view raw text
DERBY FAVORITE JOHNSTOWN ARRIVES AT DOWNS . STANDS LONG TRIP WELL T. M. Dorsett Travels From East to Kentucky in Same Car. Challedon Breezes Mile and a Quarter in 2:08 — Gallops the Final Quarter in Fast Time. LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 2 —William Woodwards Johnstown, the principal character in the Kentucky Derby cast and his ownero hope for a third victory in the 0,000 stake next Saturday, arrived at Churchill Down3 this morning and for the first time surveyed the ground over which he may race to turf fame this week-end. Johnstown, a pronounced favorite for the Derby since his brilliant spring performances in New York, made the trip from the Metropolitan area without incident and he looked every inch a champion as he was led off his car. Johnstowns stablemate, Challenge, which also may start in the big race, accompanied him to the Downs while in the same car came the Kentucky Derby representative of Joe W. Brown, T. M. Dorsett, winner here last fall of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. The only other invader to come here for Saturdays stake rounded out the Derby, picture when John Hay Whitneys Heather Broom came in from Lexington, also arriving this morning. SPARKLING TRIAL. Shortly before these three equine stars made their appearance, two others engaged in long trials over the Downs racing strip and one of them, William L. Branns Challedon, turned in an especially impressive effort. The triple Futurity winner ran the mile and a quarter over which the Derby will be run in 2:08, for an outstanding exhibition since he never was permitted to do his best. Clockers and horsemen described his work as a "breeze" and indeed he appeared to be doing little more. The most illuminating phase of his effort was the last quarter which he negotiated in :24%, two-fifths of a second faster than he stepped any of the previous ones. The Brann colt required :26 seconds to cover the first quarter mile of his trial, was timed in :52% for the half mile, in 1:18 for the three-quarters and 1:43% for the mile. The other Derby horse to indulge in a long preliminary this morning was On Location, which now appears to be the. sole reliance of Mrs. Ethel V. Mars Milky Way Farm, which made seven eligible for the race. On Location travelled a mile and a furlong in 1:57, handily, going the first quarter in :26, the half mile in :51%, three-quarters in 1:17 and mile in 1:43%. TAKES IT EASY. The remaining probable starters in Saturdays blue ribbon event either took it easy today, indulging only in lighter exercise, or participated in the Derby Trial Stakes this afternoon. The Derby horses for which no strenuous work was prescribed were El Chico, star of the stable maintained by William Ziegler, Jr., and Mrs. Bessie Franz-heims Xalapa Clown. Those whose Derby qualifications were tested in the Trial Stakes during the afternoon were Herbert M. Woolfs Technician, William E. Boeings Porters Mite, Emerson Continued on ninth page. To Be Continued. DERBY FAVORITE, JOHNSTOWN, ARRIVES AT DOWNS Continued from first page. F. Woodwards Viscounty, Thomas D. Tag-garts Yale o Nine, William H. Whitehouses American Byrd, Junius W. Bells Steel Heels, Mrs. Cecil Gregorys Lostagal and Theodore E. Muellers Timeful. Johnstown and Challenge were accompanied here by Tommy Driscoll, chief assistant to trainer James Fitzsimmons, and he said that it was his impression that "Sunny Jim" would start both of the horses in Saturdays feature. Challenge, which won a race out east this spring, wasnt able to score last year as a juvenile, but he campaigned in fashionable company and Driscoll said he has trained well since becoming a three-year-old. The two Woodward horses are to be breezed over the Downs track tomorrow. John B. Theall, trainer of the Brown horses, supervised T. M. Dorsetts shipment from New York, while Earl Sande, who handles the Jock Whitney stable, came here with Heather Broom, which is scheduled to indulge in a prep over the local course Thursday. Fitzsimmons, who saddled Gallant Fox and Omaha for their Derby triumphs under the Woodward silks, is due here Friday.
