Evening star., 1925-05-18

dangling at the end Of a gossamer
the eve of the fifty-frst running OF
break.
But the gods were kind-in more
was tossed from Sandc's red head
little less than year ago has bee
brow. garlanded with green laurc!s.
When they picked the limp lump Of
humanity from the track at Saratoga
i seemed that every bone in the thin
little body had been broken. The
Nmash-up had been a bad one. Sande
had gone down in an attempt to save
Oiher Jockeys from Il spill. And grave
~ the word went forth from the hos
pltal that the great jockey, if he lived
could never hope again TO sit a saddle.
J'ut some times the doctors reckon
without their patients, reckon without
The spirit and the will that lies hidden
even from their gaze in the stricken
hodies with which they deal.
Has Winning Spirit.
Earle Sande, tawny-haired son of
ldaho, was born with the winning
spirit strong within him. The long
race he rode with death and disability
those dreary weeks and months in the
hospital were his real derby. But he
lifted himself home then as scores of
''iHOo IlG has VIII SeeIiInS super
human effort plunged a thorough
hred's head to the wire of victory
out of the hospital and once more
sporting the flashing silks of the turf.
Sande still was viewed by owners and
trainers alike with a suspicion soft
ened by an overwhelming pity.
The word was passed about the
tracks that "the boy is not strong"
Ills fine hands seemed as capable as
=,
strength of that final lift" home that
had made Sande the peer of them all,
would be missing in the future. How
ever Sande rode the mighty Sarazen
Il lew weeks ago TO his first victory
OF 1925 and the Maryland racing
throngs cheered him to the echo. This
was not sufficient TO convince the
skeptical. Sande must ride and win
the Derby.
But all the good horses were gone.
helr owners bad made contracts with
other riders. Sande accepted a mount
on Needle Gun" but he knew that
this son of Under Fire had no chance
whatsoever III the Derby field and he
was released. Then came his effort to
buy his way onto the Derby fayorite.
ouatrain. That failed. The engaged
Jockey would listen neither to pleas
nor dollars. Clifford Cochran, owner
OIL tlylng Ebony, heard of Sande'S
plight. He had engaged Hummer, the
EaSterner, to ride, but Runners
stable connections could not spare him
Tor the trip to Kentucky.
Tells About the Race.
Sande accepted the mount And
now let this premier jockey tell the
rest:
It's hard" said sandc, with the
Derby wreath of roses still about his
shoulders 'tn ISt hny 7 fan
won the Derby two years ago, YOU
know, with good old Zev. Zev and
were great pals. l knew his every
move and mood, and he knew me. We
each had confidence in the other. In
That Derby of la23, although the field
was the biggest in the history of the
race, l knew what Zev could do and
would do, and we just went out and
won. That was all there was TO it
then.
But today it has been different.
Maybe my misfortunes have made me
little sentimental. But somehow
today / felt l just had TO win. | had
to come through, l had to show
everybody that I am whole again. NV
friend Mack Garner got a dirty fall
III the second race today. [ waited at
the paddock gate till they brought
him back and l could see that he was
all o. *. Maybe some people thought
vas StllIiS NOIIleu about lnNSell
and about the joStling and the posi-
blIit1eS of a fall in the big Derby field
with 20 excited horses and 20 over
anxious boys facing that first plunge
AT the barrier and the sprint for posi-
tion at the first turn of the track. But
wasn't thinking about thar at alk
Flying Ebony and ! were strangers
10 each other this morning, but it
doesn't take long TO get acquainted
With a game little fellow like that
Frankly, though, j didn't think much
oT our chances for winning. [ was
told that Flying Ebony liked the
Louisville track, and never had lost
= race over it. So when I took the
mount l figured l was TO ride a good
and willing horse, and had what we
call an outside chance. He was bet
ter than l thought.
Thinking of Favorite.
''All through the race I was think
ing of the favorite. Quatrain, the
horse I had wanted TO ride, the one
! thought l could win with. for | had
heard Of his wonderful finishes in the
stretch. | wasn't worried about either
Captain Hal or Son OF John as we
went racing around that first turn and
up the back stretch. l had them
gauged soon after the barrier was
sprung and the pace was set. But !
kept waiting for Quatrain to come up.
II knew | must leave something in
horse to meet that rush. We came to
the turn for home. Still there was
no Quatrain. | listened to the roar
Of the mob. thinking I might hear
something of the favorite from them.
Then we entered the stretch and l
knew II was time to make my run.
Quatrain or no Quatrain. If ne wasn't
up ut the quarter pole ! knew he
would never catch uS.
Some may have thought that Fly
ing Ebony faltered in the stretch. j
was holding him. We were now pass
ing the stands. l looked back and
only good old Hal and Son of John
were there. ! knew the race was won.
] knew my friends would know that
sure enough / had come back.
Now tell me, how would you feel