view raw text
— I ..l—— Ml. — «— ■—■■■■ I ■■■■ Ml— ■■■!■■ ■ -— ■ ■— ■— — ■■ ■ — ■— — — — Field Field of of 18 18 Awaits Awaits Kentucky Kentucky Derby; Derby; Run Run Kentucky Kentucky Oaks Oaks in in Two Two Sections Sections Name Eight Fillies For Each Division Ruwenzori and Tacking Seen Best of Fields in Historic Feature at Churchill Downs -By BUD LYON Staff Correspondent CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville. Ky., April 30. — For the first time since ts inception in 1875, the Kentucky Oaks, oldest three-year-old filly stake in the nation, will be contested in two divisions here on the eve of the Kentucky Derby. This 85th edition of the Oaks, at 1 1-16 miles, will be run as the seventh and eighth races with each division being endowed with a purse of 0,000 added, and the 16 entries being split even with eight in each event. Should all eight go postward in their respective divisions of the Oaks, each race will offer a gross prize of 3,625, from which the winner will receive 5,356.75, less 00, in eligibility fees. The luck of the draw distributed the four top contenders for this prestige stake equally into both events with the first division drawing Preston Madden s Ruwenzori, Mrs. D. F. Stewarts New Star, Paul Shawhans Wedlock, Reverie Knoll Farms Maid o Steel, Aesthetic, Ralph C. Wilson Jr.s Bella Maria and Cain Hoy Stables Warward Miss. Second Division Starters The second division attracted equally high caliber fillies with Hal Price Headleys Costume, Meadow Stables Rich Tradition, Mrs. Mary Keims Indian Maid, Cain Hoy Stables Hidden Talent, Dixianas Wind Rose, Miss Verdis Havards Kathy H., J. Graham Browns Tacking and Darby Dan Farms Narrissa. Ruwenzori rates a solid choice in her division as the daughter of Oil Capital— Ruanda emerged victorious in last Saturdays Oaks Prep while winning her first stakes race. Previously the top race for the filly came in the Gardenia Stakes last fall when Continued on Page Nine .*•¥■■.■. ■ ...■».-and. . r _r_J__ ■ : ■ GERTS IMAGE — Returns to action in todays fifth race at Churchill Downs. : FESTIVAL KING — Worked a smart 5 furlongs in :592/s, in his prep for Saturdays Kentucky Derby. Run Kentucky Oaks In Two Divisions Eight Fillies Vie in Each; Ruwenzori and Tacking Seen Best of Fields at Churchill Continued from Page One she finished a strong third to Quill, being just over a length shy while charging from far back in the field. This way of going is customary for Ruwenzori which she aptly demonstrated in the Oaks Prep as she looped her field from eighth position and nipped Rich Tradition right at the wire to take down the ,303 winners portion of the prize. Bill Shoemaker will again be astride the miss on Friday, comprising the major portion of her 121 pound post impost which finds her conceding weight to all but one, New Star. Wedlock and New Star comprise a formidable pair of opponents here in this first division as both appeared impressive in their Oaks Prep efforts with the former finishing third while the latter was fifth. Both worked out an additional quarter mile following the running of the Oaks Prep with New Star going the faster, 1:40%, while Wedlock was timed the mile in 1:40%. Heading up the field for the second division will be Capt. Harry F. Guggenheims Ashland Stakes winner, Hidden Talent, with the daughter of Kentucky Derby winner, Dark Star, a soft choice to add this bauble to her already brilliant career. Hidden Talent was hard pressed to eke out a head decision in that 6 furlongs by getting up in the final stride to nip Narrissa. • All in all the increased distance t f the Oaks over the Ashland and Oaks prep lends considerable interest to the race as it brings to the fore the possibilities of several of the late runners who have had little chance to fully demonstrate their potential. Distance Should Favor Tacking Tacking would seem to benefit greatest from this additional distance as this sensational late-running daughter of Turn-to came from far back to finish third in the Ashland and appeared at the time as if she would have been the eventual winner with more distance. Last fall she fell but a nose shy of Fiji in the Alcibiades, undoubtedly the finest effort of her career to date. Rich Tradition off her fine placing in the Oaks Prep seemed as if she would fancy this longer test as she was really just getting settled into top stride when the end came. Adding zest to the test would be Narrissa who had a most enjoyable season in Florida this winter winning three of her five starts and showing alarmingly high speed in each outing. Indian Maid should be forgiven for her showing in the prep as this filly was stood right on her head in the upper stretch when a hole closed on her forcing Hartack to snatch her up most abruptly. At the moment of the mishap the Florida-bred miss was making a tremendous charge at the leaders and could well have run them down but for the interference.
