Evening star., 1955-05-07
Nine Colts Challenge Nashuas Bid
For Greatness in 81sf DerbyToday
Track to Be Fast
Despite Chance
Of Showers

vi SuVWCtS
LOUISVILLE. KY, May Z F9.
This Is the day Nashua, tAs
odds-on favorite, answers the baa
question in the 8lst and richest
Of all Kentucky Derbies.
The bay colt from William
Woodward's Beiair Stud places
his enviahle record Of 10 vic
tories and two seconds In 10
races On the line against nine
other razor-sharp 3-year-olds at
$50 pm. washington time).
And at the end Of the. mile
and one-quarter, q colorful $685.
000-added test Of speed and
stamina, some 100000 spectators
and the unseen television and
radio audience should know
whether Nashua is worthy to
have his name written alongside
the truly greats OF horse racing.
Race on Teieyision =
Description of the prerace &C
tivities. the actual running of
the race and the crowning Of
the winner with q blanket of
roses in the center of the f1ow-
cred horseshoe will be carried on
radio and television by the Co
lumbia Broadcasting System
(WTOP in Washington) froA
sis to 5:45 pm. Ff
Many already have attached
the label great" to Nashua, roy
ally bred son of Nasrullah, who
seemingly has a penchant for
drawing the finishes fine and re-
peatedly has refused to let go
with all the power he is said to.
possess.
But there are others who ask
that the pride of Belair, con-
ditioned by 80-year-old Sunny
Jim Fitzimmons and ridden by
the peerless Eddie Arcaro, prove.
himself again today. They asked
him to do it against such worthy,
rivals as Mrs. John w. Gall,
breath's Summer Tan. Rex
C. Ellsworth's California-owned
Swaps and the one-two punch of
Racing Fool and Flying Fury
from Capt. Harry F. Guggen-
helms Cain Hoy Stable.
Nashua Odds-on Choice ,,.
There's no doubt but what
he'll be the choice Of the crowd
packed into the rambling stands
and infield. He opened at 4 to S
in the betting and the odds may
be even shorter by starting time.
Only horses like Native Dancer
and Citation in recent years
have 80 captured the fancy Of
the public.
Some Of the experts even have
predicted that Nashua will an
danger Whirlaway's record If
the early pace b fast enough.
Whirlaway set up the race stand.
ard of 2;012s In 1o41.
The weatherman saw the pos
sibility of thundershowers before
race time. but q light rain would
only tend to make the track
faster. =.
The latest weather forecast
called for cloudy and warm
weather with scattered showers
and possible thunderstorms to-
day and tonight.
Early arrivals at Churchill
Downs were greeted by cloudy
skies and temperatures hover
ing near the 60-degree mark.
A high Of So was forecast.
Winner to Get $IOS,4OO
If all Of the 10 overnight en-
tries are in the post parade as
the bands strike up MY Old
Kentucky Home" the winner
will bank a net Of $108,40O of
the gross purse Of $152,000.
For Nashua this would mean
a jump in total earnings to
$585,840 and send him we'll on
the way to becoming the second
equine millionaire. Citation,
1948 Kentucky Derby winner, is
the only horse ever to win more
than a million dollars.
Nashua rates his lofty posi-
tion as the horse to beat today
chiefly because of his triumphs
over Summer Tan, the 2-to-l
second choice. )
In five clashes, four last year.
Nashua was In front at the
finish four times. The margin
OF victory, however, never was
more than a half-length and on
three occasions the difference
was no more than a neck. The
pair staged a thriller two weeks
ago in the Wood Memorial at
Jamaica with Nashua getting up
to win in the final stride.
Swaps California Choice !.
Swaps. third choice at S to /,
gets his big boost from Cali
fornians, where he won the
Santa Anita Derby, and from.
those who saw him rip off three-
quarters of a mile in 1:l0h at
Churchill Downs last Saturday.
With the possible exception
Of the Cain Hoy pair, a victory
for any Of the others would be
something more than a mild
surprise. Most of their trainers
and owners are more hopeful
than confident.
But in the Cain Hoy pair, Gug-'
genheim has a fine combination.
See DERBY, Page A-13