Winfrey Beds Dancer In His Barn at Belmont: Trainers Confidence in Gray Colt Grows; Stands Trip Well, Daily Racing Form, 1953-05-06

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Winfrey Beds Dancer In His Barn at Belmont Trainers Confidence in Gray Colt Grows; Stands Trip Well BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 5. — Weary trainer Bill Winfrey bedded Native Dancer down in his barn at Belmont Park today, anxious to forget the sad past. "Ive got more confidence in him than ever," he said. The beaten Kentucky Derby favorite, a good traveler, suffered no ill effects from his rail trip from Kentucky, where he was humbled for the first time by Dark Star last Saturday. "But I havent had time to talk things over with Mr. Vanderbilt yet," he said. "So I cant definitely say what Native Dancer will do next. The Preakness and the Belmont, surely, and possibly one or two races in between." "We can offer no excuse for the Derby defeat and feel he doesnt need one. After all Native Dancer was only beaten by a head and dispelled any doubt that he can race a mile and a quarter. I have more confidence in him than ever and I feel sure he will stay the mile and a half of the Belmont. "I thought Dark Star was rated perfectly and is a good colt," the youthful trainer said. Winfrey rode in the same train with Native Dancer, but there was no way of getting from the passenger cars into the horse car carrying the gray colt. "I rode with my wife and naturally preferred her company. But there were several stops when I could take a look at Native Dancer to see how he was doing. But actually there was no need of that. We have fine help who are able to take care of the horse perfectly," he added. There was a small crowd gathered at the siding when the car carrying Native Dancer pulled up. And as Winfrey led the horse down the ramp flashlights popped. Native Dancer paid little attention to all the fuss. The horse then was led to his barn and quickly settled down as though he already had forgotten his only defeat in 12 races. Winfrey hadnt forgotten it, however, but said: "I dont care to look back." Native Dancer is eligible for four stakes at the Belmont Park meeting, the 0,000 Swift at seven furlongs on May 11; the 5,000 Withers at a mile on May 16; the 5,000 Peter Pan Handicap at a mile and an eighth on June 3; and the 00,000 Belmont Stakes at a mile and a half June 13. He probably will hit the "comeback trail" in the Withers before heading for the Preakness Stakes and revenge at Pim-lico May 23.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1953050601/drf1953050601_3_4
Local Identifier: drf1953050601_3_4
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800