Derbys Master Mind: Genial Col. Matt J. Winn Man Behind Development of Race.; Responsible for Growth and Popularity of Americas Greatest Three-Year-Old Race., Daily Racing Form, 1939-05-06

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COL. MATT WINN DERBYS MASTER MIND Genial Col. Matt J. Winn Man Behind Development of Race. Responsible for Growth and Popularity of Americas Greatest Three-Year-Old Race. , ! . [ [ , [ I LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 5.— The great success tomorrows Derby Day promises to be at Churchill Downs is a tribute to the foresight and promotional genius of Col. Matt -J. Winn, head of the historic local plant. Colonel Winn took over the reins at the Downs back in 1902 and under his guiding influence the track has flourished and the Derby has become one of the biggest sports ventures in the world. Colonel Winn today was accepting the congratulations and good wishes of his countless friends on the splendor of the plant, its grounds and the many fine accommodations designed for the comfort and pleasure of visitors. The veteran turf impresario has enlarged the attendance capacity of the course until now it accommdates upwards of 80,-Q00 persons and Colonel Winn, ever on the alert for new ideas to improve the Downs, sees crowds in excess of 100,000 for Derby days of the not too distant future. The progress of Churchill Downs and its Derby is due almost solely to" the efforts of Colonel Winn, who constantly has the suc-, cess of these two ventures before him. No single force in sportsdom has ever done more to elevate a project than the genial colonel has done for the Derby, which now enjoys international fame. The Kentucky Derby has been close to Colonel Winns heart ever since he saw the first one as a boy in 1875 and that he has succeeded in making it Americas first ing sports spectacle will be seen by the num-I bers in which fans tax Churchill Downs capacity tomorrow.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1930s/drf1939050602/drf1939050602_40_7
Local Identifier: drf1939050602_40_7
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800