PREAKNESS STAKES

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28897, 18 May 1959, Page 4

PREAKNESS STAKES

Rich Prize To Royal Orbit (N.Z Press Association—Copyright! BALTIMORE (Maryland), May 17. Royal Orbit won the world's richest race for three-year-olds at Pimlico yesterday when he made a tremendous finishing run to come from last in the 11-horse field and win by four lengths in the 190,000 dollar Preakness Stakes. Ridden by Willie Harmatz, Royal Orbit'appeared to have little chance as the horses neared the turn into the straight for the finishing run of the nine furlongs and a half race. Then Harmatz let him go, and the big chestnut swept around the outside to win running away. Royal Orbit made a similar finishing run in the Kentucky Derby two

weeks ago, when he started as an outsider at approximately 45 to 1. But he was blocked in that race by tired horses falling back near the finish and landed only fourth placing. Yesterday he started at approximately 7 to 1, paying 15 dollars and 50 cents for the win on the twodollar totalisator unit. Sword Dancer, second in the Kentucky Derby and second favourite yesterday at approximately 7 to 4. came in second, with Dunce, at 7 to 1, three lengths away third. The favourite. First Landing, at approximately 5 to 4. finished ninth. Royal Orbit won 136.200 dollars for his first placing. Sword Dancer won 30,000 dollars for second. Dunce 15,000 dollars for third, and Marauder 7500 dollars for fourth. Roybal Orbit ran the nine furlongs and a half in Imin 57sec. All horses carried 9-0. Willie Shoemaker rode Sword

Dancer, and S. Boulmetis rode Dunce.