Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-11
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
A Lonq Time for Two Men

ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS of horse racing is how
certain horse certain rider find harmony and strike
rich Eric Guern for example has been Standout Jockey
for years. but hardly household until Native Dancer
along. Ted Atkinson had it good until he
teamed with Tom Fool And now there is Needles and
Dave Erb.
something like IT years Erb has been riding at tracks
in California Arkansas Illinois and Florida but Fasteners
do not know him The quiet S3yearod for instance
rode in New York Horsemen knew him to be competent
reinsman but he won few big races
The tempermental Florida-bred colt gives Erb bad
time especially in the mornings In the Kentucky Derby too
Needles spit his bit at the veghthS pole and trainers and
other riders marveed at Erbs GOODNESS and the speed with
which got the take it back But Erb put it
with grin: 1T was we'll worth it."
referring to his end of the Derby purse which
amounted to nearly $1250O.
THAT HE WILL RIDE the Preakness and the Belmont
is certain as long as both horse and rider Its
his long wants it, Trainer Hugh Fontane said
all during Derby week. and if Fonaine proud of picking
Erb he has right to be-
Needles regular rider 2yearold had been Johnny
Choquette, good boy in his right But Fontane
looking the perfect fit and when worked the colt
fall Florida the trainer recognized the awless unity
between Needles and Erb.
better pair" Fontaine explained, and he
right the Flamngo, and later in the
Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby. the comefrom
behind horse and the solemn veteran who is so
patient proved beyond much doubt that right Needles
is the best 3year-od in training And Erb making nothing
but money.
Before the Derby Erb regarded Swaps
maker suspended Erb winner that time too
and when he climbed off he gave his vote to Swaps
But Needles is the best 3-year-od," Dave says now
which is polite to both horses.
WHEN NEEDLES BEGAN to develop Derby favorite
in Florida there occasion to mention Fontaine But in
Kentucky brought out that the veteran trainer had to
use oraory to persuade Bonnie Heath and Jack Dudley
buy Needles for $4,000
Heath and Dudley comparatively to racing and
Fontane had been away from the game for long time Once
a wel-known trainer, Hugh living boat at Fort
Laudrdae Fla between trips hospitals The two younger
advised previous occasions by Fontane
buy yearngs and failed to do Both developed into
stakes winners.
At Louisville Heath disclosed that neither he Dudley
wanted to buy Needles. But Hugh liked him and he was
right about the other two went ahead 1t set Hugh up
in business again. which should have been enough
IN ERBS CASE is matter of receiving some beated
recognition Fontaine had to make comeback He had not
been we'll down his luck because while training
for Brookmeade Stable he made unfortunate appraisal
of a horse.
This was in 1910 and Brookmeade had colt named
Flank Carroll another trainer wanted to buy him
but he and Fontaine couldn't reach agreement the
price Finally Fontane offered to throw in another colt and
sold the pair for a mere $1,000
Flank never amounted to anything but the other one
happened to be Market Wise just of the ame good
ones that time Fontaines luck baduntl he
saw possibilities in the scky colt Needles bred in State
which had produced outstanding horse Now he
forget the detracors who had doubted
if Fontaine knew quality colt when he saw one