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Derby Outsider,
Never Say Die,
Wins At Epsom
LONDON, Wed.-Never Say Die, a 33 to I
outsider who is owned by the American Mr. Robert
Sterling Clark, was ridden by Lester Piggott to
victory today in the English Derby at Epsom.
Never Say Die won by two
lengths from Arabian Night
(33 to 1), with Darius (7 to
1) a neck away, third.
The joint favourites at 5 to 1
were Rowston Manor and the
French colt, Ferriol, both of
whom were unplaced. Ferriol
was ridden by the Australian
jockey, Rae Johnstone.
The Queen's horse, Landau,
held a prominent position when
the field of 22 turned for home
at Tattenham Corner, -but he
faded in the run home.
Never Say Die (by Nasrullah
out of Singing Grass) carried
9.0 and gave Piggott his first
Derby success.
The last American-owned
horse to win the blue riband of
the British turf was Mr. H.
Duryea's Durbar in 1914 and
the last American-bred horse
was Iroquois in 1881.
Name Appeals
Never Say Die was -a popular
choice with many small punt
ers who liked the name of this
flashy chestnut.
There was a general feeling of
disappointment when the Royal
colt, Landau, weakened under
pressure, but the victory of the
American owner was extremely
popular.
Mr. Clark is in the United
States and the honour of lead
ing in the Derby winner well to
the stable lad who tends him.
The American jockey, Johnny
Longden, said that he had had
a- good ride on his Irish-bred
mount, Blue Sail, who finished
tenth.
Elopement, a popular choice
with women backers, finished
fourth, Narrator fifth and Blue
Prince sixth.
Bookmakers admitted that
they had had a winning race,
although many small punters
had. had trifling amounts on
the winner.
Willie Snaith, the rider of
Landau, said after dismounting:
"Landau gave me good ride. I
was in the lead going round Tat
tenham Corner, but then the
horse dropped out. He failed
to stay beyond a mile and a
quarter."
It was a chilly, dull day and
the crowd was the smallest since
the war, possibly because the
race was on a Wednesday in
stead of a Saturday.
The, going was goxod but slight
ly on the firm side.
Never Say Die, who is train
ed at Newmarket by Joe Law
son, took 2.35 4-5 to cover the
li-mile journey.
The winner's share of the
stake was £A21,324., The sec
ond placegetter won £A2,510
and the third horse LA1,258.
Successful Sire
Nasrullah has been one of
England's most successful sires
in recent years, but Never Say
Die is the first of his progeny
to win the Derby.
Nasrullah, who is by the im
ported. Italian horse, Nearco,
out of Mumtaz Begum, by
Blenheim, has the blood of
many previous Derby winners
in his blood.
Nasrullah topped the English
stakewinning list for sires in
1951 when his progeny won
stakes amounting to more than
£A55,000.
$