Evening star., 1953-08-20
Exercise Run Gives
Arcaro First Ride
On Native Dancer
BY the Assoeiated Press

CHICAGO. Aug. 20.-Jockey
Eddie Arcaro met Native Dancer
professionally for the first time
today, and gave the big gray
champion of Alfred Gwynne
Vanderbilt an early morning
workout at Washington Park.
Outside of Eric Guerin, who
has ridden Native Dancer to II
victories in 18 starts. and Bernie
Everson. exercise boy, Arcaro be-
came the only other jockey ever
to take the reins of the sensa-
tional 3-year-old.
Arcaro blew out Native Dancer
at five-eights of a. mile in 1:01
and galloped him another eighth
of a mile. Trainer Bill Winfrey
instructed the Jockey not to go
for speed and to Go the five
eighths in a little more than
one minute.
Eddie will be aboard The
Dancer in the $115,000 Amer
lean Derby at 1ls miles Satur-
day. Guerin is serving a Today
suspension leveled by Saratoga
stewards for a foul in the Sara
toga Special last Saturday.
Says Horse Handled Well.
My first impression of Native
Dancer is that he is a very pow
erful animal" Arcaro said after
the workout. "He handled we'll
and seemed to have a good dis
position. AS for speed, I know
he's got it. but in the workout
I think Mr.. Winfrey wanted to
breeze the jockey, not the horse.
just exercised him"
Everson rode on a lead ponv
beside Arcaro while the two gall
loped around the track before
Native Danver was let loose in
the sprint. EverSon kept point
ing out things about the big
gray mount. so by now there are
no secrets that ArcarO doesn't
know.
In the sprint, Doug DodSon
rode Beachcom bel alongside Ma
tive Dancer. 1t was the first
time The Dancer has worked out
with another horse since spring.
IT'S silly to try to compare
horses" Arcaro said later. In
my opinion, Citation was the
greatest 1 ever rode. Even if 1
win on Native Dancer Saturday.
/ won't be able to make a COM
parison. 1t certainly takes more
than one race for something like
that. I couldn t tell much about
him today"
Arcaro asked Winfrey about
Native Dancers ankles. which
critics have called deformed or
abnormally large,
Ankles Down to Normal.
We've worked with them and
they are now down to normal
size" Winfrey said. you've got
to remember he's big-boned
horse. If he runs we'll Satur-
day and ships back East in good
order we may start him in the
Saratoga Cup at 134 miles Au-
gust %. We know for sure he
will go in the SySonby Mile at
Belmont September 26. Well
ship him out of Washington
Park this Sunday" I
After Native Dancer was
rubbed down, Arcaro stood IN
front of him and peered up at
his face.
You know. this is about the
first time I've ever seen the
Dancer from the front" he said.
"I've seen plenty of him from
behind"
Arcaro finished behind Native
Dancer this year in the Wood
Memorial, Kentucky Derby (the
only race the horse has lost
Belmont. Preakness and Arling-
ton Classic. He also lost to him
three times last year.
l-tO-5 FavOrite.
If and when the Dancer wins
the American Derby, he will
have banked total of $3.50 900
at the age of 3l2. The Wander
bilt horse is an overwhelming
1-to-5 faYorite to cop the race.
Besides Native Dancer, the
probable field of nine for Satur-
days test includes The Dancers
entrymate. Beachcomber; Sir
Mango, Platan. Precious Stone.
Stan, Landlocked. Van Crosby
and Ace Destroyer. There will
be no broadcast or telecast.