Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-03
Candy Spots Wins Despite Pi|eup
4 Riders Hurt,
Horse Killed
Al Santa Anita
Winner Survives
Severe Dumping
For Fifth Victory

ARCADIA, Calf, Mar. 2
(AP). - CALIFORNIA; unbeaten
Candy Spots ran his victory
string to five today as near
disaster struck the 26th run.
ming Of the sl43.30O Santa
Anita Derby,
A violent pile-up at the club
house turn brought a gasp Of
horror to the jammed area and
sent four 3-year-old horses and
their riders plunging heavily to
the dirt track.
The immediate results:
Denodado, the Flying M
Ranch's stakes winner, was de-
stroyed on the track.
The four jockeys were well
shaken up and sent to nearby
Arcadia Methodist Hospital.
Jockey Ismael Valenzuela APP
peared to be the most seri-
ously injured. He complained
Of pains in his arms and legs.
Suffers No Fracture
A report from the hospital
said Valenzuela apparently suf-
fered no fracture of the arms
or legs. The other riders ap-
parently were severely banged
UP but sustained no serious
injury.
Candy Spots, the odds-on
favorite with the 57,056 fans at
Santa Anita Park, survived a
terrific humping that turned
his rump halfway around.
But Candy spots, with cool
Bill Shoemaker managing to
get him safely out of the storm,
settled down and went on to
win the mile-and- eighth
race by Ia lengths over Fred
w. Hooper's well-regarded Sky
Gem.
II was lucky" Shoemaker
said after the race. THE horse
that hit me CBeekeeper)
knocked me out Of the path of
the horse that was down Win
Em-Alll and saved me from
going over the horse that was
down"
Robert s. lie Sage's Round
Rock was third and Country
Squire was fourth in the field
Of 10.
Win-Em-AIl, a stablemate Of
Sky Gem; Howard B. Keck's
Doolin Point and B. j. Riders
Royal Tower were the other
three colts which fell. Pete
Moreno, Eddie Burns and Rudy
Campas were the other riders
to go down.
A dramatic stiffness settled
over the vast throng as the
track announcer, Joe Herman
DEE. said over the loudspeaker
that the four riders had been
taken to the hospital for fur
ther examination.
Spill at Clubhouse Turn
The accident came as the
well-bunched field reached the
clubhouse turn.
As track attendants rushed
to the scene-a sickening one
with riders and horses sprawled
about-the race continued.
Alfred @. Vanderbilt's Might
and Main held the front end
Of the run, with Sky Gem q
close second and Candy Spots
held back in good position in
third place.
| Shoemaker hit the stretch
lust behind the combination Of
Sky Gem and his rider, Braulio
Baeza, and then flew into the
lead.
Sky Gem gave Candy Spots
q struggle for 70 yards, but
nearing the wire Candy Spots
forged TO the front.
The victory was worth $685.
800 to owner Rex Ellsworth
and brought the son Of Nigro-
nantes earnings IN five races
10 S262,Il2.
Thus Candy Spots matched
victory runs with Never Bend
in their transcontinental duel
for national laurels in the s.
year-old division.
Never Bend. the crowd had
been told earlier. won with
ease the Flamingo Stakes al
Hialeah.
The stewards analysis Of the
mishap:
"Sky Gem. rank (hard to
handle) TO place into first
place. swerved out slightly,
causing his own stablemate,
Win-Em-All, TO trip and fall.
'Doolin Point then fell over
in-Em-All. followed by Dem
odado and then Royal Tower"
The winners time was
1:50b. well off the derby rec
ord Of l:47% set by Tompion
in 1860.
\ Candy Spots returned $40,
$3.50 and $3.50; Sky Gem paid
50 and $3.50. and Round Rock
was $40 10 show.
Ellsworth, in a quick visit 10
the press box. said Candy
Spots was indeed hit hard In
the mixup.
I'VE got knicked real bad In
THE whole issue. It's q wonder
Candy stood up" Ellsworth
said.
II appeared, Ellsworth said.
that Candy Spots was hit In
the rump and reared almost