view raw text
H Wlk ;l COL. MATT J." WINN— Whose name is synonomous with the Kentucky Derby and who will view the sixty-eighth running of the famed Blue Grass prize today. Expect Requested and Greentree Entry To Vie for Favoritism in 5,000 Race i Apache, Sun Again, Valdina Farms Duo, With Regards, Alsab Have Large Followings LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 1.— Seventeen wIm the nations outstanding three -year-ore|fc thoroughbreds comprise the field for the sixty-eighth running of the world-famed Kentucky Derby, most colorful spectacle on the American sporting scene at ancient Churchill Downs. Col. Matt Winn, generalissimo at this picturesque course voiced the general theory among turf enthusiasts throughout the country when he declared "this is one of the openest of Derbys and promises one of its most thrilling renewals." Indications are that Mrs. Payne Whitney, "first lady of the turf," will be represented by perhaps the most extensively backed entrants in her Devil Diver and Shut Out when the field in this history-making mile and a quarter parades for the 75,000 lumps of sugar. Pressing this formidable duo closely for the post of honor as the magic hour approaches is Ben Whitakers Requested, a diminutive gamecock of a colt who already this season has distinguished himself by garnering the Flamingo and Wood Memorial. All the other of the "glamour horses" are in the lineup. King of 1941 Juveniles There are Mrs. Al Sabaths mercurial Alsab, kingpin 1941 juvenile; The Jockey Club chairman Woodwards dusky Apache; the Calumet Farms delayed "big train," Sun Again, and Pinky Grimes light-footed Arkansas Derby record breaker. With Regards. These and Emerson F. Woodwards Derby Trial winner, Valdina Orphan, are the colts whose names are mentioned oftenest by the gay and colorful throngs streaming into Derbytown to witness this ensuing "run for the roses." This will be the richest of all the Derbys, according to present indications. With 17 starters, it will gros, 7,250 and net its winner 5,225, not t mention the aura of celebrity that will endure for all time. The Kentucky Derby netted its first victor, Aristides, just ,850 in 1875. This Derby also will be notable for Its aid to the nation at war. Colonel Winn will present a check for 0,000 to the American Red Cross in a brief ceremony during the afternoons festivities. In addition, Churchill Downs has invested heavily in War Bonds. All of which is in pursuit Continued on Page Forty-Eight. Seventeen Seek Derbys Glory and Gold Post of Favoritism Hard to Determine Requested, Greentree Entry Of Devil Diver and Shut Out Appear Most in Demand Continued from Page One of American racings characteristically patriotic resolve to aid Uncle Sam in the little unpleasantness across the seas. Mrs. Ethel V. Mars Dogpatch, one of the least conspicuous entrants, was the first named for this Derby, agent Herb Cuttriss nonchalantly placing Bull Leas little le brother in the lists at 7:25 a. m. today. Indications are Dogpatch will be one of the least heavily played of the large field. Cuttriss also made the second entry, Mrs. Barclay Douglas Fair Call. At that hour it was anybodys guess as to overhead and track conditions when the Derby is bugled postward at 5:30 tomorrow afternoon, Central War Time. The confusing "form" of the entrants this spring inclined observers to think the post favorite might be 4 to 1. All but one of the 17 named is expected to fill his engagement. This doubtful starter is First Prize. In addition to those more popular colts mentioned in the opening paragraphs, the field will come from among E. F. Woodwards Hollywood, wholl accompany Val-dina Orphan; Mrs. Edward Mulrenans First Fiddle, Circle M Ranchs Sir War, Theodore Buhls Sweep Swinger, Willie duPonts Fairy Manah, Mill River Stables Fair Call, E. C. A. Bergers Boot and Spur and Mrs. Mars Dogpatch. There are no fillies in the field and each starter will shoulder 126 pounds. Largest Field Since 1937 The field is the largest since the 20 prancing postward in War Admirals year, | 1937. There are two couplings, aside from | the mutuel "field," Greentrees Devil Diver I and Shut Out and Valdinas Valdina Or- j phan and Hollywood. This 68th edition of the Blue Grass dMrie will be witnessed by perhaps the j greatest assemblage in the annals of the * Derby. The "SRO" sign is out and there e j .is, reputedly, an increase of 50 per cent over 1941 figures in the volume of out-of-town visitors. To these may be added thousands in Louisville for the duration. The Derby crowds have been variously estimated to 90,000. Prexy Winn has upped the seating capacity several thousand for r this 1942 running, something justified in 1 the advance sale of reserved seats and 1 | boxes and reports of patronage from other r i turf locales. He believes it is possible his i j "goal" of 100,000 at the Derby may be » | achieved in the rambling amphitheatre of f , stands, on the lawns and in the center field 1 ] tomorrow. j , Every one of the Derby trainers felt to- " 1 1 day his charge held a more or less real 1 prospect of gracing the winners ring I j decked out in the gaudy American beau- j ties. Jockey Eddie Arcaro, who was astride i Whirlaway when he set the Derby time mark at 2:0125 last May day, declared this . c morning, "I wouldnt trade my chances on 1 i j e Devil Diver with those of any other rider. I l If only I can settle him down the first part [ of it. He went away a little excitedly at ; Keeneland." t Arcaro After Third Victory Arcaro will be striving for his third 1 j Derby with the medium-sized, powerfully-built son of St. Germans sire of Twenty Grand and Bold Venture. He kicked Lawrin to his initial triumph in 1938. "If I were hot riding Devil Diver, Id like the mount on Requested," Arcaro mused. "Hes a good horse," the Newport, Ky., lad estimated, with emphasis on the "good." At about this time, the noted booter was approached by an amateur candid cameraman, but begged to be excused on the | grounds, "Why, thats the worst kind of a jinx. But Im flattered." "Thats all right," returned the photog. "Im rooting for you. I believe you can win this Derby riding a bicycle." This appraisal of proficient Arcaros ability is growing apace at Derby Town, where the thoroughbred enthusiasts sup- _ port his mounts with the same blind confidence with which they once backed "the Q earl of Sandes." j r A victory for Devil Diver, or the Blue j B Grass Stakes winner, Shut Out, whos to I | Q be ridden by portsider Wright, would be j ti the second for the familiar Greentree pink , d and black, which was borne to victory by | cl Twenty Grand in 1931, when he estab- I tl lished the Derby record at 2:0145. This time stood until Whirlaway carved three- M fifths from it in 1941. The Manhasset, tl Long Island, owned duo comes up to the in race as "good" as the capable trainer John Gaver can have them. There can be no ti excuses for either on the score of condi- n tion. tr This Derby has an East versus West D angle, with the Greentree pair expected to j gr find Ben Whitakers Texas-owned Re- j fa Q j r j B I | Q j ti , d | cl I tl M tl in ti n tr D gr fa quested their chief foe. "Requested is ready for the question," trainer "and some Blackie" McCoole replied to the inevitable query. The liver-colored colts qualifica-! tions are too well known to warrant lengthy diagnosis here. He proved his mettle con-I clusively in both the Flamingo and Wood this spring. Requested is not a homebred, as are Mrs. Whitneys pair. Rather, hes one of those romantic "yearling bargains," having been acquired for a humiliating ,200. By a curious coincidence, his sire, Questionnaire, is owned by Mrs. Payne Whitney and serves at Greentree Farm. So that all three of the top colts in this Derby were conceived on the same blue grass stud farm. Buddy Haas, of Mioland fame, is to steer Requested, while the a 1 Greentree booters, Wright and Arcaro, iI handled Requested in his Wood and Flamingo triumphs, respectively. n "We know just what were up against," tl Arcaro chuckled on this point. b Alsabs admirers, with stubborn loyalty, w still expect a rather amazing metamor- tl phosis in this exploded phenom. He will f not lack support, especially when it is recalled that Whirlaways three-year-old r form, ahead of the Derby, paralleled that gi of Mrs. Sabaths noted Chicagoan. si Alsab, pounds and lengths better than D any colt in this Derby field last season, a: now is nursing a gashed ankle and a H wounded pride. However, Sabath and Sarge Swenke dismiss his unflattering C form in earlier stakes this spring with a w knowing smile and remain marvelously b ;?Race Will Be Run Sixty-Eighth Time . Strong Support for Apache, •s Sun Again and Valdina Entry r In Famous 5,000 Classic confident. He opened up a half in :48Vs r for the Derby, under the whip. All the fourth estate is agreed that if a Alsab suddenly gets back into character in the Derby it will be the most incredible ,s story this stake could develop. to 0 With Regards is another Derbyite with o a romantic background. Picked up for just r [ 00, only 00 more than Alsab fetched, it | I as a yearling, Pinky Grimes Jack High a a colt has developed a rather remarkable _ | order of "foot," and it generally expected to 1 1 I force a swift pace as far as he goes. He g j established a mile and a furlong Oaklawn of m track mark of 1:50 in the Arkansas Derby, but, as in his remaining victories in a sequence of seven, With Regards beat "noth- e ing." It is anybodys guess, therefore, how g he stacks up against the top fughters In his division and only the Derby can accurately answer that poser. With Regards makes an appeal as "a poor mans horse," for ruddy Pink Grimes is a trainer turned owner-trainer of a modest string. John Longden has the mount. Bun Again will not lack for friends. Largely, one suspects, because of the fact . plain Ben Jones is his conditioner. Jones, like Arcaro, is expected to make horses do the seemingly impossible. Popular Warren Wright, Chicago sportsman, was encouraged by Sun Agains excellent Derby Trial performance to hope for a repetition of the thrill he derived from Whirlaways 1941 conquest in the run for the roses. Sun Again was a trifle short in the trial as a consequence of the interruption of three weeks in his Derby prep, occasioned l [by a particularly persistent split. This ; ; morning he went a very creditable six ! : furlongs in :24, :48, 1:00 and 1:13*5 with J : the proverbial "stone in hand " Trainer t • Jones, ostensibly very pleased by this final l tightener, promised "hell be in the entries - ! and, barring accidents, in the parade to | the post." Wendell Eads, a familiar boy, . is Sun Agains pilot.
