Maryland, My Maryland

When William Woodward's Johnstown won the Kentucky Derby by six lengths last fortnight, horse-racing fans hailed an-other Man o' War. Turf experts reserved their opinions. They wanted to see long-striding Johnstown run in the mud, something he had not been asked to do this year. Last week there was lots of mud for the Preakness, second of the Big Three U. S. races for three-year-olds. So convinced of Big John's prowess were rival owners that only five were willing to risk the $500 starting fee (day before) to match their hopefuls against the Woodward colt.

Big John, coupled in the betting with Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps's Gilded Knight,* was still an overwhelming favorite--despite the mud--when 30,000 horse-enthusiasts crammed the mid-Victorian stands at historic old Pimlico, on the outskirts of Baltimore, for the 49th running of the Preakness Stakes. Second choice was Challedon, who had finished second to Big John in the Derby and was reputed to like sloppy going.

Through a grey drizzle, the shivering crowd watched Johnstown take the lead, just as expected. Down the backstretch he kept in front. But it was no runaway, like the Derby. Gilded Knight was on his heels, stride for stride. Coming into the homestretch, Challedon, who had been trailing the leaders, flew past them in a splatter of mud, crossed the finish line a length and a half-in front of Gilded Knight. Mighty Johnstown, with mud in his eye, strolled in next to last, almost ear to ear with last-place Ciencia, only filly in the race.

As the band played Maryland, My Maryland, Challedon and his owner, William L. Brann, standing in the winner's circle, received one of the loudest ovations in the history of 68-year-old Pimlico. For Challedon, foaled at Owner Brann's Glade Valley Farm 70 miles away, was the first Maryland-bred, Maryland-owned winner of Maryland's beloved Preakness since 1877. Rewarding his owner with $53,710, richest prize of the year for three-year-olds, Challedon became the leading money-winner among his contemporaries (foals of 1936). Johnstown has won $103,295. Challedon's total: $128,910.

* Because both are trained by Jim Fitzsimmons.

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