Judges Stand: Swaps Won Derby on His Own Merits Nashua Deserves Big E for Effort Winner Shows Influence of Hyperion, Daily Racing Form, 1955-05-10

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iv. . ..■,„m,,,w w.mn could could not not cope cope with with Judges Stand By Charles Hatton Swaps Won Derby on His Own Merits Nashua Deserves Big E for Effort Winner Shows Influence of Hyperion CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville. Ky., May 9.— Make no mistake, Swaps won this eighty-first Kentucky Derby simply because he was the best horse. He iv. . ..■,„m,,,w w.mn discouraged discouraged Trim Trim Destiny Destiny in in a a discouraged discouraged Trim Trim Destiny Destiny in in a a pace duel, then had the courage to repel Nashua in a hammer and tongs skirmish through the front stretch. They were some six lengths before Summer Tan, which only confirms that Nashua has been playing with the Gal-breath colt. There was no margin for error on Saturday, and Nashua was on his good behavior, running straight as a die. He is a good, game colt but he simply i the the Calif Calif ornian. ornian. In In England England such such a a could could not not cope cope with with i the the Calif Calif ornian. ornian. In In England England such such a a denoument would have been perfectly logical. For the reason that the descendants of Hyperion are supposed to beat the descendants of Nearco. They are "truer," less whimsical and less temperamental. The running of this Derby has certain overtones that are not to be ignored. As in the instance of Determine, Rex Ellsworths homebred has no designs on the Preakness nor the Belmont. He has departed for his native California. So much for the Triple Crown. Apparently the native sons place a premium upon winning the Derby, but they are not too much concerned about the remaining two stakes. And they are raising good horses, of the sort to give one pause about the preeminence of eastern forms. Perhaps, our colleague Oscar Otis is right, the Triple Crown events should have a concurrent eligibility closing. Impressive Looking Before Race Swaps looked simply beautiful on coming to the paddock and on the post parade for this Derby. He is no such rugged individual as either Nashua or Summer Tan, but on the other hand he has poise, built in by trainer "Mickey" Tenney, and every muscle of his physique was laying just right. Though his sire Khaled is a bay and his dam is bay or brown, he is the biological son of his compact chestnut grandsire Hyperion. In all probability Swaps now will point for Hollywood Park stakes and those next winter at Santa Anita. He has, like Determine, proved a point. And his people are content to stand on the record. Factually none of those behind him on Derby day had any visible excuse. We do not think jockey Eddie Arcaro, on the favored run-nerup, was much surprised, for he had said before the race: "If he gets loose, he could win it all." That is precisely what he did, despite the best efforts to the contrary of Americas premier jockey and of Nashua. Now that the gay and light hearted Derby throngs are thinning out, "Derby Bill" Corum can concentrate on the future of the Downs and its blue ribband of the turf. The directorate will consider possible improvements at its winter meeting, and there are suggestions for extending the escalators another floor and installing "down" as well as "up" conveyances. Also coming in for deep thought are conditions on the backstretch, horsemen will be pleased to learn. Corum thinks "our facilities there are better now than ever they have been, but there is always room for improvement." Among other things, the management is thinking of installing a complete sprinkler system, a la Belmont Park, throughout the stables. Of course this is the most efficient fire preventive possible, but it would cost an estimated 00,000 to equip the Downs with the system. The Derby itself is virtually certain to be maintained, for the present at least, at its peak value of 25,000 added. Poetically enough it is the richest added money event in "tout le mond." And its sponsors are faithful to the tenets of Col. Matt Winn, who never retrenched except in instances of economic crises and national calamities. Arcaro Favors High Voltage Turf ana: Lea Lane pulled up a bit gimpy behind in the Kentucky Oaks. Charlton Clay had thought to breed her this spring instead of racing her. . . . Jockey Eddie Arcaro says "If I had my choice of mounts among the three-year-old fillies, I should have to take High Voltage." . . . Photog "Skeets" Meadors, up from Lexington, tells us that one of the most thriving foals in the Blue Grass area is the colt by Charlie McAdam out of Miss Zibby who is a threeparts brother to Summer Tan. . . . Ev Clay reports the weather in Miami 20 degrees cooler, as a norm than right here in Derby town. . . . Lou Pondfield looks hopefully forward to a fair sized Preakness field, perhaps including several who ducked the Derby. . . . The robust Lalun affords Loyd Gentry "something to whittle on" as horsemen say. . . . Hialeah race bus transportation is, happily to be improved with more equipment. . . . There is nothing in racing quite like the carnival atmosphere of the Derby. Visitors were fraternizing up and down Fourth Avenue at 3:30 a.m. Derby eve "B.Y.O.J." — bring your own julep. . . . Arch Ward is in Ireland and England with the Golden Glovers. . . . Ben Cohen was a week-end visitor. . . . Rex Ellsworth planned to donate 10 per cent of the Derby purse, if Swaps won, to the church of Jesus Christ Latter Day of Latter Day Saints. He formerly served as a missionary in Africa.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1955051001/drf1955051001_52_1
Local Identifier: drf1955051001_52_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800