Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-11
Continued from Third Page

MRIeAIGSJ
None thought that the angular chestnut would
become the idol of the American racing public,
endeared to it by his unflinching gameness, his
readiness at all times, over any kind OF track,
with all weights, to give the best that was in
him to the last ounce.
My instructions to Willie Knapp, who was
our stable jockey at that time and who now is
training for Mrs. John d. Hertz, the owner Of
Reign Count, were very simple. told him
not to hustle his mount along too fast in the
early part of the race; to let him settle down
y to his stride and make his effort rounding the
turn for home. felt certain of one thing
that If it came to a battle through the stretch,
Exterminator would not be found wanting. He
would answer the call.
There always is some delay at the post in
the Derby. The twisting, squirming horses
seem If they viii never straighten out. Sud-
denly, as IL by common impulse, they surge
into line. The starter, snatching at his oppor-
tunity, springs the barrier and yells, Come on!"
A thunderous shout from thousands of Threats
proclaims, They're OIL"
Knapp got his horse away well. couple Of
raps with the whip, a shout of encouragement,
and Exterminator, in the run down to the
first turn, was not far from the leaders. AS
the field swung around the bend and straight
ened out for the run along the back stretch.
o roar of delight from his many hackers told
that War Cloud was in the lead.
But not alone. Close to him, not to be easily
shaken OF, was Viva America, almost as I'M
known and neglected as Exterminator, while
that good son of Broomstick Escoba, was with
in striking distance. Behind the leaders
Knapp waited with Exterminator.
The battle with Viva America and the heavy
going settled the favorite. To the dismay of
his hackers, War Cloud dropped back beaten
And as they rounded the turn for home Escoba
passed and settled Viva America. But they
hadn't outrun the bony chestnut. He was
there, to my intense delight, and ready TO go on
The final call had come, and Exterminator
answered it as had felt sure he would. In
few strides Knapp had him alongside Escoba
and the race was over. A clean-cut victory by
great colt who had run race far beyond
our expectations
The big crowd was simply stunned into
silence. pail of gloom seemed to spread
all over the Enclosure as its occupants watched
the plain-looking chestnut stepping back to
weigh In, with his cocky confident gait and
look in his eye that seemed to say This
is nothing to what I'll do to these guys later
on" He was great piece of racing machinery.
Ihey don't come any gamer than Exterminator
HE Preakness Stakes was run after the
Derby that year instead of before, as it
usually IS. Walter Jennings shipped War Cloud
back to Baltimore and. after he had won the
Preakness. some one asked him.
What sort of horse was it that beat you in
the Derby Walter?"
Jennings exploded.
why, the homeliest, most emery bunch of old
bones you ever laid your eyes on You can
hang your hat on any corner of him"
Unconsciously Jennings bestowed nickname
on Exterminator that stuck to the horse all
through his racing career "Old Bones he
was to regular racegoers, though the stable bows
named him Slim" The helpers and rubbers
around stable always like to make their pet
names for horses as short as possible. Man O.
War was always known in his stable as Red
The year following Exterminator's win we
made an effort to repeat that victory with Frog
town, another purchase from Milan. He
pumped up against an awful Snag that year
when Sir Barton and Billy Kelly, both belong
ing to the Canadian sportsman, j. K L. Ross
ran first and second in the Derby. Frogtown
just wasn't in those horses class. He required
careful placing where the company was not
quite so select. We finally found a place where
3 he won but that is another story. AS far as
the Derby was concerned, he was a misfit
This year may make my fourth attempt to
win the Derby. I am handling good colt
lin Flying Heels, owned by clifford Cochran.
with whom I've been most pleasantly con-
nected for several years. Though not a big
fellow, Flying Heels is sturdily built colt
with lots of speed. He showed that last year
in the seven races which he won as a 2-year-
pr he maintains that form and trains along
all right, he'll probably beat more than will
fRbeat him in the Derby
Flying Ebony, the sire of Flying Heels won
the big race for Mr.. Cochran in 1925. AS his
breeder and owner, Mr.. Cochran would get a
big thrill If Flying Heels were lucky enough to
follow in his sire's footsteps. When Flying
Ebony won the Derby his stable companion
lCoventry, had won the Preakness Stakes at
Pimlico few days before. Both of these
horses were trained by William Duke horse
man of international fame.
The absence of Harry Payne Whitney's
champion colt of last year, whichone and his
Stablemate, Boojum, as well George D.
IWideners Hi-Jack and w R Goes Caruso NAV