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Probable Kentucky Derby Contestants » Field to Comprise Not More Than Fourteen Starters, Three Doubtful « Latest Elimination Is Benjamin Blocks Speedy Mor-stone — East Holds Strongest Hand in Mate, Twenty Grand, Equipoise and Other Stars are the probable starters in the fifty-seventh Kentucky Derby, to be run at SHere Churchill Downs next Saturday, together with list of riders, owners and trainers: I Horse. • Wt. Rider. Owner. Trainer. J Mate 126 G. Ellis A. C. Bostwick J. W. Healy J Twenty Grand 126 C. Kurtsinger Greentree Stable J. Rowe I Surf Board 126 L. McAtee Greentree Stable J. Rowe j Anchors Aweigh...l26 E. Steffen Greentree Stable J. Rowe J Ladder 126 L. Schaefer W. J. Salmon R. Pryce I Equipoise 126 R. Workman C. V. Whitney F. Hopkins | Sweep AH 126 E. Pool Dixiana C. Van Dusen | Pittsburgher 126 C. Corbett Shady Brook Farm Stable. J. H. Moody Insco 126 S. ODonnell Griffin Watkins B. J. Durnell I Spanish Play 126 W. Fronk Knekelkamp and Morris G. Land j Boys Howdy 126 G. Riley H. C. Hatch L. Gentry fDon Leon 126 H. Fisher R. W. Collins R. W. Collins j fUP 126 C. McHugh Mrs. James M. Crofton M. W. Buck fPrince DAmour . .126 E. James Joseph Leiter N. K. Beal j fDoubtful starters. LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 12. — It is possible at this time to make a prediction that the field for the Kentucky Derby next Saturday will not see more than fourteen at the post, and it is more likely that only eleven will be saddled. But it remains a field that should bring about one of the most notable renewals of the famous old classic, with abundant contention before the victor is crowned. • The latest elimination from those considered as sure starters came with the news from New York that Benjamin Block would not send Morstone in an effort to have Shim duplicate the victory his sire, Mor-vich, scored in 1922. This colt, after his defeat at Jamaica by Beau Jolie, convinced his owner that he was not of Derby calibre and it was decided that he would not be sent here, but rather, kept for his engagements over shorter distances than a mile and a quarter. And, as the date of the running approaches, it becomes more and more appar-. ent that the invading colts from the East should make a clean sweep of the big prize. There is no Kentucky eligible that has shown enough either in public or private to seriously threaten such as Twenty Grand, Mate, Equipoise, Surf Board, Anchors Aweigh and Ladder, the sextette that journeyed from Pimlico. All of these have arrived on the scene in the best of condition and there is every confidence in the eastern camps, and that is not found among the defenders. When the field is called to the post, it is probable that the only western representatives will be Sweep All, Pittsburger, Insco, Spanish Play and Boys Howdy. There is a chance that Don Leon, Up and Prince DAmour will be of the company, but they must be listed as doubtful starters. James Rowe has declared that he will start all three of his Greentree hopes, Twen- I Continued on twentieth page. PROBABLE DERBY STARTERS Continued from first page. ty Grand, Surf Board and Anchors Aweigh, though it has been generally understood that Anchors Aweigh was brought along to "pinch hit" for Twenty Grand and Surf Board should the going be muddy, as so often has been the case. The track condition may alter the complexion of the field somewhat, but no matter what the going there is small hope for more than eleven parading to the post. In the meantime Louisville is filling up rapidly with the usual Kentucky Derby crowd, and reservations that have been made for later in the week assure that, as usual, the old Churchill Downs course will have its capacity taxed for the running, just as Louisville will have her hospitality taxed taking care of the visitors. And while Kentucky has not its usual strong hand to withstand the invaders from the East, there are those who still locally stick to the home product. Many of the New Yorkers and sportsmen from Maryland followed the parade of the thoroughbreds from Pimlico, and they are a cocky lot with a supreme confidence that it is all over but the shouting. With rainy and disagreeable weather the first part of the week, there are high hopes that the weatherman will get it all out of his system before Derby Day and that the skies will smile on the big race. Long since the reservations have made certain that the Derby crowd will be larger and more representative than ever before and the various special trains that have been chartered from different points testify to the certain success of the renewal. Superintendent Tom Young has the racing strip at Churchill Downs at its best and only an unusual amount of rain can in any measure prevent the race from being a swiftly run one. It was over the same course last fall that Twenty Grand and Equipoise finished out the mile of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in 1:36, a record for the course. They finished inches apart under scale weight, and it will always stand as a phenomenal two-year-old performance. Both of these colts are to meet again Saturday, and it is easily possible that, with favorable con- ditions, they may hang out a new mark for the mile and a quarter. There is a wealth of speed in the probable field, and it is certain to be a swiftly run race, with such as Ladder, Surf Board, Prince DAmour and Pittsburgher to carry the field along, and Twenty Grand, Mate and Equipoise to carry on should those of sprinting accomplishments fall by the wayside. Speed, as a matter of fact, will be a factor in the race — it is in any race, naturally — but excessive speed in the early stages will be of great benefit to such as Twenty Grand, Mate and Equipoise with their known staying quality. In the running of the Preakness there might have been a different story had Mc-Atee gone out with Surf Board in the first half mile to carry Clock Tower and Ladder along faster, and it is probable that his detail Saturday will be to force pace in the interest of Twenty Grand and Anchors Aweigh. If the race is run in that fashion, there will be small hope for any colt that races with Surf Board outstaying his stable mates, while it will also be dangerous to permit Surf Board himself to steal away too far. He must be caught himself*
