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FIFTY -FOURTH KENTUCKY DEMY All America Awaits in Breathless Suspense the Running of the Most Famous and Popular Horse Race Decided on the Western Hemisphere— Thousands and Thousands to See the Blue Bloods of the Thoroughbred World Valiantly Striving for the Rich Prize While an Unseen and Countless Multitude "Listens In" on the Radio and Enjoys With Them the Thrills of the Great Race. LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 18. — Kentucky Derby Day. The dawn of tomorrow will bring on the eventful day. It is Kentuckys tribute to the thoroughbred in which all America joins. By motor, rail and water; nay, even by the more modern and fastest of all means of transportation, the airplane, have come the apparently countless thousands, who tomorrow will gather at historic Churchill Downs, there to witness the decision of the fifty-fourth Kentucky Derby. In striking contrast to the 10,000 persons who witnessed the first running of this same Derby in 1875 will be the tremendous crowd of tomorrow, estimated between 50,000 and 100,000, who will race the 1928 decision of the famous race. More astonishing and marvelous will be the unseen multitude, the countless thousands and thousands scattered the length and breadth of our land who will be "listening in" on the radio and enjoying with the colorful and representative gathering at Churchill Downs all the ® excitement and thrills of the Derby as the beautiful creatures of the thoroughbred world match courage, speed and stamina in the most popular and spectacular of American horse races. The story of the Derby has been told and retold, but loses none of its appeal and charm by repetition. Interwoven with the history of the Derby is the history of Churchill Downs. IJIRTH OF DERBY. In 1872 Col. M. Lewis Clark visited Europe and carefully studied the systems of stakes, rules for racing, etc., of England and France. On his return the Louisville Jockey Club was organized in June, 1874, and the Churchill Downs track built. The first meeting was held in the spring of 1875, commencing May 17 and continuing for six days. The outstanding attraction of the inaugural program was the first running of the Kentucky Derby. The field was a notable one, among the entries being the mighty Ten Broeck, one of Americas most renowned thoroughbreds. Ten thousand people filled the grandstand and crowded the lawns at Churchill Downs on that eventful day and witnessed the little red horse, Aristides, gallantly win for his owner, H. P. McGrath, the honor of having his silks carried triumphantly in the first Kentucky Derby. Volcano was second, Verdigris third, and the great Ten Broeck unplaced. Thus, in a modest way, Americas most famous horse race had its inception. The intervening years and striking incidents in connection with the running of each succeed-| ing Derby have been chronicled with a profusion of details at various times in the columns of Daily Racing Form and are well known to tne great majority of the racing followers and lovers of the thoroughbred. OSULLIV AXS EULOGY. Gone, but not forgotten, are the glories of fifty-three Kentucky Derbys. Tomorrow is another Derby Day at Churchill Downs. To use the words of genial Daniel E. OSullivan, associate manager of Churchill Downs : "What happy, memories it evokes ! What fond hopes have found realization here, and what bright dreams have raveled out into unrealities I At last the bugle sounds — its notes as thrilling as the Marseillaise. Fifty thousand spectators leap to attention at its command. A field of matchless thoroughbreds file through the paddock gate and pirouette in the parade past the acclaiming stands, the jockeys swaying above the saddles, their colors dancing like painted bubbles in the wind. They face the starter. A brief delay while positions are being taken, a sudden swing into line, and the barrier lifts, the flags fall, and theyre off in the race of the year. Sweeping past the stand jO.OOO hearts echo the rataplan of the hurrying hoofs and a wild chorus of approval follows the vanishing field. At every point of the swift journey excited partisans speed them on. The quarter is passed, and the half is left behind, and then begins the drive down the back stretch where the cavalcade readjusts itself into divisions, the leaders wearying of the pace, become laggards. "Now comes the challenge at the crucial turn for home with the goal a full quarter of a mile away. There is a closing of the ranks, the vanquished drop back into the ruck and a new pacemaker takes up the fallen gauntlet. At his throat latch and saddle girth, and hard upon his heels crowd the contenders, their jockeys not yet ready to acknowledge defeat. The frenzied thousands, in grandstand, club house and lawn, shriek personal appeals to particular horses and riders to Come on ! Come on ! Out of the i tuntiuued ou eigliteeuiu page. DERBY DAY IN KENTUCKY Continued from first page. thunder of a hundred hoofs comes the lightning flash of spurs, the whir of swiftly «!rawn whips, and the desperate duel is on to the wire, where fame and fortune wait. In the very last determinate moment there flashes from the struggling mass a thoroughbred that will not be denied and, in a whirlwind of speed, he sweeps past the post, a winner, amid the applause of an enraptured multitude. "And this is Derby Day at Churchill Downs." A
