Sport: No Need to Worry

"He keeps right on improving," said Trainer Mesach Tenney of his chestnut colt Swaps, the pride of California. "He's a bigger, stronger horse than when he won the Kentucky Derby from Nashua." Tenney was not the least bit worried, even though in the American Derby at Chicago's Washington Park, Swaps would be running his first race on grass. Said he: "I guess good horses run on any kind of track."

Washington Park's Executive Director Ben Lindheimer was a mite more cautious. "He'll be giving 6 to 18 pounds to every horse in the race; 25% to 30% of horses won't run as well on grass." Lindheimer had every faith in Swaps, but he knew too well that in a horse race anything can happen. He did not intend to let a $146,425 imitation of the Epsom Derby take the shine off the big race coming up, the Aug. 31 match race between Swaps and Nashua, the best three-year-olds on the track.

There was no need to worry. When the gate opened for the American Derby last week, Swaps broke in front. Jockey Willie Shoemaker allowed him his own, front-running race until they got to the 16th pole. Then Willie stood casually in his stirrups and looked behind. Clifford Mooers's Traffic Judge was closing fast. Willie just flicked his whip; he never hit Swaps once. The California champion reached out and finished a length in front. He had covered the mile-and-three-sixteenths in 1:54 3/5 to crack the track record and tie the American standard for the turf distance.