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XALAPA CLOWN APTLY NAMED Clownish Tactics as a Yearling Leads Mr. Edward F. Sims to Give Him That Title. LOUISVILLE, Ky„ May 6.— Amusing, indeed, are some of the stories behind the names of certain thoroughbreds. Take, for instance, that of Xalapa Clown, the fine three-year-old. Allie Dettwiler, who trains the prankish colt, spins yarn after yarn about the humorous stunts of Xalapa Clown. One of these tricks, he says, brought about his being named Xalapa Clown. When he was a yearling, his late breeder, Edward F. Sims, master of Xalapa Farm in Bourbon County, ordered that the black colt be vanned to the race track to be broken and trained. The black youngster walked serenely up to the horse van. But when he was urged to enter the van, he propped and refused to advance, only to rear back on his haunches, placing himself in a sitting posture. As attendants attempted to move him with their prodding, he sat tranquilly and nickered, refusing to move. "Ho! Ho! Ho!" chuckled Mr. Sims. "Hes the clown of the farm. Guess we better name him The Clown." When naming time came, that monicker was requested for the black son of Eternal — Loma Linda, but The Jockey Club answered that the name of "The Clown" was ineligible. Later, Mr. Sims learned that a colt by that name won the 1923 Latonia Derby. "Well," remarked breeder Sims, "I said the colt was the clown of the farm, so Ill just apply for Xalapa Clown." It was approved by The Jockey Club. Xalapa Clown, pronounced Uh-lap-Uh, is about the most entertaining runner here at Churchill Downs. Hes never satisfied, unless hes creating some disturbance, pulling some prank or cutting some caper, just to attract attention.
