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l r Here and There on the Turf Woodward After English Derby His Hope Now Second Choice New England Sport Pleases Winn Sees 100,000 Crowd ยป i William Woodward is quite pleased with the victory of Johnstown in the Kentucky Derby, the third of his colorbearers to take that classic, but he perhaps would gain1 greater satisfaction out of a triumph by Hypnotist in the English Derby a couple of weeks hence. The Jockey Club chairman never won Englands greatest classic, although he has tried for it almost as often as he has its American contemporary and should Hypnotist prove successful it would be a new thrill for him. Just now the son of Hyperion, from the American-bred mare, Flying Gal, is rated the second choice in the future wagering on the Epsom Downs event to Blue Peter, and he is being accorded extensive support, having come along steadily in his development this spring. Win or lose, Hypnotist will have to do his Derby running without the personal support of. his owner, who will be remaining at home. Since last season, Woodward had hopes of capturing the English Derby with Fox-brough II., which had been bred in this country, but the brother to Gallant Fox and Fighting Fox hasnt blossomed out just as his trainer, Capt. Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, desired and has been declared from the classic with the hope that he will live up to his full promise during the late summer and autumn campaign. Woodward was very anxious for Foxbrough II. to stand training for the Epsom Derby and win it, if for no other reason to prove to the English that good horses are bred in this country. It would be his way of arguing against the Jersey act, which bars a majority of American thoroughbreds from registration in the English stud book. If he never achieves his ambition of winning the English Derby, Woodward at least has done a good job of proving to his English friends that he produces good horses here. Narragansett Parks fine spring meeting, for which the wagering average was in excess of 70,000, and the splendid opening enjoyed by Suffolk Downs, indicate a banner season for the New England circuit. Conditions at the tracks themselves are much better this year and they should be reflected by the manifestation of greater interest by the racegoers of that section as already has been done. The recent Narragansett session was one of the smoothest ever staged there, made increasingly possible by the absence of interference from state representatives, who knew nothing of racing or racetrack management, and the two other meetings to be staged at the Rhode Island course this season likewise should be marked by tranquillity in everything except the manner in which the horses charge down the stretch. The horses will be at Suffolk Downs for a comparatively long time, the meeting being of sixty days duration, and some of them will become tracksore, but given no unduly severe weather, whether rain or heat, the Continued on twenty-fourth page. HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. East Boston course should have a happy term. The presence of Charles J. McLennan at Suffolk Downs should have much to do with this, as already has been shown during the first few days of the meeting. McLennan knows the horsemen and they, in turn, have confidence in him. Last year the big Boston track had conditions in its racing that were most harmful and if these are eliminated as they can be by proper officiating, Suffolk Downs again should command the respect of a course its magnitude should. A split season might be to better advantage at Suffolk Downs, but chairman Charles F. Adams has been prompted by managerial reasons to decide on one long meeting. Mat Winn, whose name is synonymous with the Kentucky Derby, sees room for further expansion of the Churchill Downs plant to accommodate all who wish to see the 1940 running of the nations most popular race. More than eighty thousand persons saw Johnstown run away from his opposition a week ago Saturday and this is no longer an estimate. Construction of the infield terrace for the 1938 Derby and the half-dollar bleachers for this years running greatly increased the Downs accommodations, but even they were taxed May 6. Colonel Winn now definitely can look forward to an attendance of 100,000 at the Derby and he is setting his sights to handle such a crowd next spring. It is hoped the time will be coming when Louisville has more than just one big day of racing annually and construction of a modern grandstand at Churchill Downs will be. worthwhile.
