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¥ ** M.!.""H- .J1.IJ:,.J.V|IWIIIIIII IMIIIIIIIIIIII I J.I .IJM Jl„ JIJ.I.MII.IMJIHJJI COL MATT J. WINN— Master builder of the Derby into its present preeminence, will today view his seventy-fifth running of the classic, having witnessed every previous running of the great race. Fourteen in Diamond Jubilee Running of Kentucky Derby Olympia Retains Favorites Position In 00,000 Churchill Downs Race Palestinian, Old Rockport, i Johns Joy, Halt and Capot Considered Main Contenders By CHARLES HATTON CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 6. — Fourteen of the nations finest three-year-olds made a date this morning to meet tomorrow afternoon at the top of the Downs homstretch, that long lane of cheering humanity where the race of their lives is to be run. The crowds are here in greater numbers than ever, for this Diamond Jubilee Kentucky Derby, and the highly fancied Olympia is very ready, but such as Old Rockport, Palestinian, Halt and Capot will try him for championship size. They are going the classic mile and a quarter route and at the end there is a lasting celebrity, the acclaim of about 100,-000 spectators, the winners share of 00,-000 added, a magnificent diamond studded gold vase and garlands of American beauty roses. Special trains and planes from all parts of the country were bringing late arrivals almost hourly and the sun was shining on the Downs as early as 5 a. m. though the weather man was hinting rather broadly of showers before the big race. The first entry for the Derby was that of Woodvale Farms stretch unner Halt. It was made by his youthful trainer, Woody Stephens, at approximately 7:15. Most of the others followed within the next two hours. Will Gross 19,650 If All Go If the 14 entered for this "Run for the Roses" all face starter Ruby White at 4:30 p. m. CST post time tomorrow, the race will have a gross value of 19,650 and net its winner 1,600. There are second, third and fourth awards of 0,000, ,000 and ,500, not to mention trainers awards of ,000, ,000 and ,000; breeders prizes of ,000, ,000 and 00, and the further fact that the coveted gold vase is valued at 0,000. This isnt quite the richest Derby for all that. Assault earned 6,-400 in the 1946 renewal. The Downs elaborate new entrances will open at 8 a. m., and "tote" play on the Derby will begin an hour later. For some weeks it has been theorized by the form students that this is a "wide open race," but Fred Hoopers brilliant Olympia closed it noticeably in the Derby Trial. He was 30 cents to a dollar in that mile preview and won like that sore of choice, so it will not be at all surprising if he is odds-on in the Derby itself, though there is a school of thought that questions he has the stamina to stay a mile and quarter under 126 pounds. Old Rockport beat Olympia in the Santa Anita Derby, Palestinian gave his backers quite a turn when he charged very hard at him in the Wood, and Halt acted a natural router in the Blue Grass Stakes. Most of those who wonder if Olympia fits the Arcaro Seeking Fifth Winner In Classic Astride Hooper Colt in Ten-Furlong Run Derby distance incline to prefer one or another of these colts. The Derby this year will be filmed, broadcast and televised locally. Despite an increase in the number of boxes, they all were sold many weeks ago, and manager Russell Sweeney estimates that the attendance will number more than the 110,000 reported last May. In anticipation of a crush of motorists, there is an increase in parking facilities. But about 70 per cent of the crowd will come from the three Fall Cities, and a good many of these will ride the street cars. It was reported more than 70,000 were accommodated in these vehicles a year ago. Bashford Manor Also on Card There will be nine events on the Derby Day card, with the first going to the post at 11:30 a. m. In addition to the historic Kentucky classic, the club will offer the forty-ninth running of its 0,000 added Bashford Manor Stakes, for two-year-old colts and geldings. It is expected to bring together Old Tom, the Lafayette winner: Black Sambo, and other clever developments. The track was very fast for the Derby horses blowouts this morning. Its conjec-urable if it is quite so speed conducive, however, as it was when Whirlaway set the Derby time record of 2:01% back in 1941. This matter of track conditions seems to be trainer Ivan Parkes only concern for the showing of his charge, Olympia. He is hopeful that it doesnt become muddy, as the Derby going some times has quite unexpectedly, even while the horses were in the paddock. Palestinians trainer, Hirsch Jacobs, might wish it were muddy, but he said that, on the contrary, he hopes not, explaining, "I might get wet." Olympia showed the highest turn of speed in his final sharpener this morning, ing on the Downs as early as 5 a. m., with reeling off the half mile in :47% and five furlongs in 1:00 flat, breezing all the way. But none of the Derby colts was kicked out in these final moves. Halt breezed five-eighths in 1:01%, Capot the same distance in O1 and 1:03 and Lextown in 1:04%. Several others went a half, Calumets Continued from Page Three Fourteen Entered In Kentucky Derby Olympia Is Favored Over Palestinian, Johns Joy and Halt in Churchill Classic Continued from Page One Ponder and Clifford Mooers Old Rockport stopping the watches in identical time of :48%. John A. Kinard, Jr.s, handsome Johns Joy breezed in :36% and :49%, Greentrees Wine List in a flat :50. The surprise entrant, Senecas Coin, who is owned and trained by Mrs. Albert Roth, went a handy half in :48%. He is "write your own ticket" in the early lines. Jacks Town was luckiest of the field in the draw for post positions, and he is to break from the inner rail, with the sluggish Ponder next to him and the nimble Ky. Colonel in the third stall. The favored Olympia drew a strategic position in No. 4, which seems to assure that he can be right there or thereabouts in the dash for a forward place the first time past the stand. Another who is distinctly a speed horse is Johns Joy and he drew precisely midway of the field in No. 7. Duplicator is on the outside, with Palestinian next to him in No. 13. Since the field is less unwieldly than in some past Derby renewals, it will be possible to situate the gate in such a manner that each enjoys a run of nearly three furlongs straightaway at the bell. Only Coupling in Race Greentrees entry of Capot and Wine List is the only coupling in the field, though there will be a "mutuel field" of two horses if all the 14 named parade to the post. Calumet Farm will bid for its fourth Derby with Ponder, jockey Eddie Arcaro for his fifth successful Derby mount on Olympia, Greentree for its third Derby winner with Capot and Wine List. Trainer B. A. Jones is working on his fifth Derby victory. Trainers Ivan Parke, Tom Smith and John Gaver on their second. Halts pilot, Conn McCreary, is the only jockey, other than Eddie Arcaro, having a mount in this Derby that rode a previous winner. He was on Ponder s sire, Pensive, in 1944. None of the trainers of Olympia s rivals was at all boastful this morning, though each feels that he has some sort of chance of saddling the winner. All of the contenders have trained satisfactorily during this last very important week. Olympia, Old Rockport, Palestinian and Ponder were thoroughly seasoned at the winter races. Ivan Parke has a notion that "Olympia may have those colts who came up this spring sticking their tails straight out at the end of a mile," and he is quietly confident of his own colts ability to go the full route. The Derby is not a race in which any of the starters is likely to breeze on the lead, or dawdle along to the stretch and still have a winning chance. The pace wrings them out with no chance of a breather and in the end it is the colt with the most left that runs under the roses.
