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with JACK WELLS If Jim Speers ever finds time to write his memoirs he will obviously claim that July 1, 1954 was one of his outstanding days in racing and the improvement of the breed. Jack Wells: When they counted noses at the end of the Canadian Derby on Thursday, Treherne was a nostril in front of Hi Laude, and Weyburn a mere three-quarters of a length back in third place. Treherne and Weyburn carried the maroons and gold silks of the Whittier Park Stock farm, which is just another way of saying Jim Speers To be sure the '54 Derby cannot be classed as one of the greatest. It was contested by only western breds. Eastern owners, who consider the Derby an overgrown claiming race, passed up this one as though the winner's share was nothing more than a handful of box tops. But the east wasn't missed and the Derby turned into one of the most thrilling turf events seen at Polo Park, Treherne, Hi Laude and Weyburn rounded the turn into stretch no more than a weck apart. The rest of the field was well-back, and it was strictly a stretch running duel between the three. Johnny Dewhurst saved ground on the inside getting to the wire a nose in front of Hi Laude. It was Dewhurst's second Derby triumph. He scored on Ferry Pilot, another Speers bred horse in 1945. This was the third time that Jim Speers has won the race estab lished 25 years ago. His first victory was with Gowerlace and his second with Gowerman when he beat a heady entry of the late Harry Hatch. In his many years as a breeder of thoroughbreds the squire of Whittier Park hasn't had it so good. Treherne picked up $9,790, the richest purse the west had ever seen. Weyburn, in running third won $1,000. $500 went to the breeder, in this case Jilly Speers. It was a total of $11,290. Hi Laude was backed into the favorite’s role of 50 cents on the dollar. This was one race where a filly was bettler even if it was a short margin. Treherne carried 121 pounds to Hi Laude's 126. The Cum Laude colt was established as the odds on choice as a result of his victory over Treherne June 25, and some solid efforts at Woodbine in Toronto including the Queen’s Plate where he finished fifth. Running second to Collister and King Maple and a third to Queen's Own even though well back, had a close to record crowd betting the Appleby colt, making him the people's choice. There is little to choose between Treherne and Hi Laude. In two meetings this year each have won once, and the margin in both cases as been by a nose. , Colburn Johnston's Circle Dot had the fans in a tizzy for seven furlongs. Jockey Fred Dodge hustled Circle Dot into a long lead, but the colt was finished after seven furlongs. Trainer Ron Pennington said they hadn't prepared Circle Dot for the Derby distance of a mile and a quarter, and he called the shot when he told this reporter that Circle Dot would be in front by lengths for close to a mile, Alberta Ranch's Rémany Imp and Max Freed’s Marionette were both in contention up to a mile. When Treherne and Weyburn opened up along with Hi Laude, they were finished, Marionette finished fourth, and Max Freed hopes the Winnipeg Goldeyes are no worse at the end of the regular Northern League Schedule, Derby Data: Spud Murphy called the shot a couple of weeks ago. He was crying in his wallet for failing to purchase Treherne when he had a chance. Beau Orage established the track record for the nile and a quarter by winning the Derby for Tiny Holden in 1967
Newspaper Details
Winnipeg Tribune
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
Fri, Jul 02, 1954
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Robert G.
CA 14 Aug 2026
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