Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-06
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Jockeys Call 1t Truly Run
LOUISVILLE, MAY 5-The calmest N

LOUISVILLE, MAY 5.-The calmest man in the Jockeys
after todays Kentucky Derby Dave Erb whose
game little colt Needles, may have made up ground
than any winner in many years. Erb is 33-year-od Cali
fornan who presided at the interview with the solemn mn
of banker.
THE colt spit the bit at the veeighths POLE" Erb said
land that scared But he grabbed it in few strides felt
lots better but darned far behind figure Needles
made up Is lengths in the stretch
Needles SIRE Ponder, approximately the same sort
of in 1949 Whereas Needles 18th the field of IT
the threequarer mark Ponder had only of IA
beaten Needles by threequarters of length
der by full length Needles time fast track was the
relatively slow 2035 PonderS another fast trip 204
Despite the size of the field it truly race all
riders agreed IF horse lacked ROOM Willie Hartack
sad lit had to be the winner and wouldn't be in position
to KNOW Willie was referring to the fact that FabuS his
mount, than third and therefore couldn't
have Needles until the Flordabred colt caught Fabus
coming down the stretch"
did your horse out of puff" asked reporter.
NO" Hartack said. Needles didn't swoosh by My
horse still running. Needles just running little
faster"
HARTACK DOESN'T KNOW whether he will switch from
FbuS to Pnto Lea the other Calumet horse that finished
fifth Pntor Lea is the better horse" Willie fatty stated
ut all depends on how he came out of this race"
Eb asked he expected be aboard Needles in the
Preakness and Belmont His 12yearod standing nearby
bnked at the question: realizing it spoken jest
Erb patted the boys shoulder WED better see" he
smiled In other words 10 per cent of purses like todayS
OF $l23450 to the winner is too good thing.
DERBY DAY was the kind money can't buy Or if it
could price would be prohibtive After week of raw
wet afternoons under eaden skies Derby Day dawned bright
clear and The good burgherS Louisville Anchorage
Frankfort and neghborng communities rolled out of their
BEDS looked of the window dressed the Downs
televSon notwithstanding.
This could be the biggest of all Derby Days. Uncle Joe
Stevens the famed and gentle caterer happily
turned the fires under his coffee pots And yet there
dispeased people already With the Derby five
hours off, for instance wedressed lady walked into the
big dining room and demanded to be fed.
81 told her that Derby Day everything is reserved If
she had been nice about it, however would have her
Instead she pointed to the empty chairs Screeched
Look at those chairs! am hungry and intend to be
fed
Madame said there empty seats in a theater
too long before the performance That does they
not sold out"
Sir she snapped you are a mean old = Then she
hounced on never had such thing happen to me in all
these least expected it early the morning
anybody had reason to tear up ticket"
IN WHAT OTHER SPORTS event in this Nation are the
first 20 rs seconds momentous dramatic
important than the Kentucky Derby? This ques-
ton which came up on Derby at of several specacu
lar parties 1t the that there were
packing much pressure especially when the field is big
one like in this l7-colt Derby
The pressure is rider and horse alike "Where it's
tough" 6-foo 200-pounder expounding TO group
which included silent little man. "is that the jockey
ready when the gates and not his horse In World
Series game or bowl kickoff you've got help Even in golf
going into the final round of the Masters Open while
In 'front.' it's just who doesn't have to worry about
horse.
"The payof," ntoned the man. lis the run past the
grandstand for the first time Needles for example will
to nd racing room Countermand starting from the No. II
position can't be expected break enough to save ground
by the first The job Arnold Kirkland will be to make
the race short for his horse possible Don't tell me the
distance of mile and quarter what totally wins Derby
AS the group broke up the little who was listening
quietly inquired
who that big fellow doing the talkng?"
search me-" came the answer
The taker asked the same question Of another man
Who the little guy?" he queried Looks kind of familiar
His name" dryly spoke up informer as Willie Har-
tack He happens to be the Nations leading rider"