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WASHINGTON PARK MEETING] • Col. Matt J. Winn Optimistic Over Success of Sport in Chicago. » High Hopes Entertained of Great Racing at Homewood Course With American ■ Derby Outstanding Event. As the date nears for the opening of Chicagos metropolitan season— at Washington Park, Monday, May 23— Col. Matt J. Winn, president of the American Turf Association, and president of Washington Park and Lin- coin Fields Jockey Club, is optimistic , respecting the success of this year of thor- oughbred sport in the metropolitan area of j the Mid-West. Capable officials, maintaining watchful * care, have provided Chicago with formful ; sport, he states, and the sturdy support of an enthusiastic and appreciative public is : also cited by him in explanation of the j healthy development of racing. Colonel Winns personal knowledge of con- ■ ditions, extending through years of continu- ous effort in the uplift of the turf and the intimate contact he is having with economic conditions and their relation to racing af- J fairs is not lessening his ardor respecting the future of the sport and its ultimate pros- J perity. "Racing is feeling the pressure," observed Colonel Winn, "a patent fact, but I have no hesitancy in declaring that the sport is too great, its popularity with the masses is too well established to reach the point of peril. The reaction will be prompt when conditions become normal. My confidence in the turf and the inborn love of the American people for it prompts Ke to ex- j j press supreme confidence in its security. I am deeply sincere when I say that Chi-cagoans are second to none when it comes to loyalty in thoroughbred racing. No better reason is to be assigned in prophesying that, despite temporary conditions, the sport of racing will continue to move forward in this city. It is my belief every meeting this year in the Chicago district will be a modified success." As many as two thousand horses will be available for the Washington Park inaugural. C. W. Hay, general manager, says this number will represent the pick of performers now in training. It is his belief that in the aggregate this will be the classiest array of thoroughbreds ever assembled for Chicago racing. The outstanding event at Washington Park, the American Derby, he states, will duplicate the quality of the Kentucky Derby, possibly surpass it. Burgoo King, winner of the Churchill Downs classic; Economic, second, and Stepenfetchit, third, are to start. Others will include the sensational filly. Evening, which won the Florida Derby for George D. Widener. Since then she has displayed dazzling class as to speed and staying power. The lapse of time between the running of the Kentucky and American Derbys presents advantage in preparation, a factor entering into the probability that the American Derby will regain the prestige it possessed in the years it was won by Modesty, Spokane, Boundless, The Picket, Highball, Mate and others. Mate, in 1931, triumphed in a thrilling drive over Pittsburgher, Joey Bibb being third. Chicago, in the "90s," was first in racing importance on this continent. The greatest horses of that time drew immense crowds. Society made Washington Park the center of activity. That was the gala period. The i American Derby brought forth pomp and I splendor. The parade to the course, the spectacular infield picture has never been duplicated ! this side of Epsom Downs. If it is within the power of the Washington Park Jockey Club officials this pageant will, in i time, be visible to a new generation of racegoers. • Colonel Winn thinks it is within the i range of possibility. The number of American Derby eligibles : this year is 129. The number in the Kentucky • Derby was 115, obviously gratifying ; to general manager Hay. and not in the I least displeasing to Colonel Winn. The ! greater number of entries in the American Derby is evidence of increasing interest in i the race, which will be worth this time more than 0,000. Arrangements have been made for the i special housing of all Derby eligibles, according - to general manager Hay, who believes • there will be more than thirty potential - starters, scaling to the largest field that : has ever paraded to the post in this fixture. He names the possibilities as follows: Burgoo - King, Tick On, Brother Joe, Stepenfetchit. - Brandon Mint, Evening, Osculator, , Camp Douglas, Blackstrap, Cee Tee, Cathop, , Curacao, Indian Runner, Barashkova, Sun-melus. - Sun Manor, Adobe Post, Hoops, , Springsteel, Prince Hotspur, Sazerac. Oscillation, - Economic, Air Pilot, Gallant Sir, Bahamas, - Our Fancy. I Say, Barcelona Pete, , Border Warrant, Mad Frump and Unencumbered. -
