view raw text
Royal Royal Bay Bay Gem Gem Defeats Defeats Dark Dark Star; Star; Dry Dry Run Run Victor Victor in in Crete Crete Inaugural Inaugural Preakness Prep Is ThrillerThroughout Victor Prevails by Almost Length, While Derby Winner Turns In Creditable Effort By CHARLES HATTON PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 18.— The stretch-running Royal Bay Gem and the Derby winner, Dark Star, brought the largest week-day crowd of the meeting screaming to its feet here this afternoon when they fought it out over the last furlong of the Preakness Prep, with the Constantin trouper beating the hero of the Downs classic by three parts of a length. Another diminishing half-length away was Bruce Campbells surprisinfg Ram o War, and Correspondent finished the mile and a sixteenth a retreating fourth. It was a dramatic race from the outset and Royal Bay Gem, closer up early than usual, turned for home abreast of Dark Star and Correspondent. These three ran stride for stride to near the furlong pole where Correspondent began to falter and over the last yards Royal Bay Gem was just a lattle too much horse for the favored Dark Star at the weights. The Guggenheim representative was topweight of the six starters under 122 pounds and was attempting to concede the Texan four. Moreno handrode him from the furlong pole and he responded resolutely and may have been best at the weights. Those who backed the successful son of Royal Gem II., sire also of Dark Star, were rewarded at the rate of 0.80 in the "tote." Weather Conditions Ideal Weather conditions were ideal and the track was described as fast, though it has been more speed conducive. The Prep was not a particularly fast race, which probably accounts for Royal Bay Gems ability to be within a few lengths of the pace to the stretch. The fractions were: :23%, ASYs, 1:13, 1:39% and 1:46 Vs. time well off Noble Impulses trrack record of 1:42. Royal Bay Gem, who had won the Jersey Stakes recently at Garden State Park, collected ,875 for his efforts today, and doubtless gained some support "or the Preakness, while it is questionable if Dark Star lost any. The Prep brought 12,752 out to the Hilltop and following the race the TRAs John Morris presented the trophy to Constantin, who was represented in the winners enclosure by Clyde Troutt. Going to the post for the Prep, the highly fancied Dark Star made a particularly good appearance, trotting proudly along with his ears erect and a bit of a swagger that elicited a salvo of applause for the only horse ever to beat Native Dancer. Royal Bay Gem, who apparently thrives on racing, also looked very fit. There was Continued on Page Thirty-Eight Royal Bay Gem Defeats Dark Star at Pimlico Holds Almost Length Margin at Wire in Preakness Prep Running Continued from Page One practically no delay at the starting point i directly before the stands and they left in I good allignment except that Correspondent : appeared to hesitate momentarily, as per his custom, but quickly recovered. Going : to the clubhouse turn, Country Gossip • gained the rail and was leading by about l a length, with Lord Jeffrey prompting him i on the outside and Moreno snugging Dark Star along on the rail in third place. Racing up the backstretch, Country Gossip and Lord Jeffrey were runnning themselves into the ground in an effort to i maintain their position and both were fading near the end of that path. Correspondent closed on them on the outside i and took the lead about the quarter pole i midway of the turn, with Dark Star moving to him and Royal Bay Gem following the I Guggenheim colt into contention. Atop i the stretch these three were all even, and i it appeared anybodys horse race. Correspondent began hanging about the furlong : pole and momentarily Dark Stars head 1 showed in front, but Koyal nay Gem came 1 i I : : • l i i i i I i i : 1 1 on inexorably under Combests drive and drew about three parts of a length before the Derby winner. Dark Star was urged with hand and heel, but Moreno did not dig into him with his whip in the course of the stretch duel. Ram o War had stopped on the pace in Ken- tucky and ran a different sort of race to- day, coming from well out of it with a belated rush through the stretch that car- ried him into third place and, probably, a place in the Preakness field. The first running of the Maryland Jockey Club Dinner Party purse went to Red Cardinal, sporting the silks of Perne L. Grisson, owner of the Duntreath Farm, The winning colt, a son of Papa Redbird, was handled by Tommy Barrow and traveled the five furlongs in 1:01 Vs to return 6.80 Cartier was second in the colors of Eugene Constantin, Jr., with Silver Arrow finishing third for Jacob L. Friedman. Silver Arrow and Mrs. George Brown, Jr.s Latitude, the latter the favorite, were responsible for the pace, with Red Cardinal moving to the fore in early stretch. Once in front, Red Cardinal drew clear to win her second purse at the meeting with authority
