Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-04
Gen. Duke Out Of Derby
Odds Drop on Bold Ruler
WheutIey Colt
7 to S as Field
Is Reduced to 9

|
LOUISVILLE, KY. May 4
R.-Gen. Duke Of the Calumet
Farm was withdrawn from the
83rd Kentucky Derby today.
leaving Bold Ruler and eight
other 3-year-old colts to con-
test the $l25.000-added classic.
1t was a tough blow for the
stable of Mrs. Gene Marley as
it left only Iron Liege-lesser
half of what had doomed as a
powerful Calumet entry-to bat
tie it out in the big race before
an expected crowd of some l00,-
900 at Churchill Downs. The
field is due to go of at $50
pm. washington time).
(The race will be televised
in Washington by WTOP-9
from Sis to 5:45 p.m.)
A bruise was noticed in Gen.
Dukes left front foot after he
beat Bold Ruler in the Florida
Derby March 80, but it came
around after treatment. There
was another setback last month
when Gen. Duke ran in a bet
less exhibition at Keeneland.
The bruise became more serious
Tuesday after he finished Sec
ond to Federal Hill in the Derby
Trial.
Shoots for Preakness
Calumet Trainer Jimmy Jones
and his father, Ben, had hoped
until the last minute that the
injury might respond to treat
ment. But it was slow coming
around, although there is con-
siderable improvement. Now it
seems that his next battle with
Bold Ruler and the other s.
year-old stars will come in the
Preakness May Is at Pimlico.
Gen. Duke, the Derby favorite
until the injury cropped up
worked out a quarter of a mile
this morning to give a final test
of his condition. After returning
to the barn and waiting about
an hour, Jimmy Jones declared:
II don't think we will go. I'd
have to run him with a bar plate
(shoe) and ] don't think he'd run
very well with it,"
/ Then the Joneses left the stable
area hurriedly. and said any
final announcement would be
known in the secretary's Office
shortly.
Bold Ruler Odds Drop
When the announcement Of
his withdrawal was made, shortly
after the special Derby betting
windows opened, the odds on
Bold Ruler dropped from 8 to 5
| to z to 5.
Willie Hartack, a disappointed
jockey who envisioned his first
Derby victory aboard Gen. Duke.
was Immediately named as the
rider for Iron Liege. Dave Erb.
who won the Derby with Needles
last year and who has been riding
Iron Liege. was left without Q
mount.
With nine starting, minus the
81 $50 starting fee for Gen. Duke.
the gross purse now is $152.050.
the winner netting $107,950.
The word that Gen. Duke had
been scratched came an hour and
Is minutes after the gates had
been opened and about $4,000
persons already had filed into
the Downs under crisp. clear
skies. 1t had dropped to 80 de-
grees early today and the fore
cast called for a high around so.
Fast Track Due
A lightning fast track was in
prospect for the clash Of prob
ably the most closely matched
field ever assembled for Amer
ica's No. turf spectacle.
The speed and staying power
Of the field places in jeopardy
the record of 2:0l2s hung up by
Whirlaway in 194l.
At the end Of this gruelling
test of speed and stamina under
l26 pounds awaits all the honors
bef1tting a champion-a blanket
Of red roses. the cheers of the
multitude stretching for five
eighths of a mile along one side
of the track and perhaps little
extra oats in his feed box
tonight.
Bold Ruler. owned by Mrs.
H. C. Phipps' Wheatley Stable,
trained by 82-year-old Sunny
Jim Fitzsimmons and ridden by
that master of Derby jockeys,
Eddie Arcaro, remained the firm
choice with prospects his start
ing odds will be even lower by
post time.
Bold Ruler and Gen. Duke met
four times In Florida. They split
even. Gen. Duke won their last
clash, beating Bold Ruler by a
length and a half in equalling the
world record of l:464s for a mile
and an eighth in the Florida
Derby. But Bold Rulers work.
outs since arriving at the Downs
have been just short Of sensa-
tional.
Arcaro is after his sixth Derby
victory, Fitzsimmons his fourth.
No other jockey or trainer in the
race can match their records.
The only other jockey with pre-
vious Desby victories is Willie
Shoemaker. who'll be astride
Ralph loves Texas-owned Gal
liant Man. Shoemaker won with
Swaps in 1855.
Gallant Man. youngest and
smallest horse in the race, is con-
sidered a serious threat because
See DERRY. Page Ala