Evening star., 1953-05-24
Royal Bay Gem
Finishes Third;
Dark Star Tires

DdK OIdI Tires
Norris Colt Puts On
BriIIiont Stretch Run;
Betting Records Set
Continued From First PageO
brought about a new all-time
days handle record. A total of
50, ,279.916 was wagered on to-
days eight races and daily
double. The previous high was
$2,219 120. bet the day Assault
won the 1946 Preakness. But
there were nearly 10000 more
people here that afternoon.
Earnings Reach $44O,245.
The SOS, 200 earned by Native
Dancer in today's gruelling tri-
umph pushed: the Vanderbilt
colts earnings, to $440,245. OF
this, $209.75O has been cleaned
this year. making him the top
money winner of 1858, about
$4,000 ahead of Calumet's
Mark-Ye-Well.
The race was a thriller from
the moment the field of seven
got of to a perfect start at the
top of the stretch. Dark Star,
the Kentucky Derby winner, took
over the lead almost Immediately,
just as he had done at Churchill
Downs. AS they went by the
stands the first time. Jockey
Hank Moreno had Dark Star in
front by length, with Ben Whi-
takers Tahitian King second and
Native Dancer third. Mrs. Cor
don Guiberson's Correspondent
was a closeup fourth. with the
other three well back.
Guerin didn't rush The Dancer
at any time, but took him to the
rail and saved every bit of ground
possible.
Going up the backstretch,
Dark Star widened his lead to a
length and a half, with the
others maintaining their posi-
tions. Jamie K. was next to last
at this point, less than a length
ahead of the sluggish Royal Bay
Gem.
Dancer Begins to Move.
Justsbefore the far turn was
reached the quarter was run by
Dark Star in O::22 q, the half in
0:47 and the six furlongs in
l:114s-things began to happen.
First. Guerin let out a wrap
on the favorite and Native
Dancer passed Tahitian King
and took out after Dark Star.
Then Royal Bay Gem under
Jimmy Combest began to move
from the rear and that, accord
ing to Arcaro's jockey-room
statement, made Eddie move a
little sooner than he had planned
on jamie K.
Coming around the bend into
the home stretch, Native Dancer
put Dark Star away quickly and
looked like an easy winner. But
Jamie K. quickly removed any
such ideas.
Ding Dong Finish.
Arcaro had Jamie K. Tapped on
the Dancer at the eighth pole
and from then on it was a ding
dong finish. But, as the chart
maker said, the Norris colt was
not quite good enough. About all
that he and Arcaro were able to
do was to reduce to a minimum
any talk that Native Dancer be-
longs in the same class with such
previous Preakness winners as
Man O. War. Count Fleet and
Citation.
After race, Guerin said, he was
Just waving his whip at The
Dancer. It didn't appear that
way from the press box. Guerin
also said he believes his mount
will win the mile-and-a-half
Belmont stakes, but that he now
considers Jamie K, rather than
the stretch-running Royal Bay
Gem, to be the chief menace.
Arcaro must have been pretty
pleased with himself, although
he didn't tarry long in the
Jockey room. Eddie has been
criticized plenty for a few dis
paraging remarks about Native
Dancer-some of which he has
denied making-and he came
very close to winning his fifth
Preakness this afternoon on a
mount that probably would have
been 40 to l if anyone else had
been riding.
Never A Stakes Winner.
For Jamie K.-the horse was
named for James Kibler, son of
Jim Norris Sister-never won
stake race and made it stick.
The colt finished first in the
Remsen Handicap last fall, but
was disqualified. He was a fail
ure in Florida last winter, largely
due to bad post manners and
erratic racing. but managed to
get into a dead heat with Slim
for third money in the 100000
(See PREAKNESS, Page C-4)