The Outsiders

Hard-eyed little Bill Hartack, 30, has twice won the Kentucky Derby, four times been acclaimed racing's leading jockey. Working up to this year's Derby, Hartack could count himself well pleased --or so it seemed. His mount was Mrs. Moody Jolley's Ridan, a Kentucky-bred speedster who had won ten of his 13 starts and once equaled the world record for five furlongs in a casual, early-morning breeze.

But Hartack was unimpressed. He told the owners that Ridan (Nadir spelled backwards) was impossible to rate, could not be held back for a run in the stretch, probably could not go the 1 3/4-mile Derby distance. He lost the mount and wound up on George Pope's Decidedly, a handsome grey colt that had never won a stakes race. The handicappers gave him no better than a 15-to-1 chance. Said Hartack: "I came down here for only one reason--to win."

On race day, as 15 sleek thoroughbreds paraded to the post, all eyes were on Ridan. His biggest competition, the early favorite Sir Gaylord, was out of the race --he had pulled up lame the day before--and the smart money figured Ridan at 2 to 1. Breaking perfectly, the horses pounded around the fading arc of the clubhouse turn, fought for position on the rail. As they swept into the back stretch, Hartack might have permitted himself a grim smile. Up ahead, Ridan refused to obey the commands of Jockey Manuel Ycaza and spurted into a three-length lead. Ycaza stood bolt upright in the stirrups, desperately trying to hold the stubborn colt back. It was a losing fight.

At the stretch turn, exhausted, Ridan bore out and began to fade. The lead changed hands three times. In mid-stretch, Ridan gallantly came on again--only by now it was too late. On the far outside, Hartack was making his move. Chopping viciously with his whip, he drove Decidedly past the winded Ridan, past all the others. At the finish, Decidedly was 2 1/4 lengths in front.

In the winner's circle, the garland of roses from his third Kentucky Derby victory around his horse's head, Bill Hartack heard the time: 2 min. 2/3 sec., and a new record, a full second better than the old mark set by Whirlaway in 1951, with Eddie Arcaro aboard.

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