Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-12
7S-Year- Old Owner
Breaks Into Tears;
longden Mount 10Th
BY the Assoeiaisslp Press

- ~ sNssrSsst@fsAX sSNe
DoNCASTER. England, Sept.
11.-Kentucky-bred Never Say
Die scored one Of the most
smashing victories in the ancient
history Of the st. Leger today
and his 78-year-old owner, FL
nancier Robert Sterling Clark,
broke into tears.
The big chestnut colt scored
a double in England's top classic
races-the first by an American
owned and bred horse since Iro-
Quois accomplished the feat for
Pierre Lorillard in 1881. Never
Say Die won the EPSON Derby
in June. Iroquois was the only
other American-bred colt to win
the derby.
Clark, who lives in New York
and Upperville, Va. gave Never
Say Die a big kiss and hug in
the unsaddling arena after the
3-year-old had romped home
with a huge 12-length lead over
the distance of a little more
than mile and three quarters.
Never Say Die got mouthful Of
candy from his elated owner.
who broke into tears before
100000 fans.
Missed Seeing Derby.
"I'm too old to celebrate, but
I'm just about the happiest man
in the world today" Clark said.
Eve had three classic winners
in England, but this is the first
I've seen win.
Il don't know if shall retire
Never Say Die to stud this year
or run him as 4-year-old. I'll
probably let him run again next
year"
Never Say Die, by Nasrullah
out of the War Admiral mare,
Singing Grass. was the l0-to-3
fayorite in the race. which was
run on good going in bright
sunshine. Elopement (22 to u,
owned by Sir Victor Sassoon, was |
second. IL lengths behind. The
French colt Estremadur Goo to !
g., owned by Marcel Boussac,
was third, four lengths farther
back,
The American horses time onE
the turfed. egg shaped Northern I
England course, was 3 minutes,
1925 seconds. The st. Leger dis
lance is a mile. six furlongs and
1872 yards.
Wins Next Race, Too.
The next race after the st. |
Leger brought more excitement
for Clark. His 5-year-old colt,
Tip The Bottle, cantered to q
two-length victory in the Town
Moor Handicap.
The st. Leger brought bitter
disappointment for Johnny
Longden, veteran American
jockey who flew here just to
ride in this classic, and for two
other American owners.
Blue Prince II. owned by Wal
ter Jeffords of Philadelphia, fln-
ished fifth after leading for two
furlongs. Amber II, owned by
William Woodward, jr. of New
York, whose father won the st.
beger with Black Tarquin in
1948, came in 14th.
Longden finished 10th on Blue
Sail. owned by two Canadians.
Max Bell and Frank MacMahon
of Calgary.
smirke Rides Winner.
Charlie Smirke the English
Jockey who won the Washing |
ton, D. c.. international last No
.vember on Worden II, held
Never Say Die back in the early
stages of the race. He trailed
the 16-horse field after the first /
furlong and stayed in the ruck
until mile from home. Then I
he moved into a challenging po-
sition and, two furlongs out,
came with tremendous burst
for a runaway victory.
Although the records list Loril-
lard's Iriquois as the first |
American-owned, American bred |
colt. to win both the Derby and |
St., Leger 70 years ago. Gerald
McElligott, Clark's racing man
ager in England, claimed a
first" for the owner. He said
Lorillard had leased Iriquois for
the st. Leger.
Longden, who was to leave
England tonight, said Blue Sail
was a handicap horse racing
against a classic horse.
BLUE Sail felt good for about
o mile and ! turned into the
straight together with Smirke on
Never Say Die" Longden re-
counted. "Smirke then shouted
across Let's go and the next
second he had gone"