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Photo by Caufield Shook Inc IncGallahadion Gallahadion leading Bimelech by length and a half at wire in 1940 Derby with Dit Ditthird third and Mioland fourth Stunning Upset in40 Derby Running Bimelech Beaten at 2to5 Odds by Upstart Gallahadion Crowd of 87000 Silenced As Mrs Mars Ace Lowered Colors of Bradley Sensation SensationCHURCHILL CHURCHILL DOWNS Louisville Ky April 30 Its 14 years now since one of the most stunning upsets in Kentucky Derby annals took place here at mellow Churchill Downs A crowd of 87000 stood in awed silence on May 4 1940 as the sixtysixth winner of the world famous race was crowned crownedIt It is unlikely that a racing crowd ever evidenced its shock at the result of a race with such astonishment The unbelievable as far as Kentuckians and countless others were concerned had happened before their very eyes Bimelech had gone down to de ¬ feat by Gallahadion and had been beaten decisively decisivelyMrs Mrs Ethel V Mars Milky Way Farm colorbearer had swept past Bimelech owned by the late Col Edward R Bradley in the final eighth of a mile with such a drive that he crossed the finish line a length and a half to the good goodIn In contrast to the usual wildcheering that accompanies the finish of a Kentucky Derby a hush fell over the Churchill Downs assemblage that sunny afternoon and prevailed until after the winners circle ceremonies ceremoniesShortest Shortest Beaten Choice Since 1898 1898Bimelech Bimelech had gone to the post a 2to5 favorite and was the shortest beaten choice since the 1898 running when Plaudit beat Lieber Karl who was held at odds of lto3 Even Native Dancer who just failed to catch Dark Star in last years running was held at 7to10 and the distinction of be ¬ ing the shortestpriced beaten favorite in modern times still belongs to Bimelech Gallahadion returned 7240 1380 and 480 across the board while Bimelech to the further astonishment of the crowd paid 320 to place and 280 to show showA A glance at Bimelechs record giong into the race shows why he was held at such short odds He had won all his eight starts to date six in his twoyearold sea ¬ son and two as a sophomore Furthermore Col Bradley as keen a judge of horseflesh as found anywhere had gone on record as stating that Bimelech was the best horse he had ever bred That was high praise indeed for the son of Black Toney La Troienne by Teddy Andremembering that Bradley had already established a record of four winners in th stake patrons at Churchill Downs that afternoon flocked to his support as if he were their very own possession possessionBimelech Bimelech had been the favorite in each of his eight prior engagements and only i on two of those occasions wao he held at better than even money He started off his career by winning a pair of overnight races one at Suffolk Downs and the second at Empire City In the Suffolk race he was 9to5 but next time out he dropped to 3to5 His first venture in stake compe i tition in the Saratoga Special saw him rise to 7to5 but he won nevertheless by three lengths The next race the Hopeful was his hardest race beating Andy K by only a neck as the 3to5 choice choiceEarned Earned 135090 as Juvenile JuvenileVictories Victories in the Belmont and Pimlico Futurities followed and then he was put away for the winter Concluding his ju ¬ venile season with earnings of 135090 Bimelech was hailed as one of the greatest of modernday horses and the early fa ¬ vorite for the Kentucky Derby DerbyTrainer Trainer H J Derby Dick Thompson had his charge razor sharp for his three yearold bow in the Blue Grass Stakes and Lexingtonians backed their pride and joy down to lto10 He beat Roman three and a half lengths with Bashful Duck the only other starter in the event The Derby Trial also saw him held at similar odds and he beat Gallahadion two and a quarter parched for the thrills of competition among thoroughbreds was ready for the match Zev with his peculiar name named for W H Zeverley a friend of Sin ¬ clairs was the mostest horse at this psychological time His flair his name his deeds like a concerted shout reached the people and the walls of prejudice came tumbling down downAt At two Zev was one of the leaders of a soso crop and while not considered the best of his age he like the unfortunate unfortunateContinued Continued on Page FortySix Stunning 40 Upset Left Crowd Silent SilentBimelech Bimelech Held at 2 to 5 Defeated by Gallahadion Milky Way Farm Colorbearer ColorbearerContinued Continued on Page FortyFour FortyFourlengths lengths in that mile test with Sirocco third thirdGallahadions Gallahadions record on the other hand hardly could be called impressive He had failed to win in five starts as a twoyear old He launched his threeyearold sea ¬ son at Santa Anita and there won the San Vicente returning to the Middle West un ¬ heralded with trainer Bob McGarvey His best race prior to the Derby was his second back of Bimelech in the Derby Trial but observers were inclined to overlook even that fact factBimelechs Bimelechs loss was no doubt hard for Colonel Bradley to take and it marked his last serious attempt to win the classic Downs race Only one other horse was to carry his familiar white and green silks in the race again that being Burning Dream who finished ninth in the 1945 running of the stake And Colonel Bradley died on August 15 1946 1946Mioland Mioland the Charles S Howard entry Arnold Hangers Dit the Wood Memorial winner Dixianas Sirocco who later was to beat both Gallahadion and Bimelech in the Arlington Classic Joseph E Wideners speedy Roman Tower Stables Royal Man and William L Branns Pictor were the others who made up the eighthorse field in the sixtysixth running of the Derby DerbyFreddie Freddie Smith in Saddle SaddleBimelech Bimelech was a household word all Derby week in Louisville and even at that early stage of his career was being heralded as another Man p War No wonder then that he was practically backed off the board until the final reading showed him 2to5 The late Freddie Smith who had ridden him in all his races and who suffered fatal injuries in a spill at Hollywood Park a few years ago was in the saddle of the Black Toney colt Carroll Bierman who had rid ¬ den the winner of the previous race on the program had charge of Gallahadion GallahadionBimelech Bimelech broke first in the race but was quickly passed by the speedster Roman with Gallahadion third and Dit fourth After six furlongs Roman was still in frbnl but Gallahadion had edged out Bimelech for the place position Smith went to work on the Bradley colt in the next quarter mile and he soon passed Gallahadion anc edged ahead of Roman with Dit third and Gallahadion fourth three lengths fur ¬ ther removed removedMaintaining Maintaining command although racing wide throughout Bimelech came into the stretch a half length on top with Dit sec ¬ ond and Gallahadion third a full length off the leader Once in the home lane Bier ¬ man drove with hand and heel but everyone expected that Bimelech would put Galla ¬ hadion away without too much trouble But Gallahadion was not to be denied that day and once he collared the favorite went on ahead to cross the wire a length and a half to the good in the still of the afternoon for when the crowd saw its idol was beaten silence descended over ChurchiH Downs DownsSilence Silence Reigns Supreme SupremeTurf Turf writers are prone to use the phrase stunning upset rather freely in their re ¬ porting but if ever the expression applied it did that afternoon afternoonEveryone Everyone stood aghast too stunned even for conversation They had seen what they considered impossible a few minutes before take place before their very eyes eyesBierman Bierman galloped Gallahadion back for the winners circle ceremonies A few hands and only a few in the big gather ¬ ing applauded the victor A Derby winner was crowned in almost complete silence silenceSmith Smith took his trappings from Bimelech weighed in and like the thousands who viewed the race could offer no explanation for the defeat defeatMrs Mrs Mars had not even made the trip from her River Forest 111 home to witness the race so little chance did she believe her horse to have McGarvey accepted the accolade of victory in her behalf behalfBimelech Bimelech went on to win the Preakness and Belmont and wound up as the seasons leading money winner with 110005 to his credit He later was acquired by Green tree when the Bradley holdings were dis ¬ persed following the Colonels death and now stands at stud at that nursery in Lexington LexingtonGallahadion Gallahadion ran third back of Bimelech in the Preakness and was unplaced in the Belmont as well as the Kent American Derby and Lawrence Realization But what did that matter Gallahadion had had his moment of glory on May 4 1940 at the expense of one of the truly great per ¬ formers to have contested the Derby He later was retired to stud in Kentucky and a few years ago sold and now stands in Edmond Oklahoma
