79^th Kentucky Derby
1953 - Dark Star

Race Summary :23 4/5, :47 4/5, 1:12 1/5, 1:36 3/5, 2:02. Track fast. Winner - Br.c. by *Royal Gem II - Isolde, by *Bull Dog, trained by Eddie Hayward; bred in Kentucky by W.L. Jones, Jr. $2 mutuels paid - Dark Star, $51.80 straight, $13.60 place, $7.00 show; Native Dancer (a-entry), $3.20 place, $2.80 show; Invigorator, $9.40 show. $118,100 gross value and $10,000 Gold Cup. Net to winner $90,050; second $10,000; third $5,000; fourth $2,500. Trainer awards: First $3,000; second $2,000; third $1,000. Breeder's awards: First $2,000; second $1,000; third $500. 137 nominations.

1953: World History

Race Footnotes

Horse	Finish	Jockey	Owner	Breeder	Trainer
Dark Star	1st	Henry Moreno	Cain Hoy Stable	Warner L. Jones, Jr.	Eddie Hayward
Native Dancer	2nd	Eric Guerin	Alfred G. Vanderbilt	Mrs. Raymond A. Van Clief	William C. Winfrey
Invigorator	3rd	William Shoemaker	Saxon Stable	Sterling S. Gano	N. R. McLeod
Royal Bay Gem	4th	James Combest	E. Constantin, Jr.	Warner L. Jones, Jr.	Clyde Troutt
Correspondent	5th	Eddie Arcaro	Mrs. Gordon Guiberson	Rex C. Ellsworth	T. W. Dunn
Straight Face	6th	Ted Atkinson	Greentree Stable	Greentree Stud, Inc.	John Milton Gaver, Sr.
Social Outcast	7th	Johnny Adams	Alfred G. Vanderbilt	Mrs. Raymond A. Van Clief	William C. Winfrey
Money Broker	8th	Alfred Popara	G. & G. Stable	J. Ray Waller	Vester Richard Wright
Ram O' War	9th	Douglas Dodson	Bruce S. Campbell	North Cliff Farm	J. J. Sarner, Jr.
Curragh King	10th	David Erb	E. M. Goemans	Weatherby and Sons	James Wallace
Ace Destroyer	11th	Job Dean Jessop	Mr. & Mrs. T. M. Daniel	Dr. Arthur Bach	Louis Finley

Prev Year

Next Year

start good from stall gate. Won driving; second and third the same. DARK STAR, alertly ridden, took command soon after the start, set the pace to the stretch under steady rating, then responded readily when set down in the drive and lasted to withstand NATIVE DANCER, but won with little left. NATIVE DANCER, roughed at the first turn by MONEY BROKER, was eased back to secure racing room, raced wide during the run to the upper turn, then saved ground entering the stretch and finished strongly, but could not overtake the winner, although probably best. INVIGORATOR, in close quarters entering the backstretch, raced well when clear and closed willingly under urging, but could not threaten the top pair. ROYAL BAY GEM, away sluggishly, was forced to lose ground while working way forward and could not reach the leader when set down through the stretch. CORRESPONDENT, bumped after the break by ACE DESTROYER, recovered under good handling and raced nearest DARK STAR to the stretch, but had nothing left for the drive. STRAIGHT FACE raced prominently to the mile, then weakened. SOCIAL OUTCAST lacked early speed and was never dangerous. MONEY BROKER swerved into NATIVE DANCER at the first turn, raced well to the stretch, then gave way. RAM O' WAR was far back all the way. CURRAGH KING was through early. ACE DESTROYER began fast, bumped CORRESPONDENT and showed early speed but failed to stay. Scratched - Spy Defense.