Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-28
.26,6O8 atLaure|
See -Four Derby
|Hopefu|s Fail
Crowds Set Records
In Betting; Moreno
Says He Was Bumped
By Lewis F. Atchison
Stor StoH Correspondent

tory, Mrs. Ada L. Rice's Ring
King left four Kentucky Derby
candidates. including the Ia
favorite Double Speed. up the
track today in winning the
fourth running of the $4,000
added Cherry Blossom Stakes
before 26.608 chilled and sur
prised fans.
Unheralded by the experts and
overlooked by most of the bet
tors, the 3-year-old son of
Alsab-Gracie Wee came from be-
hind rounding the stretch turn
in the siX-furlong sprint to win
by three lengths. Competing over
a dead track officially termed
good Ring King was clicked
in liza. selling platter time. He
paid S2780. $l120 and $3.50
across the board.
But if the time was slow, the
race was exciting with Mrs. John
D. Hartz's previously unbeaten
Double Speed. arriving third at
the finish line after a rough trip.
Shuk Says He Was Bumped.
Braeburn Farms War Piper
got second money. even though
Jockey Nick Shuk claimed after
the race that his mount was
bumped and knocked off stride
at the head Of the stretch when
he was running we'll.
War Piper paid $3.50 and $3.50.
while Double Speed paid $2.20
1t was a tremendous victory
for Trainer Tommy Kelly, 35-
year-old Baltimorean. who sad
died Ring King for his first vic
tory in five starts only last Tues
day. It was Kelly's fifth winner
for the current meeting.
Bred at the Rice's Danada
farm in Kentucky, Ring King
was not named for any of the
major 3-eear-old stakes like his
better known rivals because,
Kelly explained. he didn't know
enough about him" But after
today's performance there is a
strong possibility that the colt
will be a supplemental entry. for
$500. for the Preakness at PIN
lico. May %.
Betting Records Broken.
1t was not a truly run. or even
a great race for the fans. who
pored over their form charts
under bleak skies and in temper
atures that made topcoats feel
good. But they were in a bet
ting mood, sending $1.982,520
into the machines for a new
Laurel wagering record. The
new figure topped the handle of
S1.754.548 established last Arm
istice Day when the Washington,
D. c.. International turf race
topped LQe program.
Today's attendance vas almost
5000 under the record crowd of
$1,000 announced for that day.
The crowd on opening day this
year was 1855.
The fans wagered S302.681 on
the feature, putting $l02,586 on
the brown nose of Double Speed.
The California horses defeat
probably was the difference be-
tween the eight race total and
the first So million handle in
Laurels history.
The crowd also set a new
daily double betting record for
Maryland with a total of $780,
$50.
Moreno Also Complains.
Double Speed, one Of three
Pacific Coast horses expected
to WELD powerful influence in
the 1854 Kentucky Derby. was
making his 1854 debut today,
after chalking UP four victories
as a 2-year-old. He looked any,
thing but a Derby prospect to-
day. although Jockey Pete
Moreno said he was bumped at
head Of the stretch, sulked and
wouldn't extend himself.
From the press box Double
Speed seemed to bump Christ
lana Stables Menemsha just in
side the 18th pole coming into
the stretch, threatening to knock
Jockey Sammy Boulmetis over
the fence.
1t was a good victory for left
handed Bill Hartack. a kid from
the Pennsylvania coal fields,
who learned his trade at Charles
Town and Waterford Downs and
Continued on Page CA, Col. o.