The New York herald., 1921-05-01
GREAT HORSES TO
RUN IN THE DERBY
NEXT SATURDAY
At Least a Dozen Three
Year-0lds to Start in
$4,000 Classic.
LEONARDO Is FAyORITE
Recent Race Gives Him Place
i'm Front Of TrySter and
Prudery.
BY HENRY v. KING.

Racing will get into fuu Swing this
week On Friday the METROPOLITAN sea-
SON WIN begin at Jamaica. On Saturday
Churchill Downs will open is meeting
with the historic Kentucky Derby. Quar-
tered on or near these tracks awaiting
the calls OF boots and saddles arc thor
louglfbreds worth more than million
dollars.
While the local racegcers viii concern
themselves mostly with the events at tie
little Long Island track, the big stake
in Kentucky is attracting their attention.
100. The Derby Is $4,000 classic. II
isn't quite what the EPSON Derby is TO
england or the Grand Prix ia to France.
but 1t is a race awaited eagerly by lovers
Of the thoroughbred all over the world.
1t is test OF speed and stamina for
three-year-olds at a mile and quar-
ter. With the exception of the fillies.
which have a sex allowance Of pounds,
all the contestants will carry 126 pounds.
A hundred of the best three-year-old
colts and f1llies in the country have been
entered for it. And from among this
throng probably dozen or possibly a
score OF the survival OF the fttest viii
start
The East, which virtually means New
York. will be well represented and is
almost sure to win some part of the rich
purse. But whether or not an Ea stern
horse will be returned the winner is a
matter OF conjecture. TO almost all
sportsmen and all horsenen In this vi
cinity. only one object stands in the
way of an Eastern victory. But that IS
a huge object
1t is Leonardo IL. the bay son or
Sweep and Ethel Pace owned by Messrs.
Sims and McClelland of Lexington. Ky.
This handsome big colt Is a veritable
whirlwind. No horse has any more speed
than he. That was proved last week at
Lexington. where he ran as only o Man
o. War can run. Without doing his best
at any stage of the journey he stepped
a half In 45 seconds. mile in :35 as
and finished the mile and sixteenth in
/ AZ 4-5. only small fraction of sec
end behind the worlds record
Beat Cheap FicI..
Man o. War. the super horse, whose
speed amazed the racing world and the
American public In general for two
years. never ran faster. But Leonardo
didn't beat any horses worth while in
that race and his weight was twenty
pounds below the championship scale.
That he's n speed marvel there is no
doubt. Neither Is there much doubt
about his stamina, but his weight car
rying ability and courage have not been
thoroughly tested. II IS also a question
OF whether he likes TO race In mud.
Yesterday he wac beaten on a heavy
track by Black Servant and several
others. He won all of HE races last
season as Juvenile. including the
rich Hopeful at Saratoga. but in that
MIXTURE at the Spa his margin of vic
tory was scant and he was lucky to
get the verdict. He was second best in
the event, for with better racing luck
Harry Payne Whitpey's Prudery would
have beaten him. She met with early
interference and didn't get going at her
best until the race was practically over.
Tlen she fairly devoured the ground
and at the judges stand only Leonar-
dos neck was in front OF her.
That race shouldn't be taken as Leon
ardo's best He had been ailing for sew
eral weeks previously and Kimban Pat
erson. his trainer, accomplished almost
the Impossible in getting him 10 the
post as fit a. he was.
- u that race. as IN all his other starts,
IT. was his tremendous speed that won
for thim. There IL no reason TO believe
he 7acks courage or weight carrying
ability. or that indefinable class which
al horserDen worship. But he hasn't
had chance to show these qualities. He
probably will next Saturday though
and II he possesses them he IL almost
sure 10 be returned the victor
As has been the case for many years
Harry Payne Whitney viii be the main
fance OF the New York followers Of
the sport. III his Tryster he has colt
which is bred In the purple. has tremen-
dous speed. great stamina and class
Like Leonardo. ne was unbeaten AZ
juvenile A week ago in his debut at
Havre de Grace he was beaten by Paul
Jones. but IN that defeat he earned
nearly as much glory as did Leonardo
in his victory al Lexington.