view raw text
. Slight Interruption . in Derby ss Training m . RAIN AND HAIL STORM « Leaves Churchill Downs Track in Extremely Bad Condition. • Pittsburgher Rated as Most Formic dable of Western-Owned Starters in Big Race. ♦ LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 13.— For the first time at the present Churchill Downs meeting a programed race had to be declared off and another split into two divisions to make up the seven event card. That happened today and it tell3 of the track condition, for the change came by reason of a rain and hail storm and the consequent scratching. Of course all of this had some effect on the preparation of the colts making ready for the Kentucky Derby, but it was well the interruption came today instead of tomorrow. Thursday is a natural final "prep" day for Saturday and no real harm has been done. There remains ample time for a change in weather and track conditions before the horses are called out for the big classic and everyone of the probable starters seem to be just about as fit as hands can make them. Should muddy track conditions continue until the end of the week, which is highly improbable, it will mean that Mrs. J. N. Croftons Up will be sent to the post and that is about the only change that will come in the field. Up wiir not be raced over other than a muddy track. SWEEP ALL UNLUCKY. Pittsburgher, after his victory yesterday in the Trial Purse at one mile and a sixteenth, run over a sloppy track, looms up as the most formidable of the western-owned Derby eligibles, though Sweep All, which finished third in the same race, lost few friends, the Fischer colt being poorly ridden and finishing fastest of all. Spanish Play was second in this race and ran well, though tiring at the end. He probably will do better on a fast track. Pittsburgher was not considered highly as a mud runner, but ran remarkably well in the difficult going and his admirers are expecting him to do even better if the track is fast on Saturday. It was the opinion of many that C. V. Whitneys Equipoise, for so long the favorite for the big classic, was not at his best in the Preakness. That is to say he was not the same magnificent colt he was before his ailment that resulted in his bad showing in the Chesapeake. It was evident to close watchers last Saturday that the son of Pennant and Swinging had gone back slightly, but a muddy condition of going would materially help his chances for victory. James Rowe would naturally prefer a fast track for Twenty Grand, though the son of St. Germans is far from being helpless in the mud, while Anchors Aweigh is a rarely good one through such going. Surf Board is a fast horse over any character of footing Continued on twenty-first page. INTERRUPTS DERBY TRAINING Continued from first page. so that Rowe is particularly well equipped with all three on edge for the race. The weather man continues to promise weather that will be "fair and warmer" and it is natural to expect that he will be right after a while. If he is right, Saturday he will be forgiven for some recent bad guesses and every law of average promises that the Kentucky Derby will have a "break" this year. And Mate, winner of the Preakness for A. C. Bostwick, satisfies completely as he shapes up for his attempt to duplicate the doubles of Sir Barton and Gallant Fox. It was in 1919 that Sir Barton, then a maiden, was winner of the Kentucky Derby to move over to Pimlico and take the Preakness. The last year Gallant Fox, after a sensational victory in the Preakness, came to Louisville to win the Kentucky Derby. In all the long history of the two great prizes these are the only colts to win both. Many have made the attempt only to fail. But Healy is supremely confident that Mate will add his name to this honor roll. Incidentally Healy is guarding the son of Prince Pal carefully. He had a clock in stalled in the box of the colt and a watchman is required to report by it at fifteen minute intervals all night long. Then the colt is further guarded by a pair of immense; police dogs that have to be interviewed by any stranger who may come anywhere near the stable shed. ; In the meantime there come constant additions to the already big crowd on hand and belated requests for reservations are a worry of both Dan OSullivan and the various hotels in Louisville. Many who attended the sale of the J. N. Camden stock arrived from Lexington to remain over for the Derby and the first of the specials is due to arrive tomorrow.
