THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SPORT
A DERBY TO REMEMBER
But, heading for home, Needles is blazing. The Florida colt (center, No. 3) flashes between horses, goes to the outside and then—with a never-to-be-forgotten stretch run—drives under the wire to win the Derby and $123,000. Fabius is second, Come On Red third.
Out of the gate at Churchill Downs break the 17 best 3-year-olds of 1956 in the 82nd running of the Kentucky Derby. Getting away well on a fast track are such speed horses as Fabius and Terrang (sixth and seventh from left), the roan Head Man (fourth from right), and stretch-running Count Chic (No. 4). Needles, the Florida-bred favorite, also gets off fast from Post Position 1 but quickly eases up under Jockey Dave Erb to drop back and assume his customary position far astern of the leaders.
Around the first turn and into the backstretch thunders the charge of the Derby brigade with Terrang (on the outside) dueling Ben A. Jones for the lead. At this point Fabius is third, two lengths back, and Head Man fourth, while No Regrets and Invalidate (on the rail), two of the race's long shots, hang on close behind. Needles (second from left) moves peacefully along almost 20 lengths behind the front-runners, ahead of only one horse, High King, and is apparently content to lay back in the ruck.
A MILE TO REMEMBER
Within minutes of the finish of the Kentucky Derby the eyes of the nation were drawn by TV to Los Angeles and the tingling mile race in which the great John Landy was running on U.S. soil for the first time
It's Delany (7) who sprints ahead at the gun, takes a 12-yard lead over Landy (1) on the first turn while Bailey (2) settles into third. But the world record holder closes the distance before the end of the second lap, moves into a commanding lead at the start of the fourth (below) and appears a certain winner until Bailey makes his move.
It's Bailey by a yard at the finish as a blistering kick sends him past Landy and over the line in 3:58.6 while a tired Delany trails far behind.
FOUR PHOTOS
PHOTO
HY PESKIN
PHOTO
ALLAN GRANT