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► r 1 ; ■A JKt sHIE COL DANIEL E. OSULLIVAN— A name long familiar with Churchill Downs racegoers. He is assistant to the president, Col. Matt J. Winn. Winn at Downs Helm Forty Years Sure That Crowds of 100,000 On Derby Day Certain to Come Value of Great Race, Now 1 ♦ Worth 5,000 Added, Has Risen Under His Supervision I LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 1.— Tomorrow Col. Matt J. Winn, the grocery delivery boy who became one of Americas greatest t showmen, will entertain another of the : largest crowds ever to throng a race course 5 [ in North America, and again he will see much to remind him of the development of the Kentucky Derby since he took over at Churchill Downs in 1902. Colonel Winn will be presiding over his fortieth Derby, . and under his promotional genius the l spring turf classic for three-year-olds has ; grown to such eminence that it now occupies . a place on the calendar of national I events almost as prominent as the Fourth , of July. Tomorrow the Derby will attract people ; from every section of the country, and advance J estimates are that the crowd will , closely approach or exceed in size that of ; last year when around 90,000 persons viewed the countrys premier racing attraction, but Colonel Winn can remember when a mere handful by comparison were in the : Churchill Downs stands on Derby Day. Realizes Possibilities of Race Prom a humble beginning the Derby made little advancement until about 1910, and thereafter under Colonel Winns enterprising direction the race began to edge upwards in public consciousness. When the Colonel took hold at the South Louisville course he was convinced that it was the Derby rather than the setting, lovely as jjgPas and still is, had boundless possibil-K and all of his energies since have been Rpended in exploiting the event. He extolled the enchantments of the Derby wherever and whenever he had the opportunity, and every effort he made in the advancement of racing and Churchill Downs had its foundation in his determination to glorify and merchandize this fabulous horse race. Safely guided through the period of World War I., the Derby made a very substantial jump in 1920. The value, won by Paul Jones, was raised, and in direct ratio attendance and interest increased. The value to the winner of the stake was 0,375, and only one winner since has received less. The exception was Cavalcade, whose victory in 1934 came at a time when economic conditions were such that sharp retrenchment was necessary in racing as in other lines. In 1921 the purse appropriation was increased to 0,000, for by now the Derby had become a red-letter event on the national sports program, and for the second consecutive year the public pools totaled well above a million dollars. Meanwhile, the size of the Churchill Downs stands and clubhouse underwent annual enlargement as Colonel Winn endeavored to provide accommodations sufficient to take care of the public demand. About this time the genial dean of the countrys outstanding racing men began to set his sights on a Derby Day attendance of 100,000. 1 ♦ I t : 5 [ . l ; . I , ; J , ; : The Derby enjoyed splendid success through 1931, and then for several years Churchill Downs felt the effects of the national depression, although the value of the stake was not decreased until 1934. The Downs fixture continued to attract large crowds, although they did not, during the depression, encourage Colonel Winn in his lingering belief that some day 100,000 persons would witness the "race of races." Signs, however, that this goal might not be impossible of attainment reappeared almost before the tracks readjustment pro- gram went into effect, the purse remain-1 ing at 0,000 through several lighter years. With sportdom taking a keener interest in the blue ribbon event the value of the race was increased to 0,000 in 1935, and had a similar purse the following year. Increasing attendance enabled Colonel Winn to restore the 0,000 special again in 1937, and so it remained until 1940 when its worth was boosted to 5,000 added, to make it indisputably the richest on earth for thoroughbreds three years old. Last year the Derby came closest to drawing the 100,000 on which Colonel Winn has set his heart, and whether or not he surveys such an assemblage tomorrow, the fact remains that Colonel Winn is not changing his prediction that Derby crowds of more than 100,000 are sure to come.
