view raw text
♦ Dark Star Bright Light at Churchill Victory in Derby and Trial Nets 01,700; Crowds, Handle Up Over 52 Meet Cain Hoy Stables Dark Star, winner of the Kentucky Derby following a triumph in the Derby Trial, was the particular, bright star of the recent Churchill Downs spring meeting, of course. Of more broadening importance to racing in general and the Downs management in particular was the fact that attendance and pari-mutuel handle showed increases over the corresponding 19-day spring meeting of last season. An estimated 316,000 patrons filed through the Downs turnstiles in the 19-day period from April 25 through last Saturday, wagering 7,135,698 on the 159 races that were conducted. These figures represent a daily average attendance of 16,632 and daily average mutuel handle of 01,-879. For the 19-day session in 1952, a total of 286,059 fans bet 5,504,747 for an average daily crowd mark of 15,056 and daily mutuel play of 16,039. Going back another pear, 303,000 customers at the Downs poured 3,211,405 through the wickets during the 19-day session in 1951. These figures represented an average daily attendance of 15,947, but a daily average handle of only 95,337. Gross Distribution of 11,525 Naturally, Dark Star earned the most of any thoroughbred taking a crack at the gross distribution of 11,525, from which a net of 67,100 was distributed. The daily average net distribution reached 9,-847.37. Dark Stars Derby Trial and Derby Triumphs, the only two starts he made at the Downs enabled the sleek colt by imported Royal Gem n. to emerge as the leading money-winning horse of the meeting with earnings of 01,700. Calumet Farms three-year-old filly, Bubbley. accounted for the Kentucky Oaks the day previous to the Derby, May 1, to add 1,750 to the bankroll of Mrs. Gene Markey and "place" to Dark Star in the money-winning thoroughbred department. The Oaks marked Bubbleys lone start. Mr. Prosecutor picked up 3,150 in the Bashford Manor Stakes for two-year-olds and Golly accounted for the Debutante Stakes for juveniles to place them third and fourth, respectively, on the money-winning list. Native Dancers second in the Derby was worth an even 0,000 to owner Alfred G. Vanderbilt and left "The Dancer" in fifth position. Roaming won the sixth stakes — the Churchill Downs Handicap — that was presented during the meeting. That triumph was worth ,050. The victories of Dark Star and Bubbley also enabled their respective owners to finish one-two among the leading money-winning owners, the Cain Hoy Stable pocketing 03,650 to Calumets 5,495. Continued on Page Forty-One Dark Star Bright Light Of Meeting at Churchill Earned 01,700 Through Derby, Trial Wins; Crowds, Handle Up Continued from F«ge Three Hasty House Farm was third on the list with 7,855. Veteran Johnny Adams led the jockeys with 26 minners out of 110 mounts for a .24 percentage. However, Eddie Arcaros .31 mark was tops in averages among the riders, the "Heady One" getting home first five times in 16 attempts. Second to Adams in number of victories was Darrell Madden with 19. W. Doyle was the leading trainer with seven successes, two more than Henry Forrest, Harry Trotsek and Howard Wells could muster. The percentage of winning favorites was about normal — .35, first choices taking 56 of the 159 events, while winning second choices won on 32 occasions and winning outsiders 71 times. Winners at odds-on totaled nine, a like number held at less than even money being defeated. No dead-heats were recorded. Following are the complete statistics for the 19-day Churchill Downs spring meeting of 1953: April 25 fo May 16—19 Days Gross distribution 11,525 Net distribution . . • 67,100 1 Daily average net distribution . . 9,847.37 , Attendance Estimated 316,000 Daily average attendance 16,632 Mutuel handle 7,135,698 Daiiy average mutuel handle 01,879 Leading Money-Winning Owners Owner. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Won. Cain Hoy Stable 3 0 0 03,650 Calumet Farm 3 10 25,495 Hasty House Farms 3 4 4 17,855 Green Acres Stock Farm 3 0 1 16,875 Brisbine, Mrs. E. 10 0 13,350 Daniel,Mr.andMrs.T.M. 3 3 1 10,740 Wilson, S. E., Jr. 2 0 1 10,100 Vanderbilt, A. G. 0 10 10,000 Dixiana 2 11 9,550 G.andG. Stable 4 2 0 9,405 Leading Money-Winning Horses Horse. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Won. Dark Star 2 0-0 01,700 Bubbley 10 0 21,750 Mr. Prosecutor 2 0 0 14,580 Golly 10 0 13,350 Native Dancer 0 10 10,000 Roaming 1 0 0 8,550 Platan 110 7,700 Jet Fleet 10 0 6,500 Cerise Reine 0 10 5,000 Invigorator 0 0 1 5,000 Leading Jockeys Jockey. Mts. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Unp. PC. Adams, J. ■ 110 26 13 15 56 .24 Madden, D. 107 19 12 16 60 .18 Church, K. 90 15 15 14 46 .17 Heckmann, J. 83 13 7 10 53 .16 Kaelin, F. 64 8 9 7 40 .12 Armstrong, S. 61 5 4 11 41 .08 Arcaro, E. 16 5 2 3 6 .31 Cook, W. M. 59 5 8 11 35 .08 Dodson.D. 59 5 12 5 37 .08 Erb.D. 60 5 6 11 38 .08 Popara.A. 35 5. 4 5 21 .14 Leading Trainers Trainer. Wins. Trainer. Wins. Doyle, W. 7 Luro,H.A. 4 Forrest, H. 5 Norman, C. C. 4 Trotsek, H. 5 Stafford, S. N. 4 Wells, Howard 5 Stewart, D.E. 4 Barton, W. 4 Wlnans, J. 4 Burger, N. 4 Wright, V.R. 4 Devereux, P. B. 4 Following is the list of stakes that were decided: Stake. Date. Winner. Value. Churchill Downs Handicap, April 25, Roaming $ 8,050 Derby Trial, April 28, Dark Star. . . 11,650 Kentucky Oaks, May 1, Bubbley... 21,750 Debutante Stakes, May 2, Golly 13,350 Kentucky Derby, May 2, Dark Star . 90,050 Bashford Manor Stakes, May 2, Mr. Prosecutor 13,150 The percentage of winning favorites was about normal, as shown in the subjoined tabulation: Number of races 159 Winning favorites 56 Winning second choices 32 Winning outsiders ". 71 Winners at odds-on 9 Defeated at odds-on 9 Percentage of winning favorites 35 Dead heats for win 0
