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Clark Thrilled and Delighted Over Never Say Dies Victory NEW YORK, N. Y., June. 2. Robert S. Clark was "thrilled, and delighted" over the victory of his Never Say Die in the Epsom Derby today. The New York sportsman, new-undergoing a physical check-up in New York, declared through Humphrey Finney that he "had no idea of winning the race" and that "all credit must go to Gerald McElligott, manager of my horses over there." Finney, president and general manager of the Fasig-Tipton Company and a. friend and business associate of Clark, added that it was McElligott who planned the breeding of Never Say Die, who is. by Nasrullah out of Singing Grass. Clark himself, according to Finney, did not originally plan to start Never Say Die in the Derby. But it was McElligott who insisted on it. "Hes a good colt and improving. You should run him," McElligott is reported to have said. And Clark answered, "If you want to run him, go right ahead and do it." McEUigotts faith in the colt was fulfilled todayl No plans have yet been announced for Never Say Die, but it appeared certain that now that the colt has definitely proved himself a stayer he would be a starter in the mile and three-quarters St. Leger at Don-caster on September 8. Clark, heir to a fortune left by his father, Alfred Corning Clark, one of the founders kpf the Singer Sewing, Machine Company,,, is the brother of F. Ambrose and Stephen C. Clark. He has been in racing approxi- mately 30 years. He owns the Sundridge Farm in Upperville, Va., where he conducts his breeding operations, shipping his stock to England to be raced. When he first entered the sport, Clark raced in the United States, but then transferred his operations to Europe in 1930. One of his best years in this country was 1928, when he had the leading two-year-old filly of the year, Current, who won the Breeders Futurity at Lexington that season. The war in Europe forced Clark to bring his racing stable back to the United States, although he was unable to get some of his breeding stock out of France. He raced his string in this country and continued his breeding activities in Virginia until 1947, when he again sent his racers to England, although retaining his U. S. breeding establishment here. Clark has been a prominent bidder for Derby honors in the past few years. Last season he entered the highly regarded Good Brandy, who finished unplaced. Another top colt racing for Clark in England is Blow Wind - Blow, winner of five straight, races there in 1953.
