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Here and There on the Turf Kentucky Derby Problems Solved Today. Canadas Most Prized Race On Also. Dot a Bargain Yearling. Highest Priced Yearling of 1922 a Winner. Today at Churchill Downs Americas greatest annual turf event will be renewed for ths forty-ninth time. Two other races in recent years have attained almost an equal value and have attracted about as good fields, but the Derby, rich in tradition, somehow retains its position as the most popular of American stake races. From every section of the country fast, trains have been carrying their burdens of horsemen and patrons of racing to Louisville during the last few days. Rain or shine, when the bugle blows for the Kentucky Derby today one of the largest crowds that have ever witnessed an American race will have clicked its way through the Churchill Downs turnstiles. There will be special writers from every important newspaper in the country at Churchill Downs to write their impressions of the race for the readers of those publications. There will be motion picture men and news photographers — in short, representatives of every publicity medium in the country. All of this means much to racing generally. The nationwide attention which the Kentucky Derby receives each year draws attention to the greatest of outdoor sports and is worth more to racing than all other propaganda ever circulated. The thrill that goes with the winning of an important race is thus, in a measure, transmitted to a large proportion of Americas hundred millions. Who would exchange that red blooded thrill for all the pale blue projects of the reformers? The Derby of this year is attended by more uncertainty than in any recent years. Up until yesterday the probable starters remained doubtful. No colt, gelding or filly by past performance stood cut greatly over the others. Last year Morvich, by virtue of his unbeaten record as a two year old, was considered by a large proportion of the racing public as a virtual certainty for the Derby. He justified that estimate by winning, and although he was beaten in the few other races of his three-year-old campaign he had won his way into the hall of turf fame by his Derby victory. This year there is scarcely one of those named overnight to start in the Derby that could be ruled out of consideration before the event. There are a few that, on past performances, appear to have a slight edge on their fellows. Although the Derby overshadows it in in terest on this side of the border, the Kings Plate renewal at Woodbine Park today must not be overlooked. This is the oldest fixture run consecutively on the American continent back to 1860. Since it is restricted to three-year-olds and over owned and bred in Ontario the class of the starters is necessarily below that of other great fixtures run on the North American continent, but the race holds the same place in the heart of Canadas racing public as the Kentucky Derby does in American affection. In August, 1921, at Saratoga Jake Byer bought a yearling filly out of a consignment from A. K. Macombers French stud for 50. Last year the filly won ,375 as a two year-old, but little was thought of her. This year this same filly, Dot, and daughter of Tagliamento and Dorigen, has developed into one of the really good three year olds of her sex. Thursday at Jamaica she defeated a band of good three year olds in the Stuyvesant Handicap, at a mile, and at the finish Sande had her under stout restraint three lengths in front of the closest pursuer. She is a candidate for the Kentucky Oaks and, judging from the disappointing recent performances of the fillies which dominated the two-year-old racing of last year, Dot should have an excellent chance to take the big race. Dot is an excellent example of a bargain yearling. Bought for 50, she won ,650 for her owner in one race Thursday. That alone would not be a bad return on the investment. There is always interest in the first appearance of a two-year okl that headed the yearling sales of the preceding year. In 1922 the racing public never had this opportunity, as Cyclone, for which J. S. Cosden paid 1,000, was never brought to the post, but for this year Mr. Cosden apparently made a more fortunate selection. Lord Baltimore II., the highest-priced of the yearlings sold at Saratoga in 1922, made his first appearance under colors at Jamaica Thursday and won. He impressed turfmen with his appearance and with his extreme speed. At least Mr. Cosden has started on his way to win back that 9,000 which he expended for the colt, and that is more than he was able to do all last year with Cyclone. Lord Baltimore II. won his race and, although he was a tired horse at the end of the five-eighths, his performance was an excellent one for his first start in a race. •
