view raw text
Over 1,000 Horses at Louisville Awaiting Opening This Week-End j ] , 1 t j , , , , , • . See Good Future for Several! Tv/o-Y ear-Olds Training at Both Downs and Keeneland LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 8.— Some 1.000 thoroughbreds and a score of Kentucky-Derby eligibles, including Challenge Me. Bell Buzzer and Shut Up, the one-two-three horses in the recent renewal of the Arkansas Derby, and Skytracer, runner-up in the Flamingo Stakes, Floridas chief offering for three-year-olds, have converged on Churchill Downs awaiting the opening of the Kentucky racing season next Saturday. Keeneland, the little course outside of Lexington, again is using the historic grounds made famous by the Derby for a seven-day meeting which will usher in the sport. The War Relief and Louisville Fair Association then takes over for a six-day period and it will be followed by the regular Churchill Downs session of 18 days. In order to make as much money as possible for War Relief, Keeneland gave up three of its original 10 days and Churchill Downs is allotting the same amount. Keeneland operates under a non-profit set-up by which this association doesnt have to pay huge sums to the state and United States government. All profits from the Keeneland seven-day session will be given over to charity and the Grayson Foundation Fund. Derby Main Topic of Conversation The main topic today at this south Louisville oval is the Derby, but the opening of racing comes in for much attention, with the two-year-olds holding the spotlight. From time immemorial the rabid thoroughbred fan has loved a winner and nothing suits him or her better than to have a wager on a juvenile when leaving the maiden ranks. There are several speedy ones training here and reports from Lexington are to the same effect. Hal Price Headley usually comes up with a good one, but he always is a bit tardy in having the names approved and the general public must wait until the youngsters name appears among the entries. Several other "hardboots" have fast-running two-year-olds and Garrett Watts, now turning 90 years young, uncovered a good one at Keeneland the other morning when a son of Silver Horde sped three furlongs in :35. While two-year-olds are to be considered, the fine stakes program to be presented during the 31 days will attract the leading horses of this division quartered in the Midwest. Keeneland opens its meeting with the time-honored Phoenix Handicap, a six-furlong dash, as the feature. This association will next offer the Ashland Stakes for three-year-old fillies, also at six furlongs, and the Ben Ali Handicap, a run of one and one-sixteenth miles. The latter stakes tops the closing-day of the regular season and Keeneland is programming the Lafayette Stakes for two-year-olds and the Blue Grass Stakes during the first three days of the War Relief session. Except the nine-furlong Blue Grass Stakes, a preparation for the Derby and endowed with 0,000, the other stakes carry ,000 each in added ! money. Clark Features Final War Relief Card Fashioned for three-year-olds and upward and with a ,000 added purse, the Clark Handicap will be the stellar attraction of the finale of the War Relief program. Old in history as the Derby and Oaks, the Clark is a member of the Downs stakes schedule. Following this run over one mile and one-sixteenth, Churchill Downs will renew the Derby Trial, mile test for Derby eligibles; the Debutante and Bashford Manor Stakes for two-year-olds, the Kentucky Oaks and, on Derby Day, the Churchill Downs Handicap will be the supporting attraction. The Kentucky Handicap will have its renewal on the third Saturday of the meeting and a race yet to be written will grace the card on the closing day, Saturday, May 20. From all indications the Kentucky season will not lack for good riders. The license committee has compiled its report for the racing commission and that body will have it at the meeting called for Friday night.
