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k Alfred Vanderbilt Denies; Daily Racing Form Affirms In the issue of May 5, Daily Racing Form published an interview with Alfred G. Vanderbilt which was written by Bob Horwood, our New York correspondent. This interview, which dealt with Eric Guerins ride on Native Dancer in the Kentucky Derby, quoted Vanderbilt as follows: "I cant see what he did wrong. Eric had no way of knowing that he was going to be hit by a horse deliberately going and getting him at the first turn." On Monday of this week, Vanderbilt issued the following statement at Belmont Park: "In order to correct a misquotation, I wish to state that I did not at any time say or imply that Native Dancer was deliberately bumped or fouled in the Kentucky Derby." Under normal circumstances, we would be inclined to give Vanderbilt the benefit of the doubt and grant that our representative may have misinterpreted his views. However, Evan Shipman, another member of our staff, spoke to Vanderbilt subsequent to Horwood s interview and completely corroborates Horwoods story. This newspaper regrets this difference as to facts and concedes that it is quite likely Vanderbilt did not intend to say what he did. Nevertheless, it is important that the facts be made known to our readers in order to protect this newspapers reputation for integrity. Evan Shipmans account of his talk with Vanderbilt follows: On Monday, May 4, I met Alfred Vanderbilt just as I was leaving the box section in the Jamaica clubhouse for the press bos. It was in the interval between the fourth and fifth races. He stopped me on the steps, saying that he had been pleased by an article I had written dealing with his turf career that had appeared in our Kentucky Derby edition the preceding Saturday. When I said to Vanderbilt that, even if it was a great shame to have lost the big race, the Derby must have given him satisfaction, since it proved, once and for all, that Native Dancer was a stayer, he replied: "What I minded was that one horse was out to get Native Dancer. The trouble on the first turn was obviously deliberate. They came looking for him, and Money Broker deliberately fouled him." I recall perfectly that he used the words "deliberate" and "intentional" several times, giving them strong emphasis. I had no intention of quoting him, nor was this conversation in any sense "an interview," but I was startled because I knew he could have no way of proving such a statement, and because any newspaperman might have felt completely justified in quoting him. On leaving Vanderbilt, with this impression strong in my mind, I went to the press box, there repeating this conversation to Bob Horwood. Horwood said that he had talked with Vanderbilt a half hour before, and that Vanderbilt had made a similar statement to him, employing the same emphasis and repetition of the word "deliberate." Horwood told me that he had already sent this statement on the wireto Daily Racing Form.
