view raw text
Jem Tim Tarn Whips Lincoln Road In 60,500 Derby Renewal Hits Wire With Hdlf-Length Advantage- Noureddin Third Jewels Reward Fourth and Silky Sullivan Twelfth; Win No. 7 in Classic for Calumet By CHARLES HATTON CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville. May 3. — There still are 6,600 feet in a mile and a quarter. The "peepuls cherce." Silky Sullivan, tried to reduce it to 1,320 in the eighty-fourth running of the 60,500 Kentucky Derby before a glorious days crowd of some 100,000, but Mrs. Gene Markeys Tim Tarn corrected everybodys arithmetic. Silkys and the form students who figured against him. — With little Ismael Valenzuela, who had never before even seen a Derby, pumping him with all the skill, and strength at his command, Tim Tam extricated himself from the pack swirling into the long Churchill Downs homestretch and made history when he pulled out that little bit extra which makes a champion to beat Isaac Blumbergs front-running Lincoln Road a half length in a thrilling finish. Top Choices Out of Money Only another half length farther away from the latter, P. and P. C. Graf fagninos Noureddin was third. Jewels Reward finished fourth after going away a slight favorite over Silky Sullivan, who saved precious ground while making his run on the last turn, but could beat only two of the field of 14. While Valenzuela was watching his first Derby from the best seat in the house. Tim Tarns owner and breeder, that splendid sportswoman Mrs. Gene Markey, was watching it on TV, ill in nearby Lexington. Tim Tam, "the best bred horse, in the field," and whose high breeding is manifest in his conduct, returned .20 and earned 18,000, of which 16,400 was net in recording Calumets seventh Derby success. His time in the muddy going was 2:05. Tim Tam had previously won the Florida Derby, on the disqualification of Jewels Reward, and the Derby Trial, over a course Continued on Page Four MRS. GENE MARKEY— Her Calumet Farm colors were seen in their -seventh Kentucky Derby success when Tim Tam carried off Saturdays 84th running of the Classic. 1 — ~ — ™ — ~- n ™~~; ; 1 j*Jm*y~:i yi- X:xit4 Tim Tarn Captures 60,500 Derby Lincoln Road Half Length Off Victor Noureddin Finishes Third, And Jewels Reward Fourth, With Silky Sullivan Twelfth Continued horn Page One like chewing gum, but went away third choice to the Maine Chance team of Jewels Reward and Ebony Pearl and the colorful invader from California. This memorable afternoon on the Downs, he must have convinced the skeptics he is "the most horse." He was the only one of the field who could challenge the amazing Lincoln Road down "that little little piece of dirt where the race of life is run." And even at the 70 yards mark, it appeared doubtful if Tim Tam could bring down his grim rival. Drawing on the vesti-gal remains of his resources, and running on his heart, he made it. In a few more strides he would have won off. For the most part, it was a spent, leg weary crew behind him; Favorite Had No Excuse There was no visible excuse for Jewels Reward, who was perfectly placed on the turn into the stretch. Perhaps, as trainer Ivan Parke had feared, the going was against a colt with his upright pasterns. Silky Sullivan? He may have remained too close to the draft today. His big move evoked a roar from the crowd as jockey Willie Shoemaker cut the corner. But it was short lived and he was hanging leaving the furlong pole.. It was rather a pity Mrs. Markey could not to present to accept the dramatic gold Derby trophy from Gov. "Happy" Chandler of the Blue Grass state. Jimmy Jones deputized for her in the pomp and ceremony of the winners enclosure, the trainer accepting in his most courtly manner. It was a Derbyin the finest traditions of the most thrilling two minutes in sportdom. Five bands blared, the crowd overran the lawns, stands, even the innerfield in colorful profusion. The spirit of the Derby was captured in mint juleps. The race itself was a stirring spectacle from start to finish, i The fidgety Jewels Reward wore cotton in his ears arid was ponied to the post by trainer Parke. Silky was given a tremenT dous ovation by Joe Fan when he appeared, with majestic calm, dwarfing most of his rivals, to the mellow tune of My Old Kentucky Home on the post parade. Tim Tam was his well-bred self, poised and regarding the crowd with unmistakable noblesse oblige. The surprise of this Derby was the showing of Lincoln Road, who authenticated the form he displayed in the Forida Derby, where Tim Tam beat him in another near thing. He also was the rags-to-riches horse for the bridge jumpers, returning 6.80 to place and 1.40 to show. Noureddins show price was .60. Lincoln Road collected 5,000 for finishing second, Noureddin 2,500 third* money and "Julius" a fourth award of ,000. Fractions for Race The fractions for the race were :23s. :47%. L:13and and 1:38%. It was a muggy and humid afternoon, which may or may not have militated against Silky, since horses touched in the wind are traditionally at a disadvantage in such conditions. Many of the crowd thought that Noureddin might have concerned himself even more seriously with the lions share of the spoils, had he moved a trifle sooner, or were the race a bit longer. But any of the field could have won, given time, and that is a rather specious argument. There is no rule of racing requiring Tim Tam to make his run when he did. The winner, 16 and a half hands of dark brown determination, by Tom Fool from Two Lea — by Bull Lea, incidentally goes Monday to Baltimore for the Preakness and the second leg of the Triple Crown. The Derby was not at all like anybody expected. Lincoln Road beat the others out of the gate with Warren G., Gone Fishin, Ebony Pearl and the field horse Red Hot Pistol following in a compact group. He beat them in the long run past the stand and into the clubhouse turn, thoroughly pooping out several trying to reach him entering the backstretch. Arcaro wasN biding his time several lengths back, while saving some ground. Just behind him "Milo" Valenzuela was imitating him on Tim Tam. Silky Sullivan was last, but less than 20 lengths out of it. Going up the backstretch, Lincoln Road ran the interloping allowance horses out of puff and near the end of that path, Arcaro decided it was time to go. He advanced to to the attack quickly on the outside with "Julius" and was perfectly placed entering TIM TAM — Garnered the garland of roses in Saturdays Derby renewal. i the crucial last turn. Tim Tam was matching his every move on the inside as the initialed their big moves. Simultaneously, Silky was boiling up on the rail, with not a straw in his path. As they hurtled into the lane of wildly ; excited humanity that marked the home j stretch and the last vital quarter mile, it i was clear the favorite could not be a factor. He simply did not have it today. Silky lasted a bit longer, his run fading at mid-stretch. This put it squarely up to Tim Tam to attempt catching the will o the wisp, Lincoln Road, who was flitting along the rail in front with no notion of stopping. Tim Tarns head bent lower as he buckled courageously to his task. Inside the last sixteenth, it still looked doubtful. But with one compelling run the last 70 yards he nailed Lincoln Road. It must be said for the latter* he offered resistance Ghandi never approved, but Tim Tam got the better of him. Noureddin was 12th of the 14 early and- closed with a belated run passing tired horses, his momentum carrying him up to Lincoln Roads saddle cloth. However, the race was over. Tonight, in Derbyville they are hailing a new and worthy champion, whether, pro tem or in the final court of judgment next fall nobody now knows. But he is a nice horse, a really nice horse. Valenzuela "Biggest Thrill" Ismael Valenzuela said: "This is the biggest thrill of my life. About the three-eighths pole I was topped momentarily when Jewels Reward was forced toward the rail and I had to hold up for a few leaps. But when I asked him to move, he started moving and came through in the last few jumps to the wire." Milo also said he had talked with Bill Hartack a few days ago and that rider told him it was one of those things and the luck of racing. He added that Tie felt Hartack would feel thrilled that "I won the race." Chris Rogers on Lincoln Road said T was told by trainer ZSovinski to put my horse in the lead and do the best I could. He ran a terrific race. He seemed to stumble about 70 yards from home but actually we were outrun the last 20 yards." Jimmy Combest said Noureddin "just couldnt handle the track." Arcaro that Jewels Reward "didnt like the track. He was bobbling all the way. He is the first horse I have ridden in two days of riding here that has acted that way, so it must be the horse." Willie Shoemaker on Silky Sullivan: My horse was slipping and sliding all the way. He made a pretty good more on the turn coming to the quarter pole, but at the eighth pole he was dead." Asked why he brought the horse toward the rail instead of the usual route toward the middle of the track. Shoemaker said most of the horses moved out from the rail and he tried to save ground by going to the inside. • The 58th Debutante Stakes for two-year-old fillies, traditional extra, added attrac- r i tion on Derby days, brought out a front , running success for L. C. Wilson and Doug , Davis rumpy little chestnut Pattys Choice, 1 a mud-running daughter of the mud-running Mameluke. Johnny Heckmann" drove, her into a lengthy lead at the outset of this 5 furlongs and she never really looked like being beaten, though George Cava-naugh Jr.s leggy Pinecrest Miss, the favorite, made a gallant attempt to bring her to grips through the stretch. A length and a quarter separated them at the line. E. P. Metzs husky Battle Heart charged up to third, five lengths farther back. Blue Mam, another of the precocious first crop ; by Mameluke, was fourth of nine starters. This was Pattys Choices fifth and most signal success and. rewarded her backers with .60 for , her owners with ,018.75 of a gross purse of 3,875. Her share became ,893.65, with fees deducted. The track had dried to muddy and she was timed in a creditable 1:01. The winner wore bandages in front, despite the wet going. Battle Heart dwelled at the start, lost a great deal of ground making a wide arc into the stretch, and finished running on heartily. This Battlefield filly may improve. The Silky Sullivan Marching and Chowder club, roughly the 750,000 populace of gala Derbyville — or as Gertrude Stein would say, "each one is one, and there are very many of them" — were badly frightened when they awakened in the throes of Derby fever to hear rumors he was ailing and could not start. Shortly thereafter there was reassurance all was well with the immense and immensely popular Irish-American. It was given by Silky himself, like the good showman he is. This came about at 9:05 ajn. Thousands already had converged on the Downs, taking up positions in the innerfield, stands and lawns. For all the world as if to assuage the anxiety of his followers, the chestnut appeared dramatically on the backstretch, exercise boy Pete Kozar sporting his flame red sweater. They were immediately recognized by the vanguard of the big crowd. Silky pranced, he bowed his mighty neck, he reveled in the sloppy going, then applied, the convincer, removing the last vestige of doubt concerning his condition by the spirited fashion in which he skipped a quarter mile in :25?s.
