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4 H jfiand s bHt Ib raw mSKm V HandW lm K :ISS PHALANX — Looms favorite in todays seventy-third Kentucky Derby. Sent Out Derby Winner When Only 26 Hollie Hughes Has Unique Distinction Conditioned George Smith For Triumph in 1916 in Colors of John Sanford CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — Dating back to the year 1875, when Aristides became a turf immortal by winning the inaugural running of the now historical and traditionally famous .Kentucky Derby, thousands upon thousands of words have been written about this classic of the "Sport of Kings." Much has been scribed about the owners, trainers, and jockeys of each winner since the aforementioned Aristides up to and including Assault, who ran to a smashing triumph in the colors of the King Ranch last year. However, in many estimations, too much emphasis has been placed upon Derby celebrities, and much too little written about many of the others. Trainer Hollie Hughes, undoubtedly, falls into the latter category. Hughes, who is now, and always was a quiet and soft-spoken gentleman, can be found most every winter in Florida, and each summer around the New York area, conditioning the horses owned by the popular Stephen "Laddie" Sanford of the Sanford Stud Farm. This same Laddie Sanford is the son of the former noted thoroughbred owner, and breeder, John Sanford of Amsterdam, New York. Hollie Hughes accepted his first job as a trainer of thoroughbreds for John Sanford in the early years of this century and saddled the Derby winner, George Smith, for Sanford in 1916. Beat Exterminator Much can be said about George Smith. The well-conformed bay colt, sired by the imported stallion, Out of Reach, out of a dam named Consuele II., not only bested a better-than-average Derby field on that day of May 13, but two years later, showed his flying heels to the great horse, Exterminator, in the Bowie Handicap of 1918. The Bowie feature was at a distance of one and one-half miles and also included in the outstanding field was Omar Khayyam. Many old-time turf experts have ► « rated Exterminator and Omar Khayyam at the top of the roster of turf immortals. Not only was George Smiths victory in the 1916 Derby important from a standpoint of monetary value and of prestige to the winning owner and trainer, but it marked the first and also the last time a Derby victor had been saddled by so youthful a conditioner, Mr. Hughes having just passed his 26th birthday at the time. Hughes vividly recalls George Smiths winning encounterment and Sanfords overwhelming joy of having owned a Derby winner. It seems that after the formal presentation of the wreath of roses had been endowed upon the Derby victor and other post race formalities were terminated, trainer Hughes walked his charge back to the stable. After the horse had been cooled out properly and was just getting around to the satisfying point of eating his hay and oats, after a siege of nervous strain known to all thoroughbreds, in walked the overjoyous Sanford, followed by a multi-piece brass band. The owner thought so well of his winning horse and trainer, that he wanted them to be serenaded by a brass band, and a most loud one at that. Thinking of the nervous condition of the horse, it was all that Hughes could do to restrain himself from flying into a complete rage of hysterical temper. Today Hughes laughs at the incident. It was probably the first and last time during the history of the Derby, that the winning horse and trainer were personally serenaded in their stable by a brass band, playing the familiar strains of "My Old Kentucky Home." Round View Injured Prior to Race Unfortunately, Hughes doesnt have a Derby contender for this years "Run for the Roses." In fact, he hasnt had a Derby starter since that memorable May afternoon in 1916. Round View, winner of the Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah Park in 1946, appeared to be the answer for a return trip to Louisville and the Kentucky Derby for Hughes, but that good colt developed an injury prior to the Derby and went amiss. Yes, the man who saddled a Derby winner at the youthful age of 26, yearns to return with a formidable candidate for the Kentucky Derby, and perhaps the year of 1948 will reward this veteran trainer the good fortune of once again attaining the turfs most coveted treasure, the winning of the Kentucky Derby.
