Palmer Guides Rapace to French Derby Win: Completes Famous Double as He Won Epsom Derby with Phil Drake, Daily Racing Form, 1955-06-14

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Palmer Guides Rapace To French Derby Win Completes Famous Double as He Won Epsom Derby With Phil Drake Special to Daily Racing Form PARIS, France, June 13 Reuters. — Fred Palmer, one of Frances leading jockeys, completed a notable double here Sunday when he rode Count F. de Ganays colt, Rapace, to a thrilling victory in the French Derby Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly race track. Just over a fortnight ago, Palmer won the Epsom Derby on Mme. Volterras Phil Drake. In todays race over one and one-half miles, Palmer put in a tremendous challenge on Rapace to get up and win by a short head from Vimy, owned by M. P. Wertheimer. The judge had to call for a photograph. Baron Guy de Rothchilds Beignet was six lengths further away in third place, in the field of 15. Vimy led into the straightaway but Re-pace, a 6-to-l chance, made his bid shortly afterwards and the two horses raced neck and neck for the last 100 yards. Palmer already had the distinction of having won the French Grand Prix three times but this was his first triumph in the French Derby. Palmer was born in France but his father was a native of Canterbury, Kent. England. The race was run in heavy going and was worth the equivalent of 2,0.00. Rapace, who is trained by R. Wallon, is by Dfeou, out of Rahanee. M. Marcel Bous-sacs Kurun started as favorite but just was kept out of the place by Beignet. It was the first defeat for Kurun, who is a son of the 1941 Kentucky Derby winner, Whirla-way. The last jockey to achieve the double was Australian, Rae Johnstone, who in 1950 won the Epsom Derby on Galcador and rode Cratch to victory in the French Derby.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1955061401/drf1955061401_7_6
Local Identifier: drf1955061401_7_6
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800