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The estimated 8,000 spectators which pushed to the rail and cheered as Coup de Vite and Coit matched strides for the last 16thmile as if they were teamed in invisible harness were left wondering which had won even after the two horses crossed the finish.
The suspense was heightened when the judges delayed several minutes before running up number nine, making Coup de Vite the official winner.
The loss was a cruel blow to Thomas S. Nichols’ unheralded Coit, which grabbed the lead at the drop of the flag and stayed in front over all 22 fences of the grueling four-mile chase.
Coit tapped the final fence, and Coup de Vite pulled aside and won in the last step of the stretch.
Last year’s winner Grand Chal finished third for the only decent showing of the three “big horses”, Fast, Grand Chal and Ice Cutter. Fast, which fell here in the 1957 race, jumped poorly Saturday, and nearly lost veteran Danny Marzani midway through the race. The trainer-rider retained his seating, but could never get the Ohrstrom entry in the race.
Dr. Rogers’ Ice Cutter, which was supposed to be the only horse to profit by the heavy track, ran nearly 30 lengths off the pace throughout most of the four miles.
The time for Mrs. Henry Obre*8 12-year-old bay winner was 9:11, a full 16 seconds off last year’s pace set by Grand Chal.
Coup de Vite’s victory keeps the Gold Cup in Maryland for another year. Mrs. Obre’s stables are at Monkton, while Alfred Smith, owner of the 1957 winner, is from Upper Marlboro.
CompiledBy . . ' : HILARY SCHEERGERHARDT
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