Ernie Johnson (jockey) 1979, 49 in 1980, 29 in 1981, 46 in 1982, to 27 in 1983. In the 1980 Epsom Oaks, Johnson rode The Dancer, on whom he had won a race at Newbury as a 2 year old, for Major Dick Hern. Hern's stable jockey, Willie Carson, also had the choice of Cheshire Oaks winner Shoot A Line and Musidora Stakes winner Bireme. He elected to ride Bireme, who won by 2 lengths from Vielle, with The Dancer in 3rd. Johnson made much of the running until two furlongs out and was possibly a shade unlucky - The Dancer was partially
Master Derby of the Grade III Dragoon Stakes. He also earned a second-place finish in the important 1974 Breeders' Futurity Stakes and the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Racing as a three-year-old, Master Derby began his season with two straight losses in six-furlong sprints but then won the much longer 1 / miles Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes and the 1⅛ miles Louisiana Derby. Aimed for the Kentucky Derby, from his base in Louisiana his handlers shipped him to Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky, where jockey Darrel McHargue rode him to victory in the Lexington Stakes and the Blue Grass Stakes. With McHargue as