New York Owner Vanderbilt Dies at 87

Alfred G. Vanderbilt, an owner of four Eclipse Award-winning horses and a former chairman of the New York Racing Assn., died Friday at his home in Mill Neck, N.Y. He was 87.

Vanderbilt had just returned from one of his regular visits to Belmont Park when he was stricken. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Involved in racing since he was given Sagamore Farm as a 21st-birthday gift by his mother, Vanderbilt was elected to the Jockey Club in 1935 and was chairman of NYRA from 1971-75.

The nation’s leading owner in terms of earnings in 1935 and 1953, his best horses were Discovery, who won the Brooklyn and Whitney Handicaps three consecutive years and was named the top handicap horse of 1936; Bed O’Roses, the champion 2-year-old filly of 1949 and the champion older filly or mare in 1951; Native Dancer, the top 2-year-old colt or gelding in 1952 and horse of the year in 1954, and Next Move, voted the best 3-year-old filly of 1950.

A race that escaped Vanderbilt was the Kentucky Derby. He was second twice and there is little doubt he should have won the first leg of the Triple Crown in 1953.

Native Dancer, an entry with Social Outcast, who finished seventh, was the 7-10 favorite but had an extremely troubled trip under jockey Eric Guerin and lost by a neck to Dark Star, who was nearly 25-1.

Nineteen years earlier, Discovery, a 12-1 shot, was second, 2 1/2 lengths behind Cavalcade, the 3-2 favorite.

“I guess it was the last race I won,” said Vanderbilt once when asked about his most thrilling moment in the sport. “Every win is exciting.”

Born in London in 1912, Vanderbilt, whose father was killed when the Lusitania was sunk on May 7, 1915, is survived by two sons, Alfred Jr. and Michael, and three daughters, Heidi, Victoria and Wendy.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

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Martiniquais is the 118-pound high weight and 7-2 morning-line favorite in the $70,000-added Steinlen Handicap, today’s feature at Hollywood Park.

The ungraded race, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, attracted a field of 10, which besides the lukewarm choice includes Commitisize, Del Mar Gray and recent import Otavalo.

Trained by Bobby Frankel for owner Edmund Gann, Martiniquais will be looking for his second win of the year and first in California. The 6-year-old is dropping out of graded company after finishing eighth of 10 in the Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar and fourth in the Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park last month.

Commitisize, who has won eight of 23 for owner Mike Pegram and trainer Bob Baffert, is back from Kentucky after winning two of five there. He is the likely pacesetter, and won the Cinema Handicap on this turf course last year.

Also trained by Baffert, Del Mar Gray won the Khaled Handicap the last time he ran on the local grass. Otavalo won four of 12 in Europe and will be making his first start in this country for owner David Milch and trainer Julio Canani.