With Buzz Hannum grinning happily, Charles Bird's Fort Devon (Ire) crossed the finish line a 30-length winner of the Maryland Hunt Cup.
The Pennsylvania-owned gelding won over four opponents. Trained by Betty Bosley Bird, wife of his owner, Fort Devon also won the Grand National the week before, breaking his record set the previous year for 3 miles (5:59.20).
It was the third Hunt Cup win for Hannum, after winning aboard his mother Nancy Hannum's Morning Mac in 1970 and 1973.
Bird had a particular talent with difficult horses, of which Fort Devon was one when he arrived from England, and she was renowned for teaching her horses tricks. Said Hannum: "He'll back if you put your hand on his rump."
Fort Devon was known to bite, and Bird noted: "If he doesn't like you he puts his mouth in manure and rubs it on you. He's moody with strangers.
"Now he's so nice, Charlie and I hunt him in a snaffle. He's the best hunter I've ever sat on -- keen, quiet."
Dr. Edward B.C. Keefer, a native of Biltmore, N.C., earned his living practicing general surgery on humans, but equine surgery was his consuming hobby, and his willingness to do leg amputations his most controversial work. Lucy Acton interviewed the New York medical doctor who in the previous five years had salvaged eight horses, all of whom had been given up as hopeless by members of the veterinary profession.
His equine patients included the top-class Hoist the Flag and track record-setting sprinter Spanish Riddle, the latter his first amputee.
Hoist the Flag's surgery was to repair a severe hind leg fracture in 1971. He was able to stand eight seasons at Claiborne Farm, siring 51 stakes winners from 246 foals, including two-time Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Alleged. Spanish Riddle retired to stud at Virginia Stallion Station in Middleburg where he stood for five years before his death of a heart attack in 1978. His offspring included multiple Grade 1 winner Love Sign.
The first three runners for Glade Valley Farms' freshman sire Rollicking won at first asking. Cavalier Bold, trained by Brian Mayberry, led the way, winning easily by 5 lengths at Gulfstream Park April 15 and taking an allowance 13 days later.
Owned by Mrs. Robert A. Leonard, Rollicking was booked full for the 1976 season at his Frederick, Md., home.
The McCarron brothers had their first mounts in the Kentucky Derby, with Gregg finishing fifth aboard On the Sly, trained by Marylander Mel Gross, and Chris one spot back in sixth on Maryland-bred Cojak, trained by Sonny Hine.
Paul Mellon's Rokeby Stables had two legs on the coveted Virginia Gold Cup trophy, and his 1975 winner Chapel Street was back attempting to retire it, but Maryland's hard-riding Fenwick brothers -- Charlie and Bruce -- finished one-two aboard Semington and Captain Carlo, respectively. Chapel Street ran third.
