view raw text
. — . ARTHUR B. HANCOCK— Owner of Dunce. One Race I Want to Win-Hancock Claiborne Owners /Rose Run7 Debut Homebred Dunce Will Carry Orange Silks of Prominent Thoroughbred Nursery Today By JOE HIRSCH CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 1. — "If theres one race I want to win," Arthur "Bull" Hancock has frequently said, "its the Kentucky Derby. For a Hardboot like me, theres no race like it." And tomorrow, the all orange silks of historic Claiborne will be carried for the first time in the blue riband of the American turf by Dunce, a homebred son of Tom Fool and Ghazni for whom Hancock is reported to have turned down a legitimate offer of 00,000. If youre surprised to learn that Dunce is Claibornes firjst Derby horse, remember that Hancock is primarily a market breeder and usually races only a few fillies to prove their worth as broodmares. To this end, he has been remarkably successful on the race track, his Delta, Doubledogdare and Bayou ranking with the best fillies this country has produced in recent years. Organized Nasrullah Syndicate As for Hancock, he has been equally successful in his management of the extensive Claiborne interest since he took over active control of the world famous stud upon the illness of his late father in 1948. It was Hancock who organized ihe syndicate which purchased Nasrullah for 72,000 from Irelands Joe McGrath, one of the most significant bloodstock deals in this countrys history. Since his arrival in the States, Nasrullah has produced the likes of Nashua, Horse of the Year in 1956; Bold Ruler, Horse of the Year in 1957; and Never Say Die, winner of the 1954 Epsom Derby. It was Hancock, too. who sold his homebred Round Table to Travis Kerr for 75,-000. Round Table, presently the worlds leading money winner, is to return to stud at Claiborne when his racing days are over. The 49-year-old Hancock inherited a great knowledge and love of the thoroughbred from his distinguished father, A. B. Hancock Sr., who died two years ago at the age of 81. The elder Hancock was the nations leading breeder nine times at the 2,000-acre Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky. and his importation of Sir Gallahad III. and Blenheim II. had the most far-reaching influence on U. S. bloodlines. Graduate of Princeton "Bull" Hancock was born and raised at Claiborne, attended Princeton, and graduated in 1933 after majoring in French and eugenics. He worked with his father at the farm until 1942, when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Upon his discharge in 1945 with the rank of captain, "Bull" resumed his duties at Claiborne, taking over the reins when his father became ill and retired in 1948. Hancock purchased Nasrullah in 1949, brought Ambiorix over from France for 50,000 and in 1955 formed a syndicate i to buy the English Derby winner Tulyar, from the Irish National Stud for 72,000. Tulyar, the all-time leading money-win- ; ner of the English turf, now stands at Claiborne, along with Nasrullah, Ambiorix, i Dark Star, Double Jay, Princequillo, Hill i Prince, Dedicate, Turn-to, To. Market and | a number of other top studs. There are also over 200 mares on the farm, one of 1 the largest broodmare bands in the country. Hancock was elected to membership in I The Jockey Club in 1955. He served as president of the Thoroughbred Club of America from 1947 to 1948, and succeeded his father on the board of directors of the Breeders Sales Company in 1949. That same year he was appointed a member of the Kentucky Racing Commission, and in 1952 was elected president of the American Thoroughbred Breeders Association. The New York Turf Writers honored him as the countrys outstanding breeder of 1955 and Hancock has also been the recipient of many other laurels in his field. But despite all these honors, the one "Bull" Hancock covets most is that rare privilege of leading a homebred into the winners circle at Churchill Downs after the running of the Kentucky Derby. Hancock and trainer Moody Jolley have done their job. Tomorrow the rest is up to Dunce.
