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f — # Here and There on the Turf What Derby Day Means. Derby Is International. Withers at Belmont. Making of Jockeys. « — I Derby Day is the biggsst day of all the year to many devotees of the turf. There are many Derbys in this country, but there is only one Derby Day. Just as one naturally envisions the Kentucky Derby, when Derby is mentioned, Derby Day means Louisville and Churchill Downs. It is the day that has brought about the building of accommodations at the old race course that consist of stands that stretch from the head of the stretch to the first turu, practically three-eighths of a mile of seating accommodations for the vast throngs that annually make the pilgrimage to Louisville. The Kentucky Derby is now a national institution and, while the Kentuckian has a natural pride in the fact that it is decided in his native state, the Kentuckian is in the minority when it comes to the vast assemblage that each year cheers the winner. It would not have been necessary to build more than a half mile of stands to take care of the Kentucky crowd, but the vast stands year after year have been unable to meet the wants of the visiting patrons. And it is just as national in its appeal to the horsemen as it is to the racing public. Each annual race brings about a meeting of the best three-year-olds from every state that can boast of a worthy candidate, and Canada has made frequent efforts to carry off the race, which, as a matter of fact, makes the race international. For the running of the race this year the prospect is better than it has been in many years and the interest is just as widespread. While no foreign owners are represented, there is a representation of foreign. horses and, as a matter of fact, Reigh Count himself, the ante- post favorite for the running, is purely foreign-bred, though foaled in this country. He has the best of foreign blood coursing in his veins. Each year it seems that the acme has been reached in point of attendance and interest in the great race and the 1928 renewal sets a new high mark. Never has there been such an immense and such a notable gathering on hand here eagerly awaiting the result, and never before has Louisville been so sorely tried to take care of its racing visitors. Just as the Derby has made necessary the vastly increased accommodations at Churchill Downs, it has made necessary the building of new hotels to take care of the Derby crowds, and it is indeed a race that has outgrown both the race course and the city. While the Kentucky Derby is being decided at Churchill Downs, another big three-year-old sweepstakes is to be run at Belmont Park. It is the Withers Stakes of the Westchester Racing Association. Several of the colts that were named for both the Withers Stakes and the Kentucky Derby remained in New York to have a try for the mile race, rather than journey to Kentucky for the mile and a quarter of the richer stake and, while it will not bring together as large or as representative a field as the Kentucky Derby, it oughi to result in an excellent renewal. The Withers Stakes invariably brings out a notable field of three-year-olds and for its two most recent runnings it has gone to Joseph E. Widener. Last year it was Chance Shot that was returned the winner, while in 1926 Haste, which also won the Fairmount Derby, triumphed One of the oldest of American fixtures, the Withers Stakes was first run at Jerome Park in 1874. From 1890 until 1904 it was a Morris Park feature of importance and since that date it was moved, with the other stakes of the Westchester Association, to Belmont Park. All through the history of this race will be found the names of some of the greatest of American thoroughbreds and any horse which can have his name inscribed on that roll of honor has achieved a measure of fame. With all the help that has been accorded the apprentice riders in point of weight allowance, and that help went to ridiculous extremes in some of the Jamaica races, at the meeting which closed Wednesday, the finished jockeys continue to dominate. On the closing day of the Jamaica meeting "Pony" McAtee was home first in three of the six races, when he piloted Sandy, Undercover and John Cavanagh, while in another race he finished second with Finite. McAtee has long been one of Americas foremost riders and this year he has demonstrated, on many occasions, that he has lost none of his skill. And at Churchill Downs Willie Garner, one of a family famed for its jockeys, also brought home three winners. He was successful with Fire On, Royal Julian and High Storm, and on each occasion his riding played an important part in the victory. It is fitting that there be an apprentice allowance for the making of jockeys, and it is natural that there are many apprentices who shine in the saddle, with the five pounds advantage in the weights. It is an advantage that amounts to considerable, but unfortunately there are few of these lads that go on to any fame when they have finished their apprenticeship and have to ride on equal terms with the full-fledged boys. When comparatively few carry on successfully when denied the five pounds allowance, there is indeed small chance for those that have had an allowance of ten or twenty pounds, as some of the conditions provided. Such conditions greatly reduce the chances of finished riders, while almost any little fellow that could sit on a horse had a tremendous advantage with a twenty-pound allowance. That same lad, of course, would race his way out of such an allowance, but how about his showing when he does not have that ten-pounds pull? It is questionable if such allowances help to make jockeys. There must be encouragement in the making of jockeys, and the little fellows would have no chance to ride except for the weight allowance, but there is such a thing as overdoing this allowance.
