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Whirlaway s 2:01 1 Stands Supreme 17-Year Standard Thrice Threatened Midd leg round. Hill Gail and Swaps? Have Been Close in Recent Churchill Renewals Seventeen years ago .Whirlaway set a track record of 2:01% for the 1 1-4 miles in the Kentucky Derby, a mark that has weathered the- onslaughts of many great three-year-old in subsequent renewals at Churchill Downs. Only three horses have threatened it, Middleground in 1950, when he was only a fifth of of second off the standard; Hill Gail, who came just as.close in. 1952, and Swaps in 1955, when he was clocked in 2:01% for the 1 1-4 miles. A last quarter in :24 was what put Whirl-away over. He had covered the mile in 1:37% and then, moving down the stretch like a rocket engine, overpowered his 10 rivals, pulling up eight lengths before Staretor. . Beaten in Blue Grass Whirlaway was just too much for his opponents in the final quarter and those who witnessed the running never will forget the smooth, precision-like motion of the bushy-tailed champion from Calumet as be came down the homestretch complete master of the situation and drawing out at will under Eddie Arcaros handling. , The Blenheim U. — Dustwhirl colt had come to Churchill Downs off a second be-i hind Woddvale Farms Our Boots in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. In the Blue Grass, Whirlaway was a l-to-2 favorite, but bore out under Wendell Eads in the stretch and tried to Suffer a six-length defeat. Ben Jones engaged Arcaro, a stronger boy, for the Derby and equipped Mr. Long-tail with a one-eyed blinker. The change in tactics worked wonders, for Whirlaway raced straight and .true in the -Derby as he virtually "annihilated" his opposition. The fractional -times of Whirlaways Derby were :23% for the quarter mile, :46% for tbemalf mile. 1:11% for the three-quarter,"l:37% for the mile. Hill Gail was closest to breaking the record with his excellent first mile, but his final quarter was a moderate :26%. The son of Bull Lea — Jane Gail began with :23% and -A64A, then completed the 6 furlongs in 1:11 and the mile in 1:35%, fastest in modern Derby history. Both Middleground and Swaps went their last quarters in :2i%. Middlegrounds fractons were :22%. :46%, 1:11% and l:36-s, and the full 10 furlongs in 2:01%. Swaps went the quarter in :23%, toe half mile in :47%. 6 furlongs in 1:12%, mile in 1:37 and the full 1 1-4 miles in 2:01%. Whirlaway went on to win the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, and thus became the fifth Triple Crown winner in American history.
