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[Kentucky Breeding Infused in Derby Many Winners on Roster Are Products of State Nurseries Four Victorious Colts Have Passed Through Sales Ring As Yearlings at Keeneland By HUGH J. McGUIRE LEXINGTON, Ky., May 2.— It is a natural assumption that Kentucky breeding is most closely associated with the winners of the, Kentucky Derby. In the early history of the race the contestants were almost exclusively the products of Kentucky farms and it is to the credit of Kentucky breeders that this condition still holds in most of the recent years. But there have been exceptions, the most clear cut of which was the victory of Swaps in the 1955 renewal. Kentuckians would have to stretch a point to claim any credit for Swaps who was by the imported Khaled and from lion Reward, a daughter of imported Beau Pere. Rex Ellsworth bred Swaps and W. W. Nay-lor bred Iron Reward which makes him a Californian by any measure. Kentuckys claim to Swaps is a belated one. He now stands at .John Galbreaths Darby Dan Farm at Lexington. No attempt will be made here to claim the 1956 winner Needles as Kentucky-bred. W. E. Leach of Florida has that honor but there is a definite Blue Grass association with Needles in that he is by Calumets Ponder and he was conceived in this State but foaled in Florida. Lawrin Bred in Kansas Apart from eedles and Swaps it would be necessary to go back to the 1938 winner Lawrin to get a clear-cut divorce from Kentucky breeding. He was Kansas-bred and gave Ben Jones his first Derby victory. Kentuckians could lay no claim to Cavalcade the 1934 winner. Earlier than this the winners were pretty solidly "hardboots" although there may have been exceptions. Certainly there were strong Kentucky* affiliations in most years.. The association of Derby winners with Kentucky breeding points out the strength of breeding in the state but also makes clear that the wall can be pierced. Yearlings sold at Keeneland have earned a fair share of top honors in the Churchill Downs classic as four winners passed through the local auction ring. These were Hoop Jr., Jet Pilot, Dark Star and Determine. t Even to get consideration as Derby material is an accomplishment for a sales .yearling and this years contestants include sales products Martins Rullah, Lincoln Road, Benedicto and Rellim. S. V. The 951 Derby winner Count Turf was sold as a yearling at Saratoga. Most of the large farms and some of the small ones can claim association with Derby starters if not with winners. An example is the veteran Thomas Piatt who raised the 1910 winner Donau and bred Alsab who was second to Shut Out in 1942. i Calumets association is well known. A. B. Hancock bred Johnstown and, in partnership with Mrs. R. A. Van Clief, Jet Pilot, who won in 1947 for Maine Chance Farm. Jet Pilot scattered his honors freely. He was also a sales yearling. Warner L. Jones, Jr. bred Dark Star while Dr. Eslie Asbury was the breeder of Determine. King Ranch had the two-winners Assault and Middle-ground. R. A". Fairbairn bred Gallahadion and Hoop, Jr.; Greentree bred Twenty Grand and Shut Out. Mrs. John D. Hertz bred Count Fleet. Dr. and Mrs. F. P. Miller of California bred Count Turf. Affiliation Also Satisfying Affiliation with Derby horses can bring almost as much satisfaction as being the actual breeder. For instance, Mrs. Grahams trio of Derby prospects are home-breds but first saw the light of day at the Spendthrift Farm of Leslie Combs II. where their dams were boarders before Mrs. Graham secured her own farm here. Combs also bred this years candidates Rellim S. W. and Colonel R,- S. While it helps, it Is not necessary to win the Derby to earn Horse of the Year honors. Nashua and Native Dancer both finished second in the Derby as did Challedon who was twice Horse of the Year. The Derby has eluded Henry H. Knight but for the last three years he has led the nations " breeders in number of races won and the countrys commercial breeders in" money won.
