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Turfmen Make Predictions for Derby . ! — ■ Sketches of Derby Trainers Sylvester Veitch Phalanx t* CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., . May 2. — Sylvester Veitch, 38, who grew up J near Belmont Park and followed in his . fathers footsteps as a horseman, will have the honor of saddling the favorite in tomorrows Derby, C. V Whitneys Phalanx. * After serving six years apprenticeship as assistant to Ivor Balding, manager of J the far-flung Whitney turf interests, he j * was appointed trainer for the main Whit- ney division, and last year made turf history with the two-year-old champion, First Flight, and now is- providing the sev-enty-third Derby choice. ! Veitch broke in as an exercise boy in 1925, * went with William Ziegler in 1922, and J later broke yearlings and served as foreman under the veteran W. J. Spears. He j launched himself as a public trainer in J 1933, and joined the Whitney establish- J ment in 1939. He has three brothers. One, Leo, also is a trainer. Another, Sid, has retired from racing in favor of business on Long Island. The third, Tommy, is here with Phalanx. • Syl Veitch, as he is known to all his friends, is quiet to the degree of shyness. ! He is taking the Derby quite in stride as i just another great race, one in which to -be careful, but not to get excited about to best provide the winner. He has Phalanx in the peak of condition. His racing record speaks for itself. At the same time, Veitch is confident, knowing : his horse and his condition, and is pinning his main hopes on the tremendous "stay- • ing power" of the colt. Ben A. Jones Faultless CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., j May 2. — When Ben A. „ones, who saddles Faultless for Calumet Farm in tomorrows Derby, was a small child and getting on I the nerves of his parents, they had one sure way of keeping him quiet and happy. That was to put him on a pony and let him ride. Jones is what well may be termed a "born horseman." He grew up on a 2,000-acre farm near Parnell, Mo., which raised cattle. And wherever there are cattle on a large scale there are bound to be horses. While successful as a cattle man, Jones gravitated toward the horses, and soon became interested in the quarter horse. Impromptu quarter racing was popular in that section, and Jones soon was raising some of the best. He went so far as to build a half-mile track on the farm, which became a center of the quarter-horse activity. It was only natural that interest in the thoroughbred should follow, and he bought his first sire, His Lordship, and several mares. He sold off much of the produce, added in succession the stallions, Blues, Harrigan and Waldo. He started racing his stock at unrecognized meetings, winning his first such race at the old five-furlong track at Fort Worth, Texas. His first winner on a recognized track came just 38 years ago at Oklahoma City, when he saddled Errant Lady to win a 00 purse. With the addition of the stallion Seth to the Parnell farm, he began to produce some good, useful stock. He made the Jones Stock Farm successful and popular from the Middle West to the Pacific Coast. His first job of consequence for other than his own horses came with Herbert M. Wooirs Woolford Farm, and the rest is history. Woolford gave Jones his first Derby winner, Lawrin, and, with his present connection with Calumet, he also has had Whirlaway and Pensive. He is shooting tomorrow for his fourth Derby win, a long way from that day in 1909 when Errant Lady came dashing in front to the wire at Oklahoma City. B. B, Williams Riskolater CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — Riskolater is regarded as one of the "chance" horses in tomorrows Derby here, and should he score in the silks of the Circle M Farm of Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. Moore, it would climax a brilliant career for trainer B. B. Bert Williams. Williams was born in 1884 in Ashland, Ky., started life on the farm, and later went to the city as a grocery clerk. He left that to become an exercise boy, and in 1899, at Sheepshead Bay, landed a job with William Father Bill Daly. He never rode as a jockey. He deserted the turf for 10 years following that connection, going into business in Detroit. After the decade away from the turf, he re-entered the sport, as an owner. His first horse was Prince S., trained by the late John Paul. Later, he was one of 13 to enter a claim for Kootenay at Windsor, drew the horse in the shake, and the horse went on to win race after race. He soon devoted almost all his time to the horses, finally taking over the training himself. His first winner was Lady Eileen, which scored at Old Jefferson Park, New Orleans, in 1916. He later took over the training of the Bloomfield Stable of the late Frank Navin, Walter A. Briggs and Charles T. Fisher of Detroit, and during that period, the stable was one of the most successful in America. Included in the winners were such as s t* . J . * J j * ! * J j J J • ! i : • j I s ►Blackwood, Dowagiac and Marshal Ney. When Bloomfield dissolved, he took over horses for Mrs. W. H. Furst, daughter of the late Mrs. Ethel V. Mars, later trained for C. C. VanMeter and the late Roy Car-ruthers. He joined Circle M Farm last year. Williams best horses were Sun Teddy and Nellie Flag. He has never saddled a Derby winner, but Riskolater may remedy that situation by tomorrow evening. Tom Smith Jet Pilot CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — Silent Tom Smith, as he is often known, is no stranger to the task of sad- I dling horses for important stake engagements, and when Jet Pilot goes postward in the Derby tomorrow in the famed Maine i Chance Farm silks, he will benefit by a lifetime of skillful experience. Tom Smith started life as a rancher and stockman, later went with a wild west show as a "vet" to patch up show horses. He later went to the race track where for years he served as stable foreman to the late C. B. Irwin. He left the latter to strike out on his own with a small stable at Seattle, was recommended to Charles S. Howard, San Francisco sportsman, as an able conditioner. He made good. Shortly after he took charge, Seabiscuit came along, and Smith developed him into the leading money winner of all time, a mark later surpassed. In addition, he developed Sorteado, another Argentinian, Kayak II., and a long list of other turf notables. On severing his connection with Howard, he was signed up by Maine Chance, and in that post has attained exceptional success. Jet Pilot is one of the survivors of the Chicago fire which wiped out an important segment of the Maine Chance stake division. Trainer Smith has brought Jet Pilot along carefully for the Derby, and fans know that the Smith training can never be under-rated. E. C. Dodson Jett-Jett CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — Eldred C. Dodson, who will saddle Jett-Jett in the Derby tomorrow, is making his first attempt at the rich race after a life time on the turf. Dodson rode in the "bushes" as a youth ; and, having grown too heavy for the saddle, took up a career as a trainer. He was tutored by the late H. C. Knebelkamp, one ! of the more colorful trainers in all Blue i Grass history. Dodson, 51, makes his home in La Crosse, , Wis. His patron, W. M. Peavey, also is from the same state, being one of the few owners from that state ever to have a Derby representative. Although he has never saddled a Derby starter, Dodson has seen a great number of Derbys. Among the horses he cared for, under Knebelkamp, was the good campaigner, . Dick Morris. The Jett-Jett barn is exclusively G. I. Trainer Dodson served in the last war and [ the horses groom and exercise boy were I only recently discharged from the service after seeing extensive action. The groom l holds the Purple Heart for wounds in i action. Henry S. Clark Bullet Proof CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — It would be hard to find a trainer : in tomorrows or any other Derby with more I "big race tradition" than Henry S. Clark, , trainer of the Chesapeake winner Bullet t Proof for Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Whitney. For Clarks grandfather, William Jennings, Sr., trained and saddled the horse j which finished third to Aristides in the first Derby back in 1875, and his uncle, , William Jennings of Baltimore, brought him along as a youngster to see his uncle ; saddle and race with Be Frank, who was 3 unplaced to Sir Barton in 1919. Thus his grandfather and his uncle have ; participated in the race to the point that, with addition of trainer Clark this year : with Bullet Proof, the family might be ; termed a "Derby" one. Clark, now 43, is a native of Baltimore i county. He started his career as a trainer r in 1933, and the first horse he took over, , Black Dream, reached the winners circle. He has been with Mrs. Whitney for the ; past five years. Verdigris ran a game race in the original 1 Derby, according to the accounts handed down from that day. The horse carried i the silks of Mr. C. A. Lewis, was out on l the early pace with Volcano, which finished second, and although Aristides came ; along to beat them both, Verdigris held i on well enough to finish in front of such l as Ten Broeck, Enlister, etc. William Molter On Trust CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — A year ago, William Molter was s hardly known to the American turf except on the Pacific Coast. There he had i established a reputation as a steady, dependable trainer, who ran his horses often, i« and where they belonged. Tomorrow, he will saddle one of the 8 main hopes of the West in the Kentucky 7 Derby, the California-bred On Trust, son a Continued on Page Four Sketches of Derby Trainers Continued from Page Three of the mighty imported Alibhai. In addition, he has the prestige of being Americas leading trainer of last year in point of winners with 122 victories credited to his public stable. Moreover, until just a few months ago, he had never saddled the winner of a truly important race. But On Trust, winner of the 00,000 Santa Anita Derby during the late winter, changed that. His dream of saddling a big stakes winner came true, and served notice that On Trust had a chance in the Kentucky classic. Molter elected to bring the son of Alibhai from Los Angeles by air, marking one precedent for the Derby, On Trust being the first horse to fly here for the race. Molter was born in Texas, became a race rider, but admits he was never a top-notcher. Increasing weight forced him from the saddle, and his patron, the late Jack P. Atkin of Tijuana, Mexico, gave him a start with his second stable division. He has gone from there to his present heights. The trail to nation honors and a Derby chance has been a long one, and he has traveled the hard way, being forced to make good with cheap platers. John C. Hodgins Star Reward CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — John C. Hodgins, who will saddle Dixianas Star Reward in the Derby tomorrow, is a turfman of whom it can be said has done "everything." In his long career, he has been an exercise boy, an assistant starter, starter, has served in other official capacities, manager of a breeding farm, an owner, and, the job which he likes best of all, that of trainer. Hodgins first raced and trained his own horses, or rather, horse, in 1915. He acquired a fine prospect in Water Wobbler, won several races with him, but in one race, the horse fell and broke his neck, a spill which also saw Jockey William Hinphy injured. Destruction of Water Wobbler put him out of business, and he went back to a post as an assistant starter. He was drawn irresistibly to training again, opened a public stable. His success landed him posts with the late Mel Emerich of Chicago, Richard B. George of Dallas, and later with Calumet Farm. He left Calumet for the present position with Dixiana. Hodgins, 53, was born in the oddly named hamlet of Bathgate, North Dakota, but has made his home in Lexington for so many years he is rated as a real Kentuckian. Graceton Philpot Stepfather, W L Sickle CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — Graceton Philpot will saddle an entry in tomorrows Derby, Stepfather, a California-bred, and W L Sickle, in tomorrows "Run for the Roses," his first Derby attempt. Philpot was born in Nebraska, where he still maintains a 500-acre farm, was taken to the tracks by his father, W. A. Philpot. He became a race rider at the old Tijuana Mexico track, where he became known as a "money rider." He had nerves of steel, and rode for, among others, one of the last of the great plungers, W. T. "Fatty" Anderson. When he became too heavy to ride, he was taken under the wing of a master conditioner, W. B. Finnegan, and taught the rudiments of training. He gradually improved his horses, and his work was so outstanding that it caught the eye of Louis B. Mayer, who decided he was the kind of a trainer he wanted, and who hired him to condition his stock. He handled many of the outstanding horses in the West, produce of the Mayer ranch, and was highly successful. When Mayer announced he was retiring from racing, his services were immediately obtained by Harry M. Warner, Hollywood film producer and sportsman. After the Mayer dispersal sale at Santa Anita, Philpot took over his new post, and brought the Warner horses to New York. He came to Kentucky with the two horses mentioned to give Warner an opportunity in Americas premiere stake. William Booth Cosmic Bomb CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — William Booth, one of Americas best known trainers, will saddle Cosmic Bomb for William Helis of New Orleans in the Derby tomorrow afternoon, marking his second attempt in the Blue Grass classic. Booth was born 54 years ago in Albany, the son of a carpenter. He rode at an early age, but mostly through the field and over the timber. He started as a trainer in 1919, and his first big assignment, with the Redstone Stable, saw him develop such as Gladiator, Georgie, Nedham and Whisk. He later trained for Raymond Warren, J. K. Macomber, the late James Butler II., who died after a fall from a saddle horse, and whose father, associated with Col. Matt Winn, first opened Empire City in New York. He then transferred to the stable of Mrs. Emil Denemark of Chicago, and five years ago went to work for his present employer, Mr. William Helis. Trainer Booth saddled the first horse ever to carry the Helis silks, Old Moscow n., and which was beaten by a nose in his first start under the Helis banner. P. M. Burch Liberty Road CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — Liberty Road, the Broakmeade Stable entrant in tomorrows Kentucky Derby, will carry a tradition of nearly a century of racing, as exemplified by trainer Preston M. Burch. Burchs father, William Preston Burch, raced horses and raised thoroughbreds from the time of the war between the states. William Preston Burch gained a national reputation as an official as well as horseman. His son, Preston, has been identified with thoroughbreds all his life. He saddled his first horse, Stuvye, back in 1903. Stuyve was a contraction of the name of his sire, Stuyvesant, the latter being one of the first American horses to race a mile in 1:40. Burch is no stranger to the Derby. When George Smith won in 1916, the horse was saddled by Hollie Hughes, but Burch was here as general manager of the racing interests of George Smiths owner, the late John Sanford. Burch considers George Smith the best horse with whom he was ever identified. W. L McCue Double Jay CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — W. L. "Duke" McCue, who started his turf career as a rider in the "bushes," Continued on Page Forty -Six ! ! ] 1 « I 1 Derby Trainer Sketches Continued from Page Four steps into Derby competition tomorrow with Double Jay, a horse acquired for 00 as a yearling, and which as a two-year-old won some 7,000. McCue trains for the stables of Messrs. James V. Tigani and James Boines, both of Wilmington, Del., and the name, Double Jay, as is quite obvious, was taken from the first names of the partners. McCue, now 47, was born in Coffeyville, Kan., the son of a race rider. It was only natural that he should follow that vocation, being fitted by family training. He started on the small tracks of the Kansas-Texas country, did some jump riding, and graduated to the larger tracks. He rode his last race in Toronto in 1923. The following year, he embarked upon a career as a trainer, his first horse being Chief Sponsor. He trained a varied assortment of horses for different patrons until Messrs. Tigani and Boines expanded their holdings, and he now trains for them exclusively. C. C. Norman Balheim CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — Charles C. Norman has conditioned thoroughbreds for the past 12 years and his first training post was with E. A. Bischoff. Five years ago Norman accepted a position with Murlogg Farm and he developed the crack stakes performer, Fighting Step. Norman also looked after the good gelding, Tunica, a member of the Joe De Sopo establishment, but counts Fighting Step the best horse he ever put the tack on. Born 44 years ago, in Litchfield, Ky., Norman is married and is a regular at Churchill Downs. Norman saddled Fighting Step in the 1945 Kentucky Derby, won by Hoop Jr.
