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BETWEEN RACES 8yosc«o™ CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — Tomorrow is the most exciting day of the entire year on the American turf. Running of the Derby, the first of the "Triple Crown" features, will go a long way toward de-;ermining the three-year-old cham-aionship. This years Derby, the seventy-third, finds interest kept to white hot heat to the very wire for a number of reasons, but the foremost of which, no horse has proven himself a standout, and the horses will parade to the post with public fancy well scattered. Sound reasoning and handicapping dictates that at least six of the starters must be rated as having "better than a chance." At the same time, all Derby discussions seem to end with the words, "Youll have to beat Faultless to win it," or, "Youll have to beat Phalanx to win it." While conceding that these two horses are the solid factors, the Derby discussions conclude, also, that they can be beaten. If the race develops into a duel between Phalanx and Faultless, it will be the time-honored rivalry between East and Kentucky. Phalanx was foaled in Virginia, Faultless is as "Kentuckian" as they come. This writer has been particularly interested in the fate of western owners in the Derby for one reason, namely, the vast expansion of the racing and breeding industry in California, and which has drawn mainly on Kentucky for its foundation stock. While in the past, many West Coasters have been represented by starters, a check of the records since the California winner, Morvich, in 1922, shows but two California-breds as competitors in all that time: Sea Swallow, unplaced to Hoop Jr., in 1945, and Cannot Shot, unplaced to Black Oold in 1924. This year, Derby Day Most Exciting of Whole Year California Has Best Chance Since 1922 Faultless Appraised as Good but Not Great Ambitious Plans Made for Derby Candidates California has two representatives, Stepfather, owned by Harry M. Warner, and On Trust, the son of Alibhai, owned by Earl O. Stice, the Eagle Rock plumber. Each, I believe, has a far better chance than either Cannon Shot or Sea Swallow. AAA Incidentally, the first springtime 0,000 stakes ever offered in Northern California, the Tanforan Handicap at a mile and a quarter, is down for decision tomorrow afternoon. There is but one California-bred in the stake. The vast interest displayed in the Kentucky Derby, I noticed in California last week, is a certain indication that racing and breeding there has "come of age" and the entire population, it seems, is rooting for one or the other of the pair to win. If not, be assured that in the immediate years to come, contenders from the Coast will appear in ever-increasing numbers and in ever-improving quality. AAA You might be interested in the unbiased - ppraisal of Faultless by his trainer Ben Jones. One secret of Jones success with horses is that he never allows himself to become prejudiced, either for or against a thoroughbred. "Faultless it a good horse, and has done everything we have asked of him," said Jones, though obviously weighing each word carefully. "While I dont know, of course, Just how good Faultless is, I am not by any means ready to compare him with either Whirlaway or Armed. He might turn out that good, but as yet he has shown me nothing more than being a first-class horse, but not great like the others." But even in spite of this cautious appraisal, I rather imagine that the /eteran Missourian fancies the chances of Faultless tomorrow. I have not seen him smile as often or seem so carefree as during the last few days when Faultless was galloping or walking. AAA The Derby is not an end, but rather a beginning of a busy schedule for these, our cream of the 1947 three-year-old crop. While not making predictions or announcing plans until after the Derby running, just about all connections of Derby starters will plan, assuming their horses run to expectations and come out of the race in good shape, to hasten on over the mountains to Pimlico and the Preakness running next Saturday. Stepfather, perhaps, has the most ambitious tentative program of any. While the following may be "iffy," it still remains a fact that if things go well, he will keep his engagement in Baltimore, continue with a bit of campaigning at New York, travel to Chicago for the Arlington-Washington meetings and perhaps make a quick aerial strike into Hollywood. On Trust is a "definite" for the Preakness if he turns in a good effort in the Derby, regardless of actual victory. After that, he will fly back to Hollywood Park, where he will be liberally engaged in all stakes to which he is eligible and might ever tackle older horses in such a race as the Gold Cup or the Sunset. The latter distance, a mile and five furlongs, being perhaps his most promising. Phalanx, Faultless, Star Reward and others in the race also are generously engaged in the months to follow. But whatever the future may bring, a victory in the Kentucky Derby will give that colt unique lifetime prestige and immortal honor thereafter.
