Head Play v. Broker's Tip

The finish of the Kentucky Derby last fortnight was a fight between two jockeys, Don Meade on Broker's Tip, who won, and Harry Fisher on Head Play, who complained that Meade had fouled him in the stretch. Last week Churchill Downs stewards suspended Meade for 30 days. Fisher for 35, and a crowd of 40.000 went to Pimlico. Md. to see most of the Derby horses run again. Rumors that Broker's Tip would be scratched because of an osselet (protruding bone in ankle) were roundly denied by his trainer, William Hurley. Said Trainer Hurley: "He'll run even if the track freezes over and we have to put ice skates on him."

Ice skates were possibly what Broker's Tip needed last week. Instead of freezing over, the track was sloppy after a week of rain. Broker's Tip started last, managed to creep up to ninth in a field of ten. then slipped back to tenth, unable to find any pace in the tricky footing. Jockey Jimmy Smith eased him off to a slow canter and he came in a discredited last, lengths behind the field. This time Head Play's jockey. Charley Kurtsinger, would have had a hard time picking a fight even if he had wanted to. There was no other jockey close to him a furlong after the start. Only Ladysman, beaten favorite in the Derby, challenged in the back stretch, got within a length of Head Play, then tired and finished second by a full four lengths. Head Play's time--2:02--was four seconds over the track record but surprisingly fast for the conditions. Said Mrs. Silas Mason of New York, who bought Head Play for $30,000 the day before the Derby from oldtime jockey Willie Crump who had paid $500 for him as a yearling: "My horse would have won the Derby if properly ridden. ... I shall take pleasure in furnishing whatever satisfaction his rivals may care to ask. ..."

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