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ASSAULT Winner of the 72nd running of the Kentucky Derby Racing Devotees From Many Parts Of World in Record Derby Crowd All Walks of Life Are i iRepresented Represented in 700000 Seeing Famous Classic ClassicCHURCHILL CHURCHILL DOWNS Louisville Ky May 4 With a warm sparkling sun breaking through a heavy fog shortly after daybreak this morning to assure bright pleasant weather this historic racing plant played host to the largest Kentucky Derby throng in its history today as some 100000 racing enthusiasts drawn from many parts of the world and almost every section of this country and Canada turned out for the seventysecond running of the 100000 race raceAs As usual the vast throng was a melting pot of humanity with racing devotees from the political business financial and en ¬ tertainment worlds rubbing elbows with plain everyday folk All however were consumed with the one burning ambition of seeing their particular Derby favorite romp home homeAmong Among the throng that jammed every vantage point in the rambling structure and overflowed into the verdant and flower bedecked centerfield were many prominent persons from the nations capital including Miss Margaret Truman the Presidents daughter Fred M Vinson secretary of the treasury and hundreds of others whose names are connected with the government of the nation nationEvery Every state and almost every country for that matter enjoyed representation in the vast throng with jovial Texans dis ¬ tinguished by their 10gallon hats and highheeled boots mingling with soft spoken dowagers from Boston and julep loving colonels from the Blue Grass country A considerable number of Cana ¬ dians drawn from over the line by the appearance in the Kentucky Derby entries of the Canadianowned Wee Admiral lent their presence to the general throng throngRiot Riot of Color ColorAs As is usually the case on Derby Day the Downs was a riot of color with the pastel shades of the mens sports outfits and their ladies frocks and accessories vying in color with the some 40000 blooms that have been replanted in the tracks various gardens and in the centerfield centerfieldThe The thousands of boxes throughout the stands containing more prominent per ¬ sonages than could be found in a score of blue books and whos who Heading the contingent from movieland was Actor Don Ameche an ardent racing enthusiast and usually the first of the cinema notables to visit Derbytown Crooner Bing Crosby was among the missing held in Hollywood by pressing business but Bing who races and breeds thoroughbreds on his own account sent along his mother and dad as envoys Incidentally Crosbys parents witnessed their first Kentucky Derby DerbyTycoons Tycoons of the industrial and financial worlds several of whom were on hand to see their own silks carried in the Derby were in the throng in great numbers In this group were William duPont Jr owner of Hampden Alwin C Ernst owner of Alamond Hal Price Headley owner of Pel ¬ licle R S McLaughlin of Canada owner of Wee Admiral William Helis of New Or ¬ leans owner of Rippey and Charles T Fisher owner of Spy Song SongMrs Mrs Elizabeth Graham whose Maine Chance Farm team furnished the Derby favorite was one of many women on hand who have gained renown in the business world Besides being nationally known as I a racing patron Mrs Graham is a famous manufacturer of cosmetics cosmeticsAlthough Although only a select few enjoyed the privilege of seeing their silks in action in the Derby owners trainers and thorough ¬ bred breeders composed a large segment of the Derby Day throng The outcome of the big race was of particular interest to those 1 in the latter category because it was from their nurseries and thoroughbred farms that many of the competitors in the Derby field came cameGates Gates Open at 7 A M MAlthough Although it had clouded somewhat about midmorning the sun was beaming brightly when the gates of the plant were thrown open to the public at 7 a m Ticket takers as usual found long queues of avid racing fans waiting to pass through the turnstiles turnstilesLong Long before the first fan passed through the gates Churchill Downs was a beehive of activity with ushers other employes and the tracks caterers receiving final instruc ¬ tions for the gigantic task they faced in handlingand serving the record crowd crowdThe The verdant centerfield its lush grass freely mowed as usual was the vantage point for thousands of spectators and al ¬ though they faced a long wait until Derby post time all entered into the spirit of the gala occasion The bands which have be ¬ come so important a part of Derby Day proceedings again were quartered in the centerfield from which point they regaled the throng with lively airs airsAssisting Assisting the horde of regular ushers and attendants who lent considerable color to the scene with their yellow and blue uni ¬ forms were members of the Kentucky State Militia under Brig Gen G L Mc Clain This force was augmented by 250 picked men from Fort Knox and 250 men from the U S Naval Training School Uni ¬ versity of Louisville LouisvilleMilitia Militia were stationed at various points around the track and kept in touch with headquarters by walkietalkie walkietalkieAlthough Although it was almost an impossibility to calculate the tremendous amount of foodstuffs the Derby Day throng would consume track caterers were well prepared to see that no one went hungry All of the tracks restaurants large and small were well stocked with delicacies while scores of refreshment stands throughout the plant and in the centerfield stood prepared to cater to the throngs collective appetite As usual those stands dispensing the famous Kentucky mint julep didnt lack for patronage patronageRetaining Retaining its position as the nations top sporting spectacle the Derby again served as the magnet for hundreds of the coun ¬ trys leading sportswriters columnists and radio and movie men Cameras ready to record on celluloid every pulsating moment of the great thoroughbred classic were in ¬ stalled at various points about the course with their crews standing by byWhile While many of the holders of boxes and reserved seats delayed their arrival at the track until early afternoon the crowd al ¬ ready on hand when the first race was run at 12 oclock gave early indication of the tremendous throng that witnessed the first 100000 Derby The bleachers located along the upper turn had an occupant for every seat and several thousands already were milling about the centerfield areas Using foresight many in the latter group brought portable chairs to make their wait more comfortable comfortableIn In sharp contrast to last year there was little more than a scattering of servicemen in uniform present at todays first post ¬ war running of the Derby However it was safe to assume that many of those bedecked in gay civilian attire today wit ¬ nessed the race last year in the garb of Uncle Sams warriors warriorsThere There was a noticeable rustle of excite ¬ ment shortly after noon when Gov Simeon Willis of Kentucky Mrs Willis and mem ¬ bers of the governors staff entered their flagbedecked box in the clubhouse section After enjoying the early races the governor repaired to the centerfield presentation stand where he presented the historic Derby cup to the owner of the Derby winner
