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World Famous Kentucky Derby Draws Crack Field of Seventeen Visiting Thousands Flock to Louisville City to Care for Visiting Thousands and at Same Time Keep Up Vast War Program LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 1.— Though keeping step with the rest of the nation in the steady and serious march to arms, this historic old city is throwing open its hospitable arms in the Kentucky style to entertain what looks like one of the largest Derby crowds in history. Not even the never-ceasing drum of drills and welders in its many factories that are busy with armaments, not even the coming and going of thousands of soldiers as they come into the town from nearby encampments or return from their days off, can hide the fact that Louisville is getting ready to do the right thing by the worlds greatest sports spectacle — the famous Kentucky Derby. Years ago the military heads of this nation, as well as those of England and every other big country, recognized the fact that no country could call itself completely armed without cavalry. Russia is giving daily proof of this as her Cossacks churn over snow fields and blown-up terrain in their offensive to end the Nazis long-talked of spring offensive. And so racing, which gives to a country its higher type of cavalry horse, can count itself, to quite some extent, a branch of armament. To Present 0,000 to Red Cross It was in keeping with the general feeling among the directors of Churchill Downs and the people of Louisville, that Col. Matt J. Winn, leading spirit of i Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, announced more than two months ago that when the winning owner is awarded the richest Derby purse, a check for 0,000 will be presented to the American Red Cross directly after the big race is over. Auto tire conservation, the difficulty of getting train reservations and the impossibility of getting hotel accommodations apparently is not going to keep this "wartime Derby" from drawing a tremendous I and representative crowd. It is expected the attendance Saturday may equal that Of last year, the largest ever seen here, and . preparations have been made to accommodate it. Somehow, some way, the lov- Continued on Page Forty-Eight. a iI n tl b w tl f r gi si D a: H C w b I I j g v j s c t t t a ■ Louisville Genial Host For War-Time Derby City to Care for Thousands and Keep Up War Program as Well Continued from Page One ers of thoroughbred racing are going to see this 1942 turf classic. And in some way the city of Louisville is going to take care of the visiting thousands and at the same time keep up the vast war program which carries on 24 hours a day, every day. The only noticeable change is that a slightly grimmer look has replaced the carefree, holiday-enjoying countenances of those who have gathered to take part in the race. Followers of "King Horse" intend to show they still can pay homage to him and, at the same time, keep in mind what America expects of every citizen. Crowds which surpass any pre -Derby-week throngs Churchill Downs ever saw, have been on hand each day at the races and it is obvious the attendance is building up to possible record proportions. As each year finds magnificent Churchill Downs showing improvements here and there, with particular attention always being paid to beautification, the track which has seen more and larger crowds than any race course in America is all set for the big day tomorrow. Dozens of additional betting booths and refreshment stands have been provided in grandstand, clubhouse and infield enclosures. The management of Churchill Downs let this work go right along even after December 7 brought news of Pearl Harbors bombing. And it seems assured that the faith Colonel Winn has in the popularity of the worlds mos4-talked-of horse race is to be borne out here tomorrow afternoon.
