The Derby Winner
That Finished Last
For the first time in its 94-year history,
the Kentucky Derby, grandest spectacle
in Thoroughbred racing, has been tainted
by a drugging scandal. The principal,
Dancer's Image, looked plenty fit right
after his dazzling mile-and-a-quarter win
(below). Then a routine post-race exam-
ination rocked Thoroughbred racing. Uri-
nalysis revealed a residue of a pain-killing
drug called Butazolidin. This medication
is widely and legitimately used on race
horses, but to insure its discontinuation
several days prior to a race, there must
be no trace of it in the urine of a com-
peting horse. The dosage in Dancer's
Image was reported as "massive." Church-
ill Downs stewards placed Dancer's Image
last and declared the runner-up, Forward
Pass, the winner. But they held up purse
money pending a complete investigation....
Photo: After ceremonies in winner's
circle, trainer Lou Cavalaris
(left) and groom get Dancer's
Image ready for examination.