The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-05-21
REICH COUNT
MUDS WAY TO
DERBY HONOR
Big Red Colt Three Lengths in
Front Of Misstep While
TorO Is Third

Louisville, May 21.-R-Ra;n ~,
shine, mud or slop-it was all REICH
Count. - 'e !"
The big red colt, owned by Mrs
y. Hertz OF Chicago, wife of the
taxlcab magnate, splashed to VIC
tory in the 54th Kentucky DERBY
Saturday, racing through a
drizzling rain and mud ankle-deep
in one Of the most spectacular races
in the history Of the blue ribbon
event OF the American turf.
Reigh Count, a son of Sun REICH.
Contessina, heavily played favorite.
won Just as his supporters said he
would, finishing three lengths ahead
OF Misstep. Toro, which lost such
q heart breaking race to Victorian
in the Preakness a week ago. was
two lengths and a half back Of Mis-
step. And trailing in fourth place.
came Jack Higgins, winner of the
Louisiana derby.
Largest Field in HISTORY
Reign Count defeated the largest
Held that ever went to the post in
the Kentucky derby, running the
furnishing mile and quarter route
in 2:1O 2-5. Twenty-Five three
year-olds faced the barrier, exceed.
ing the previous largest field in
1923 when 81 started in the race
won by Zev.
The winner rewarded Mrs. Hertz
with $55,375 as first money with
IS, 600 going to Misstep and $4,000
to Edward B. Mclean, the Washing
ton publisher and owner of Toro. In
addition to the $55,375, Mrs. Hertz
received q gold plate valued at
$500 and all the glory that money
could not buy.
Reign Count paid better than two
for one in the mutuels, rewarding
his hackers with $6.12 for every 50
invested on his chances.
His place price was $5.78 and
1898 to show. Misstep paid 1928
to place and $3.50 to show, while the
show price on Toro was $3.76.
$4,000 Watch Race
Upwards of 10000 witnessed tn.
race, all of them dampened by ,
soaking rain, but too excited to b,
daunted by the terrific downpour
that broke over Churchill Downs an
hour before the horses were led out
Of the paddock. For 40 minutes the
rain came down in a torrent, but
just before the call of the bugle il
settled to steady drizzle and it was
drizzling when the race was run.
When the barrier shot up a few
minutes after 5 p. m. the yells of
% jockeys could be heard above the
deathly silence urging their mounts
forward as they attempted to get
the advantage Of the break. Misstep
with Jockey Willie Garner on his
back got in front with Distraction
second and Reign Count breaking
third.
In a twinkling, the onrushing
mass of horses was laundering
down the track past the grand stand
and headed for the first turn. The
pounding of 20 sets Of hoofs became
roar of distant thunder which was
gradually drowned out by the yells
Of thousands in the stands.
Blackweod Leads
As the % thQroughbreds swep,
past the stands for the first time,
Blackwood was leading by two
lengths with Misstep second and
Marty Flynn third. In the back
stretch Reign Count came out from
behind the pack and with Jockey
Lang vigorously applying the whip
began to close in on the leaders.
Lang was crouched low on his
mount and seemed to be talking to
him, urging him to greater effort.
Seemingly, Mrs. Hertz entry re-
sponded, for as he passed around the
turn and into the stretch. he was
running strongly and gaining inch
by inch on Misstep.
Mud splattered from the heels OF
the thoroughbreds onto those be-
hind them and onto frantic specta-
tors hugging the inside wall. As
the horses came near to the finish
line, Lang, on Reign Count, and
Garner on Misstep, began applying
the whip. In the stretch Misstep
was on the inside with Reign Count
on the outside. Misstep hung on for
q second as they reached shoulder
to shoulder and then Reign Count
moved into the lead under Lang's
urgings. Toro came on like
streak, making gallant finish with
Jack Higgins running fourth.
Spectators Hold Breath
The last hush of the crowd was
sudden as the horses made the drive
for the wire. Reign Count, carry
ing the bulk Of the public's money,
was making his final, determined
bid for victory. The thrilled specta-
tors held their breath in fearful
fonder as Reign Count began to
make good his reputation, as cham
pion two-year-old Of 1927.
Lang, applying the whip, began
to increase his lead with firm
strides. Then the signs Of the
crowd gave way to a roar as Reign
Count, his TANKS bespattered with
mud, crossed the line winner Of the
derby.