Son of Bold Venture

A handsome chestnut two-year-old bounded out of the starting gate at Jamaica race track in the first race of his young life. His name was Air Lift, and he carried the brown & white colors of Texas' famous King Ranch. Horsemen had looked him over in the paddock with care and admiration. He was a full brother of Assault, who won the Triple Crown for King Ranch and Trainer Max Hirsch in 1946, and a son of Bold Venture, who won the Derby and Preakness in 1936. On his dam's side, he was descended from the great Equipoise.

Though Air Lift had never raced before, the crowd at Jamaica made him second choice in the betting at a little better than 2-to-1.

On the first turn, Jockey Dave Gorman moved Air Lift up on the outside from fifth to third. He was gaining on the leaders, when he broke stride, began to weave. A watcher near the rail had heard something that sounded like a pistol shot. Jockey Gorman slowed the colt down and slipped off. When he saw blood running from Air Lift's left foreleg, Gorman wept.

In a big green horse van, Air Lift was taken back to the stables. The track veterinarian found two compound fractures of the ankle, deadened the pain with a double shot of novocaine. Grooms sponged the colt off and gave him some hay to munch. New York Sun Sportwriter W. (for Wilford) C. Heinz, who turned in the best story of anybody that day, reported the dialogue that came next.

"When will you do it?" somebody asked the vet.

"Right as soon as I can," he said. "As soon as I get confirmation. If it was an ordinary horse I'd done it right there."

By telephone, the word came from Trainer Hirsch and Owner Bob Kleberg. The vet placed the bell-shaped horse gun on Air Lift's forehead, fired the shot.* The colt toppled over on his side. The stable hands who stood around could think of nothing much to say. They had seen horses die before--but few with as much promise as Air Lift.

* When held in position, the bell-shaped casing (covering a slim barrel within) insures that the bullet will enter at the proper angle, even if the horse moves--and that one shot will be enough.

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