Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, May 6, 1990                   TAG: 9005060107
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOUISVILLE, KY.                                LENGTH: Short

FIRST TIME PAYS OFF FOR TRAINER

Carl Nafzger had a Kentucky Derby winner, Unbridled, in his first try as a trainer.

"I tell you, I don't think anybody rides a horse better than Craig Perret," Nafzger said of Unbridled's jockey. "I never rode a horse very good."

That's because he was a professional bull rider, and while he had never been to the Derby before, this wasn't the first time he'd been on ABC-TV.

Nafzger appeared on "Wide World of Sports" with Jim McKay in the 1960s while he was on the rodeo circuit. On Saturday, he was reunited with McKay in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs.

Nafzger was one of eight trainers in the Derby for the first time, and he became the 41st first-time trainer to win the Derby in the past 83 years.

"Unbridled was ready," Nafzger said. "I predicted it. Thank goodness, it's over."

A native of Plainview, Texas, Nafzger still lives not far from his birthplace, in Olton. He was a professional bull rider from 1960-71, making the national rodeo finals three times.

Nafzger took out his first trainer's license in 1968, training quarter horses. His first stakes winner came in 1971 at Santa Fe, N.M. Since then, he has trained other stakes horses - such as Orono, Star Choice and Phantom - but never a horse the caliber of Unbridled.

Nafzger said he had only one instruction for Perret before the race.

"I told him, `Warm the horse up, jog him a lot, trot him.' Then, I said, `Read your race, ride your race.' "

That was no bull, either.

Keywords:
HORSE RACING