal of concern for the weather and track yesterday, the Derby pace tells the story of these condi- tions eloquently, with a quarter in :231s. half in :464/5, six furlongs in 1:12% and the mile in 1:3635. I Golly Scores in Debutante Golly, a homebred daughter of Alorter and Timely Tune, carried Mrs. Elizabeth ] Brisbines silks to a well-deserved victory in the fifty-third running of the 0,000 Debutante Stakes. Alertly ridden by the veteran Kansas reinsman. Johnny Adams, the victress stepped to the front early and reached the end of the live furlongs with a two lengths advantage over Clifford Mooers" Spy Magic. A similar distance away, Mrs. Otto C. Neumanns Beanir earned the short end of the Debutante spoils by another two lengths from Pollard and Harkins early speedster, Bright Charge. Golly, successful in her only two previous ou lings, was not under strong- pressure to defeat her seven junior miss rivals and completed her task in a rather tardy 1:00 over the fast track. Gollys Debutante triumph was worth 3,350 of the 7,000 gross purse and she was third choice in the wagering at 13 to 5. In all fairness to the Brisbine filly it must be said that she might have bettered her time had she been pressed during the late stages of the dash. Once she had opened a good margin over Spy Mngie during the stretch run, she loafed a bit and it was necessary for Adams to ride her. Spy Magic, caught in close quarters leaving the upper turn, raced kindly when dear, but she was unable to reach the flying winner, while Beanir gave a good performance in achieving third honors.
