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Swaps Wins Kentucky Derby Asashua Finishes Second REX ELLSWORTH— Owner-breeder of I the 81st Kentucky Derby winner, Swaps. Shoemaker Guides California Colt to Front-Running Score Ellsworth Star Matches Rival Stride for Stride in Drive, Then Puts Him Away to Earn 08,400 Purse; Covers Mile And Quarter in Sparkling 2:0H/s; Summer Tan Runs Third By CHARLES HATTON CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky„ May 7.— Running like a highly precisioned piece of machinery. Rex C. Ellsworths California-bred Swaps thrilled a huge throng of more than 100,000 shrilling turf enthusiasts here this threatening afternoon as he repelled the favored Nashua in a long head-to-head, stride-for-stride duel through the homestretch for the 52,500 81st Kentucky Derby, Willie Shoemaker drawing off to an emphatic length and a half at the finish. Six and a half lengths back Nashuas "shadow" Summer Tan was third, four lengths before •Racing Fool and the others of- a crack field of 10 of Americas finest three-year-olds. The successful son of Khaled left the choice without any excuses, going to the front with Trim Destiny at the outset, subduing that challenger down the far side, then successfully resisting a greulling drive with the Belair Colt. He went over the mile and a quarter of fast race track in a lively 2:01%, just two-fifths off Whirlaways track and stake record, and returned his admirers .60 while adding 08,400 to his earlier earnings which included the Santa Anita Derby. Governor Presents Trophy Following the running of the stake. Gov. Lawrence Wetherby of Kentucky presented owner and breeder Ellsworth with the elaborate ,000 gold cup symbolic of victory. It was a typical Derby Day throng, perhaps a bit above that of last season, and wagering in the preliminary betting on the Run for the Roses itself was above that of 1954. Bands blared, the horses paraded to the melifluous notes of My Old Kentucky Home, mint juleps were dispensed rapidly as they could be confected, the inner field was a sea of heads, and steaks were served at the traditional Derby breakfast. Swaps is the second "native son" to have won the Derby, Morvich in 1922 being the first. However, the Kentucky-bred Determine, hero of the race last season, was owned by a Californian, while Morvich was running in the colors of Ben Block of New York, and Ellsworth and trainer "Mickey" Tenney make their home in the Golden State, where Swaps was bred and developed. There was a dramatic touch to the presentation of this Derby, what with thunderclaps, lightning flashes and a light shower just before the post parade. However the track could not have been more Continued on Page Seven i ■— — — — — — H k • .-.-. • .••"JvS:-.. .: v. mMf .. jair •;«Bfe* : KfflNg iiwiTp ?-|B ZL , "!°iSffi mwJfflP "■■**• *■»* * . !SriStw£_ :J£|m9 ► Swaps Scores Front-Running Tally in 81st Kentucky Derby Repels Nashuas Challenge In Stretch Run to Prevail By Length and Half Margin Continued from Page One "glib," as the fractional times of :23%, :472/5, 1:12%, 1:37 and 2:01% would suggest. In a word Swaps left his rivals breathless and beaten in the final, crucial furlong and it was the consensus that he won and the others lost on their merits as of this afternoon. By quarters Swaps was timed in :23%, :23%, :25, :24% and :244/5, which came to a stiff final half mile considering the weight and distance. Nashua, who made a brave try and went down honorably, earned 5,000 while Summer Tan added 2,500 to his earlier earnings, in finishing third and Racing Fool, the Blue Grass winner and fourth to finish, at a most respectful distance, picked up ,000. The race was remarkably free of interference from start to finish and all of those who seemed to have any possibility of bringing it off had a clear run at the money. Wagering on the classic was running well ahead of that of a year ago in the preliminary betting, which closed when Derby Derby Pool Pool Sets Sets Record Record CHURCHILL CHURCHILL DOWNS, DOWNS, Louisville, Louisville, Ky., Ky., May May 7. 7. — — The The total total mutuel mutuel pool pool on on the the Kentucky Kentucky Derby, Derby, one one of of ,677,178 ,677,178 marked marked a a new new record record for for the the race. race. Before Before the the running running it it was was indicated, indicated, tentatively tentatively by by Swaps Swaps connections connections that that he he will will return return to to California California for for the the Golden Golden State State Breeders Breeders Stakes Stakes next next Saturday. Saturday. the regular betting opened on the Derby, with a total pool of 53,833 as against one of 73,402 a year ago. The sum of 41,-115 was wagered at the "straight" windows, and Californias Swaps was, extraordinarily, 9-to-5 favorite with Nashua a 2-to-l second choice. The Cain Hoy entry of Racing Fool and Flying Fury were third choices and Summer Tan, Nashuas distinguished rival only the fourth choice. The Cain Hoy entry was 7-to-2, Summer Tan 7-to-l, Jeans Joe 14-to-l, Blue Lem 24-to-l, Trim Destiny 35-to-l, Nabesna 45-to-1 and Honeys Alibi 50-to-l. Starter Ruby White was only half a minute catching the field plumb in the gate, and as he sprung it Nashua was first to show in front. Arcaro immediately looked ahout him, sizing up the situation, and was content to let the successful California invader move to the front with the Arkansas Derby winner Trim Destiny, prompting him. They came past the jam-; packed stands the first time in that order, ■ Swaps and Trim Destiny right together, Nashua following them a length back like a shadow, and Guerin tucking Summer Tan in directly behind the Belair colt to bide his time until the final test came. Going up the back side, Swaps disposed JOCKEY WILLIE SHOEMAKER — Turned in a brilliant ride to bring Swaps home in front in the Kentucky Derby. of Trim Destiny and was bowling along a length in front, pricking his ears and running the race on his own terms. This happy circumstance did not endure for long, however, as Arcaro, who has never taken Swaps lightly, got after Nashua nearing the end of the backstretch. Summer Tan attempted to move with the Wood winner, but it was clear on the last turn that he could not make contact with lapsed under stress of their efforts. Rarely has a horse gone to anothers head with either of the first two unless they col- Swaps Swaps Earnings Earnings at at 36,650 36,650 CHURCHILL CHURCHILL DOWNS, DOWNS, Louisville, Louisville, Ky., Ky., May May 7.— 7.— Rec Rec C. C. Ellsworths Ellsworths light light footed footed colt colt Swaps Swaps increased increased his his earnings, earnings, by by 08,400 08,400 in in todays todays richest richest of of all all Derbys, Derbys, to to a a total total of of 36,650. 36,650. more determination than Nashua caught Swaps entering the long Downs homestretch. They fought it out with whips flashing, bound for bound for almost an eighth of a mile, Nashua on the outside, Swaps on the inside. Just inside the final furlong marker the Westerner had got the better of his relentless adversary and through the last sixteenth he was beginning to draw off. Neither Nashua nor Summer Tan was beaten for any other SWAPS — Won his second Derby when he accounted for Saturdays renewal of the Churchill Downs classic from Nashua and Summer Tan. This past winter he was successful in the Santa Anita Derby. apparent reason than that they met a better horse today. Following the finish Shoemaker estimated, "My horse had plenty left at the finish and I had no doubt after he straightened out for the run home. "Swaps veered ever so slightly at the turn for home just as Nashua made his run at him. It seemed to me that either the crowd or the gate excited the colt momentarily and he tried to get off the rail. Once straightened out. I hit him for the first time and he began to pull away from Nashua. I knew before the race he was a lot of horse, but I did not know how good Nashua was at the time." Shoemaker returned to California tonight. Eddie Arcaro said "Nashua had no excuses. He never could make much impression on Swaps, though I thought Shoe had a little trouble with his horse at the top of the stretch." Eric Guerin, on Summer Tan, said that "when we tried to run with Nashua my horse died. He hadnt a single excuse." The 0,000 Debutante Stakes may not have quite so much import as some other two-year-old filly fixtures, nevertheless the fifty-fifth running was witnessed by far more patrons than will see any other stake for this age and sex all season and the winner was Clifford Mooers homebred Cherry. Johnny Heckmann brought her from well off the pace on the turn and wore down James Paddocks Babcha to win by half a length in the moderate time of 1:00%, after a first quarter in :22% and the half in :46%. Third, a length and a half away, was Mrs. Joseph Tomlinsons Guard Rail and the winners runningmate Birch, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, was fourth in a starting field of 10. The favored Queen Margie did not much flatter her backers, and the winner returned .20 for as the second choice, while winning 3,500 of a gross purse of 7,200. She is a growthy chestnut daughter of Buster and Cleverette. This was, incidentally, the first time at the meeting two-year-olds had been required to go fivt furlongs, and they were a second and four* fifths off Miss Jatos track record in ex» cellent going.
