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APPLEGATE LIKES EL CHIC0 Believes Possible Starters in Coming Kentucky Derby Are Very Evenly Matched Owned Old Rosebud. LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 13 Hamilton C. Applegate, of Louisville, whose 1914 Kentucky Derby winner, Old Rosebud, frequently is mentioned among the greatest horses in the history of American racing, believes that most of the probable starters in the coming sixty-fifth Derby are very evenly matched. Applegate, member of a family long identified with racing, sees little to choose among the principal Derby horses of this year, but when pressed for a selection he named El Chico because, he said, the brilliant Ziegler colt compiled the best record as a juvenile. "I have never even seen El Chico," said the former Churchill Downs official, "but with everything equal, his racing as a two-year-old entitles him to my vote. They say that El Chico is a rather small horse and that he carries his head low when running, but you cant hold either of these against him. We have had some mighty good small horses and any horseman who has been around any length of time can recall a great number of outstanding horses that carried their heads low when running fast and far." When Applegates Old Rosebud swept to victory in the Derby of twenty-five years ago, he raced the mile and a quarter in 2:03, setting a record for the race which stood until 1931, when Twenty Grand, owned by Mrs. Payne Whitney, hung up a mark of 2-01. Only one other Derby winner War Admiral ran any faster than Old Rosebud. The Samuel D. Riddle horse registered his victory of 1937 in 2:03.
