view raw text
Colorful Gathering at Derby « Men and Women Prominent in the Social, Business and Professional Life of the Country Among Those Present ♦ LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 16. — No more representative and colorful throng ever attended a running of the race, or for that matter any sports event than that which taxed Churchill Downs for todays fifth-seventh annual staging of the Kentucky Derby. It was a multitude that embraced the nations most prominent in many walks of life and almost without exception, every outstanding patron and patroness of the great sport witnessed the Derby contest. Leaders in society were more numerous than ever before and nationally famous merchants, lawyers, political giants, monarchs of finance, stars of the screen and stage and others of lofty stations in other lines of endeavor were in the crowd of high and low, rich and poor from far and near. The pleasant mid-summerlike weather permitted for the first time in five years safe display of early summer finery and the fashion pace was terrific and pleasing, indeed, the varied live colors of the thousands of "latest creations." The great cosmopolitan throng, full of carnival spirit, began converging upon the course at an early hour and several thousands were on the grounds before the final morning workouts were held. All modes of transportation were utilized, automobiles, railroads, river boats, city and interurban electric lines, aircraft and busses carrying thousands upon thousands to the scene of Americas greatest turf spectacle. The multitude was remarkable for the perhaps unprecedented number of notables from the racing and breeding fields and with but few exceptions every prominent owner, breeder, official and track operator was present. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, owner of the unfortunate Equipoise; Mrs. Payne Whitney, owner of Twenty Grand, Anchors Aweigh and Surf Board; J. Hay Whitney and his wife and several score friends made up one of the most distinguished parties. They spent Friday at the Whitney farms near Lexington and from that point travelled to this city this morning aboard the private cars, Adios and Traveller. Vice-president Charles Curtis, who rode races over Western "quarter" tracks in his boyhood days, was an early arrival at the Downs. With his sister, Mrs. E. E. Gann, and Mr. Gann, he was the guest of Samuel H. Culbertson, president of Churchill Downs, at breakfast and luncheon in the club house. Mr. Curtis and his party witnessed the Derby and other races from a special stand in the club house enclosure near the point of finish. He presented to the owner of the Derby winner the handsome and valuable gold trophy, special award of Churchill Downs. Special trains and special cars arriving yesterday and this morning brought M. L. Annenberg and party, A. C. Bostwick, owner of Mate; Col. J. M. Hatfield, all of New York ; C. E. Parks, of Kansas City, and H. T. Ladd, of Cleveland. Mayor Anton J. Cermak and party, of Continued on twenty-first page. COLORFUL CROWD AT DERBY Continued from first page. Chicago, arrived during the forenoon and immediately proceeded to the Downs. Congressman Maurice H. Thatcher, Mrs. Thatcher and David Burnet, commissioner of internal revenue, came on from Washington for the big event. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Strouse of New Orleans were the Derby guests of Mrs. Alvin T. Hert. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Fagin of Jersey City, N. J., were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Callahan. From all appearances it was an off-day at Frankfort, the state capital. Mrs. James Campbell Cantrill, state librarian, Judge Augustus Thomas of the Court of Appeals, Guy Briggs, attorney for the state insurance department, Judge Edward ORear and others were noted among the vast gathering. Harry F. Sinclair, who won a Derby with Zev, was among the very early arrivals and entertained a large party. J. H. Louchheim of Philadelphia, Colonel E. R. Bradley of Lexington and the owner of Bubbling Over and Behave Yourself, respective winners of the race in 1921 and 1926, were prominent. William Woodward, whose Gallant Fox triumphed in last years running and went on to prove the champion of his age, and Charles T. Fisher of Detroit and owner of Dixianas Sweep All, among the western challengers today, were among the box holders. Arthur B. Hancock, J. N. Camden, Thomas Piatt, H. P. Headley, Sewell Combs, Allan Gallaher, Lucas B. Combs, Major T. C. McDowell, Colonel P. T. Chinn, E. F. Pritchard, and J. B. Respess were among a few of the prominent breeders and owners in the throng. Other patrons whose colors were carried in the classic were among the early arrivals. They included W. J. Salmon of New York, "Joe and Edward Madden of Lexington, C. H. Knebelkamp of Louisville, Richard Morris of Chicago, Joseph Leiter of Chicago, Griffin Watkins of Alton, 111., and Theodore E. Mueller, also of this city. Among the notables who arrived as guests of Governor Flem D. Sampson of Kentucky were Governor Harry Woodring and wife of Kansas, Governor Henry Caulfield and wife of Missouri, Governor W. G. Conly of West Virginia, Governor Morgan F. Larson of New Jersey and Senator Simon D. Fess of Ohio. Mayor "Jimmie" Walker of New York and John Curry, Tammany leader, witnessed Fridays sport and directed their large Derby parties to the Downs early this afternoon. Basil L. Kenney of Florida, vice-president of the Brown Hotel and of W. P. Brown and Sons Lumber Company of Louisville, and Mrs. Kenney were entertained by J. Graham Brown. Other prominent visitors included Felix Lowry, Chicago; Meyer Neustetter, Denver; Edgar C. Honnald, Oklahoma City; Judge C. J. Welch, Kansas City; J. L. Denney, Cincinnati; Mrs. George B. Cox. Cincinnati; Charles Bacharach, New Orleans; R. B. Crane, Dayton, Ohio, and Major George L. Berry, superintendent of the National Pressmens Home in Tennessee. The inseparable brothers, P. A., R. J. and John Nash of Chicago, owners of the Valley Lake Stable, had as their guests about twenty prominent Chicagoans. The steamer Cincinnati docked with more than 400 enthusiasts from the Queen City this morning and smaller craft brought gcores of others from that Ohio city. Among the largest parties was that of E. P. and G. L. Waggoner, sons of W. T. Waggoner, millionaire oil operator of Texas and owner of the Three D.s Stock Farm and Stable. The Waggoner party occupied three club house boxes. Thomas R. Watkins, owner of the Memphis Baseball Club; D. D. Saunders and J. P. Norfleet were in the big delegation from that Tennessee metropolis. T. V. Hartnett, Clarence Ryerson and R. C. Harrison of the Brown-Williamson Tobacco Corporation, and E. S. Penn of the American Tobacco Company, Reedsville, N. C, witnessed the race from the club house. Mayor Jackson of Baltimore, James Milton n and others were on one of the Baltimore specials. Senator Edward Hughes and Mrs. Hughes s were the Derby guests of Charles W. Bidwill, 1, secretary of the Illinois Turf Association. George W. Barney of New York and J. M. t. McCooksie, Madison. Wis., J. A. Appleton n and J. J. Curtis of Chicago arrivod during s the morning with large parties Drought here e in private cars. Governor Albert C. Ritchie of Maryland d and party, D. Benjamin Bell of Philadelphia a and Robert Paggett of Baltimore were e among the prominent visitors to arrive from 0 Maryland Friday evening. Lee Reynold, of Birmingham, Ala., was s the first purchaser of a mutuel ticket on n the Derby. He bought a two dollar straight it ticket on Mate and made the wager immediately y. after the special Derby mutuel j] booths opened at ten a. m. Thomas P. Gore, blind senator-elect from n Oklahoma, obtained impressions of the classic 3- running by sound, and was entertained d by Gov. Sampson of Kentucky. C. W. Hayes, Mrs. Hays and Mr. and Mrs. 3. Baron Long motored from the Hays Scotland t- Farm this morning. Stuyvesant Peabody of Chicago, president it of the Lincoln Field Jockey Club, and vice-president i- of the American Turf Association, i, and Mrs. Peabody, returned from French h Lick Springs, and with friends, witnessed d the Derby from their club house box.
