| Show Ponder De Deby by Win Wn 1 Tops Jones Jones' Thrills This is another in a number of stories in which stars of the sports world will des describe My Biggest Thrill in Sports By Ben Jones Famed Horse Trainer As Told to George Swift Chica Chicago o Dail Daily News Turf Writer CHICAGO You CHICAGO You know snow a surprise surprise sur sur- prise party is usually the most enjoyable Perhaps that's why I I received my greatest sports thrill from Ponders Ponder's victory in the 1949 I Kentucky Derby I After all Ponder surprised nearly everyone as his win price of 34 indicates and he even surprised surprised surprised sur sur- me some although ill in en the paddock just before the race I had an idea he might win win in Actually the fact that Ponder was in the Derby at all was somewhat somewhat some sonic someI I what surprising He was sort of ofa I a drab horse lIe He was slow to learn and he came up to a race right slow He Ic didn't really learn to run until after fter hed he'd put in a full year of racing And I thought hed he'd never learn Cracked Heels On top of that the colt had a couple of cracked heels that first winter in Florida and they took tooka a long time lime healing We Ve took I him to Keeneland in the spring sprin but hut he got tied up and didn't train well Then came cIme a switch Ponder began to show improvement We hadn't planned to run him himin himin himin in a stake race but bute we e finally decided to take him to lo Churchill Church Church- ill Downs for the Derby trial That was the first time lime I suspected suspected sus- sus Ponder really had it it iL itHe He Ile finished a fast closing second second second sec sec- ond to Olympia and that Fred Hooper colt was the fastest thing on four legs for a mile You know I told a lot of my friends the newspaper boys before before before be be- fore the Derby that I didn't think Ponder had a chance I was telling the truth It wasn't until we were in the paddock paddock pad pad- dock on Derby day that I was convinced Ponder was a serious contender Best Looking Lookin He was the best looking horse in in the ring All the others looked too drawn Mrs l Warren Wright came into the paddock I recall and said to me Ben what do you think of Ponder today today I replied I thought the colt coIL could turn in the best race of ofUs its Us life That's all I said I couldn't tell anyone I thought Ponder could win But I knew he he was ready to run I I never had a horse before OrI or I since that came up to lo a race on exactly the right day the way Ponder did Two days earlier I figured he wouldn't even be in inthe inthe inthe the money Ponder started slowly He was wasI I last out of the lee starting gale gate in inthe inthe 1 the field of 14 arid and when they I hit the first bend he was still I while the leaders were half halfway I way vay around the curve Olympia the 45 5 favorIte was out in front with Eddie Arcaro up Up to Ponder moved up to at atthe atthe the half and go going n int into the far turn Steve Brooks made his move Ponder began running over o horses I remember Conn McCreary 1 who was riding Halt telling how he saw Ponder whiz past and 1 said to lo himself There goes the Derby winner winner and and Im I'm not on him hini By stretch mid it il was certain I that Ponder would win although I Ilie he still had to pass Capot Capo and andi i Palestinian He did so easily to toI I win by three lengths This Tins was ryas the fifth time I had saddled the Derby winner but none of the others gave me as great a thrill And to think I didn't have a I dime on Ponder You know Ive I've het bet on only one Derby in iii my life I That Thai was on Black Gold wa way I back in 24 |
