Derby Simply Wasn’t Their Favorite Place

Despite his five Kentucky Derby victories, tying him with Bill Hartack for the most by any jockey, Hall of Famer Eddie Arcaro may have been the worst underachiever in the 117 years of the race.

Derby charts since Arcaro’s first Run for the Roses in 1935 show that of his 21 mounts, 14 were favorites or co-favorites at post time. By contrast, Bill Shoemaker, whose 26 Derby mounts are the most for any jockey, rode only five favorites. And Hartack, who dominated the Derby in the 1960s as no other jockey has dominated a decade, rode only two favorites in his 12 Derbies.

A horse that continually loses as the favorite is called a money-burner. Arcaro easily burned more betting money than any other Derby jockey, winning on only three of his 14 favorites: Whirlaway in 1941 ($7.80), Citation in 1948 ($2.80) and Hill Gail in 1952 ($4.20). He was sixth on co-favorite Devil Diver in 1942, beaten by entrymate Shut Out.

Add Arcaro: Arcaro’s string of beaten favorites began with his first Derby mount, Nellie Flag, who finished fourth at odds of 3.80-1 in the 1935 race won by Omaha. Arcaro’s other beaten favorites (race winner in parentheses): Stir Up, third in 1944 at 1.40-1 (Pensive); Lord Boswell, fourth in 1946 at 1.10-1 as part of an entry with Knockdown and Perfect Bahram (Assault); Phalanx, second in 1947 at 2-1 (Jet Pilot); Olympia, sixth in 1949 at 0.80-1 (Ponder); Battle Morn, sixth in 1951 at 2.80-1 (Count Turf); Nashua, second in 1955 at 1.30-1 (Swaps); Bold Ruler, fourth in 1957 at 1.20-1 (Iron Liege); Jewel’s Reward, fourth in 1958 as part of an entry with Ebony Pearl at 2-1 (Tim Tam), and First Landing, third in 1959 at 3.60-1 (Tomy Lee).

Arcaro’s mounts were far better betting propositions when they weren’t favored. He rode seven non-favorites, winning with two: Lawrin ($19.20) in 1938 and Hoop Jr. ($9.40) in 1945.

Trivia time: Demons Begone, the betting favorite in the 1987 Derby, bled from the lungs and finished last. Name the four other Derby favorites who have finished last.

Popularity was a curse: Shoemaker also was a better bet when he wasn’t riding the favorite. He was winless on all five Derby favorites he rode: Correlation, sixth in 1954 at 3-1 (Determine); Tompion, fourth in 1960 at 1.10-1 (Venetian Way); Candy Spots, third in 1963 at 1.50-1 (Chateaugay); Hill Rise, second in 1964 at 1.40-1 (Northern Dancer), and Damascus, third in 1967 at 1.70-1 (Proud Clarion).

Shoemaker’s winners were Swaps ($7.60) in 1955; Tomy Lee ($9.40) in 1959; Lucky Debonair ($10.60) in 1965, and Ferdinand ($37.40) in 1986.

Trivia answer: Alard Scheck (1901), Abe Frank (1902), Proceeds (1904) and Total Departure (1983). Total Departure was part of a three-horse Wayne Lukas entry.

Bad judgment: Hartack, the most successful Derby jockey with five winners in only 12 rides, rode four winners before he got a chance on a favorite. He won with Iron Liege ($18.80) in 1957 when Shoemaker appeared to have the race in hand but misjudged the finish and stood up early on Gallant Man. Hartack’s domination of the 1960s began with his 1960 victory on Venetian Way ($14.60), followed by Decidedly ($19.40) in 1962 and on Northern Dancer ($8.80) in 1964.

Hartack finally rode a favorite in 1965--finishing 10th on Bold Lad at 2-1 in the race won by Lucky Debonair. In his only other shot on a favorite, Hartack won on Majestic Prince ($4.80) in 1969.

All told, in races from 1935 to 1986, the three winningest jockeys in Derby history--Arcaro, Hartack and Shoemaker--rode only four favorites to the winner’s circle.

Quotebook: Francois Boutin, trainer of favored Arazi, when told last week that a large field of challengers was expected for today’s Derby: “Why?”