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SIGNS OF ACTIVITY AT DOWNS Mr. and Mrs. Fred Grabner Arrive for an Inspection Trip. i Pittsburgher Given Hard Gallop With Stable Pony by Trainer Jim Moody Hot Stove Argument. LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 16. Mr. and Mrs. Fred M. Grabner of Chicago, motored to Louisville, arriving Sunday morning at the Downs to inspect their horses that were vanned here from Lexington Saturday. Frank Swain, who will train the Grabner horses this year, succeeding Jake Lowenstein, who has a large band of Albert Sabath and his own horses, reached Louisville from New Orleans Friday. The Grabners motored to Lexington Sunday, but will return to Louisville the early part of the week. The good handicap horse, Chicago, which Taced so brilliantly up to 1928, heads the Grabner band. Four two-year-olds are in the Grabner stable that were shipped from Lexington, where they wintered at the farm of Steele Piatt. The three-year-olds Gold Tip, Slick Fingers, Grey Kitty and White Legs, will be taken over the first of the week by trainer Frank Swain on their arrival from Lexington. Swain has one horse of his own, the five-year-old Coral Beach, by Supremus Sandy Land, which came up from the farm of W. E. Caskey, Jr., at Lexington with the Grabner consignment. He has been in training for the past two months on the farm and is ready to undergo active training for racing. Swain intends to dispose of him and devote all his time to the Grabner horses. W. E. Smith, president of the Kentucky Standard Oil Company, and vice-chairman of the Kentucky State Racing Commission, is the host to W. S. Parrish, president of the Humble Oil Company of Texas, and H. C. Wiess, vice-president of the same company, who were arrivals from Houston, Texas. In company with Junius W. Bell, vice-president of the Kentucky Standard Oil Company, these gentlemen visited both local tracks. They will visit the farm of Mrs. T M. Murphy, at St. Matthews, where they have some horses running out on her farm. No trainer has been secured to handle their racing stock, but in all liklihood the services of Jack Weaver will be secured by them for the present season. Although there was considerable chill in the air Sunday morning, trainers at both local courses sent their horses out on the tracks, which were in excellent condition. Trainer Willie Crump, of the J. W. Parrish stable, sent his Derby charge, Cold Check for a canter with the Oaks filly, Depression, and after an opening up gallop, sent them up for a short sprint.- Both moved along in good style, and Crump waved their riders down in the last furlong as he deemed their pace a bit too fast for this early stage of their training. D. E. Froggatte has been entrusted with the saddle work aboard Cold Check, which he understands perfectly and the colt is assured of good riding for his Derby preparation. Trainer Jim Moody gave T. E. Muellers handicap horse, Pittsburgher, a hard gallop alongside of a stable pony at the Downs. Claude Hunt had the W. F. Knebelkamp Derby candidate, Delivered, leading a set of the baseball magnates string in a two-mile gallop. The gelding shows steady improvement in his preparation for his stake engagement, and is taking on flesh with his exercises. So many claims are being made now as to who was the originator of the Hot Stove League sessions that arguments may soon rival the heat of the stoves. Roscoe Goose claims, and rightly so, this honor, as he has for a number of years held open house at the Downs during the winter season, where track superintendent Tom Young, Dr. Southard, George Korfage and others have been wont to gather, especially on Sunday mornings to indulge in bridge, while Jim Moody is given second call and Alec Gordon, of Douglas Park, is placed in the money, third.
