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"■■¥■ 4* i .■■ v. J_ % BEN A. JONES— Trainer of Calumet Farms Ponder, who already has saddled four Derby winners. ■ jggiMjiWfliflimMWwjg- "S»y£: • saSl TOM YOUNG— Track superintendent at Churchill Downs and the one responsible for the condition of the Derby plant today. Profiles of Derby Riders GORDON GLISSON Old Rockport t Seventeen-year-old Gordon Glisson has an opportunity to become the second ap- • prentice rider in history to win the Ken- • tucky Derby. The youngster, who spent his j early life on a Carolina tobacco farm, and grew up near Seattle, where he went to : Longacres, seeking employment as a jockey, I because a waitress friend thought he might • make good as a pilot, is today regarded as ? one of the top apprentice riders of modern | times. I After a seasoning and education with the stable of J. Kel Houssels, Glisson finally ; attained his ambition, riding his first win-J ner last July at Longacres. He rode 13 win-j. ners there, then went on to Golden Gate : Fields last fall where he blossomed into a | sensation. He continued his good form at . Santa Anita last winter where he led the . riders. He rode Old Rockport to victory in the • Santa Anita Derby for Clifford Mooers. I Mooers later purchased his contract. Glis-: son came to the Blue Grass to ride Old Rockport in the Blue Grass Stakes at j Keeneland and in the Derby today. I Glisson has strength he was a good • I amateur boxer, a quick mind, and is of a steady temperament. He is a strong finisher on a horse, a good post boy, and is well-mannered. The only apprentice to win the Kentucky Derby to date is Ira Hanford, who scored with Bold Venture in 1936. EDDIE ARCARO Olympia Swarthy Eddie Arcaro, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1916, cinched the Derby riding championship here last spring when he piloted Citation to an easy victory for his fourth success in the famed "Run for the Roses." Arcaro, who has handled Olympia in several of that colts stakes engagements, has an excellent chance to ring up his fifth Derby triumph tomorrow on the Hooper star, who is the favorite for the Diamond Jubilee running of the Downs Classic. Arcaro rode Lawrin to victory in the 1938 Derby, repeated with Whirlaway in 1941, scored astride Hoop Jr. in 1945 and, of course, won with Citation last year. Three of his winning Derby mounts, Lawrin, Whirlaway and Citation, were saddled by trainer Ben Jones, while Ivan H. Parke, who is to put the tack on Olympia, also hoisted Arcaro into the saddle for his victorious jaunt on Hoop Jr. A victory in the 1949 Derby would undoubtedly leave Arcaro with a mark that will stand for many years for only two other riders, Earl Sande and the Negro saddle star, Isaac Murphy, were able to guide three mounts successfully during their careers. The Arcaro family, Mrs. Ruth and Eddie, eight-year-old Carolyn and six-year-old Bobby, reside at Long Island, N. Y. JOHN ADAMS Johns Joy John Adams, 34, was born in Iola, Kansas. Of small but sturdy stature, he decided that he would make a success as a race rider and started his career on the bush tracks of Texas, Oklahoma and Southern Kansas. He first came to a major track at Old Riverside Park, near Kansas City, in 1931. He applied to the stewards for a license. "Youll have to have a contract to ride as an apprentice," he was informed. "I dont want any contract, and I dont want the apprentice allowance, either," he replied. "Youll never get a winner, and perhaps only a mount or two during the whole season," the stewards warned him. "Ill take my chances," he replied. Adams fared only "so-so" at Riverside Park, but he went from there to Longacres, near Seattle, where he became a sensation. ►He has been in the forefront of American riders ever since. In 1937 he led the list of American riders in point of winners, scoring with 260 mounts out of 1,265 attempts for a percentage of .21. He rode 66 winners last year, his mounts earning 38,045. Among his better known riding feats were four out of four at Jamaica, May 2, of 1947, four out of five at Belmont Park on June 19, of 1945, and five out of six at Detroit on May 29, 1943. Adams has ridden in most American stakes, his most notable victory being with War Knight in the 00,000 Santa Anita Handicap in 1946. He also won that race with Kayak II. in 1939. Adams, because of his bullneck and strong shoulders, coupled with short legs, often does not look to best advantage on a horse. But it is an optical illusion. The boy is one of the best saddlesmiths in the nation. He has an uncanny ability to wait with a horse, his most recent demonstration of these tactics being with Miss Grillo, winner of the 0,000 mile and a half San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita last winter. "I know I look bad at times," laughs Adams at adverse comments, "but can I help it if I have to ride with short irons?" Adams currently is riding first string for the public stable of Horatio Luro. This will be Adams sixth Kentucky Derby try. His previous score is as follows: 11th with Alorter to Pensive in 1944; second with Blue Swords to Count Fleet in 1943; 12th with Sir War to Shut Out in 1942; 11th and last with Swain to Whirlaway in 1941; and fifth with Technician to Johnstown in 1939. BASIL JAMES Duplicator Born in Sunnyside, Washington, in 1918, Basil James, who is to ride Duplicator tomorrow, undoubtedly is one of the top men in his profession. James came to Louisville early this week, handled Ocean Drive in the Derby Trial and, after the Hooper colt was withdrawn from the Downs classic, the Westerner was without a mount and had planned to return to Belmont Park. After trainer Sam Sechrest and owner J. H. Seley conferred, they offered the mount on Duplicator, a noted mud runner, to James, who accepted. No stranger in Derby competition, the Washingtonian has been unsuccessful in the great race with four mounts: Dellor in 1937, Heather Broom, third in 1939, Blue Pair, seventh in 1941, and the mighty Alsab, second to Shut Out in the 1942 Derby renewal. James spent three and one-half years in the armed forces during the last war, is the father of two daughters and makes his home at Loveland, Colorado. James has ridden winners in many of the nations leading stakes events and rates Alsab, Stymie, Whirlaway and Market Wise as the finest thoroughbreds he has ever handled. WALTER LEE TAYLOR Jacks Town The Lone Star State has sent many first class reinsmen to the races and jockey Walter Lee Taylor, who was born at Houston, Texas, is one of the better "journeymen" riders, named to handle a mount in the Diamond Jubilee Kentucky Derby. He will be astride Afton Villa Farms Jacks Town. Taylor, a mite in his early youth, attracted the attention of the late Raymond Hightshoe while the youngster was selling papers before the Rice Hotel in Houston during the autumn of 1937. Hightshoe, who was under contract to Frederick Wyse, called his employers attention to Taylor and the lad was immediately signed to an apprentice contract. When the Wyse stable thoroughbreds moved to the New Orleans Fair Grounds in November, 1938, Taylor accepted several mounts and he rode his initial winner astride Count Me at the Crescent City course early in 1939. After scoring his maiden victory, Taylor rapidly developed and he has been one of the more popular jockeys on the New England circuit during the past decade. Taylor served in the Navy during World War II., and has a brilliant service record. When not at the races, Taylor resides in Palatine, Texas with his wife and two daughters. TED ATKINSON Capot Gentlemanly little Ted Atkinson, who is to ride Capot for his contract employers, Greentree Stable, will try for the third time to win the Kentucky Derby tomorrow. Atkinson, who was born in Toronto, Ont., in 1916, has found the big Derby prize elusive, despite the fact that he has twice led the national jockey standings and he was third in the 1948 riding race. Atkinsons mounts last season earned ,428,278, which figure was second only to Eddie Arcaros ,686,230. Atkinson rode Cold Shower in the 1943 Derby and was unsuccessful astride Lord Boswell in 1946. While the Greentree entry of Capot and Wine List will have a host of backers in the Downs three-year-old classic, Atkinsons mount is not so well regarded by professional handicappers. However, the canny Greentree rider has a wonderful sense of timing and he has displayed such skill in the saddle that he may finally achieve a Derby triumph astride Capot. Atkinson, an unusually shrewd business man as well as a great rider, is the father of two daughters and makes his home at Queens Village, L. I., N. Y. HEDLEY WOODHOUSE Palestinian Hedley John Woodhouse, 29, was bom in Vancouver, British Columbia. As a young- ster, he earned money during his spare hours after school helping a friend who operated a barber shop. He came under the eye of W. G. Irvine, Vancouver soft -drink king, and an owner who did his own training. Woodhouse, of small stature, had no trouble with his weight. He learned the rudiments of riding from Irvine, and soon became a leading rider on British Columbia tracks. Irvine campaigned in California in other than the summer months, and Woodhouse soon found himself enjoying exceptional success against the best riders that California could muster in competition. He left the employ of Irvine some years ago to free-lance. He moved to Long Island and has been a well known figure on the Metropolitan racing scene for the last several years. Among his more important stakes wins were the Autumn Day Stakes at Empire City which he won twice, with Keynote in 1946 and Grey Flight in 1947, the 5,000 Butler with Lucky Draw in 1946, the 1946 Columbiana at Hialeah with Darby Dunedin, and last years renewal of the 5,000 Gallant Fox Handicap at Jamaica, with Faultless. Woodhouse is known as one of the most scholarly of riders. Off the turf, he is wrapped up in family life and has a daughter, age 3. Woodhouse also has one other claim to fame on the turf, and that is his "suspension" record. He has drawn fewer fines and suspensions and has seen the stewards perhaps the least of any big name rider who has been in the saddle for the comparable number of years. Palestinian is Woodhouses first Kentucky Derby mount. CONN McCREARY Halt Short-legged, barrel-chested Conn Mc-Creary, contract rider for Woodvale Farm stable, is one of the most popular reinsmen in the nation. Born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1921, McCreary began his colorful saddle career in 1939 and during the past nine years he has been affiliated with his present employers. Almost knocked out of the Derby through a mishap while Halt was training, McCreary sustained no serious injuries when he tumbled from the Martin colt during a preparatory drill for Saturdays big race. McCreary has had considerable Derby experience. He was astride Calumet Farms Pensive when that fleet colt won the Downs classic in 1944. He also handled Our Boots, First Pebble and ■Slide Rule in the renewals of the stake. One of McCrearys most notable triumphs was registered in the 1941 Blue Grass Stakes, in which event he piloted Woodvales Blue Pair to a clever accounting over the mighty Whirlaway. The Woodvale reinsman, who enjoys an excellent reputation as a clean rider, is quite a family man and two girls and two boys, ranging in ages from six months to six and one-half years, keep the McCreary St. Louis home moving along at a lively tempo. STEVEN BROOKS Ponder One of the most popular jockeys on the American turf, Steve Brooks was born at McCook. Nebraska, in 1921. After a brilliant display of saddle form during the past two seasons, Brooks became the contract rider for the noted Calumet establishment and recently had the leg up on Coaltown in several of that colts performances. Young Brooks, from a family of six children, began his riding career under the wing of his uncle, Ed Orin, who raced a small string on Western tracks. After two years with Orin, Brooks rode his initial winner on a recognized track, at Shreve-port, La., on November 17, 1938, the only victory he chalked up that particular year. Never a sensational apprentice, Brooks worked his way up from obscurity the past few years and has been one of the nations topflight jockeys for several seasons. Hard riding but clean tactics have earned the western reinsman a reputation with racing officials and patrons for he is an infrequent visitor to the stewards pagoda and, after being fined for an infraction in 1947, the ruling was later rescinded when it was learned that the horse and not Brooks * caused the trouble. m Brooks is no stranger to Churchill Downs patrons, the crack rider won six straight races one afternoon last autumn but in his only Derby try finished sixth on Dixianas Star Reward in 1947. Brooks is married and the father of a lovely daughter. DOUGLAS DODSON Wine List Assigned the mount on Greentree Stables Wine List, Doug Dodson is no stranger to Kentucky racing patrons, for the Canadian-born saddlesmith not only has ridden quite often at Churchill Downs, but at nearby Keeneland as well. Dodson was born in East Burg, Alta., Canada, in 1921, and won his first race on April 2, 1939. Contract rider for Calumet Farm during several past seasons, Dodson rode many of the Warren Wright-owned stars to victories in important stakes. He was the regular rider for Armed when that famed gelding was becoming the greatest money-winning gelding of all time. Dodson rode in three previous Derbys, was second with Pot o Luck in 1945, finished third astride Faultless in 1947, and he was third on My Request last year. During the time that he is not actively engaged at the nations major race courses, Dodson and his wife make their home in the state of Washington. JACK RICHARD Lextown Born at Brush, Colo., in 1918, Jack Richard began his saddle career under the tutelage of George Pringle, who raced a string of horses at Alamo Downs in 1937. Richard rode his first winner astride Rim Fire at the Texas track on January 21, 1937, and, * after he lost his apprentice allowance, con- tinued in the saddle and became one of the better riders at Kentucky, Illinois, Maryland, New York and other major racing centers. During the course of his career, Richard successfully handled such great thoroughbreds as Alsab, Whirlaway, and With Pleasure, who races under the silks of Brolite Farm. Richard and With Pleasure developed into a combination that was so perfect that it beat Calumet Farms fine gelding, Armed, on several occasions. Unmarried, Richard now makes his home at Strasburg, Va., and his mount on Lex-town will mark the first time that he has been up on a Kentucky Derby starter. OVIE SCURLOCK Model Cadet Assigned the mount on Model Cadet, Ovie Scurlock, a member of the riding Scurlock family, was born at Paintsville, Ky., in 1918. Beginning his saddle career in 1936, Scurlock rapidly developed into a first-rate apprentice and rode his first winner on a recognized track the same year. Scurlock, who has never had any great difficulty in keeping down to a suitable weight, has ridden for some of the better stables. Preferring to free lance in order that he might accept stake engagements, Model Cadets pilot was astride Calumet Farms Coaltown at Gulf stream Park last March 19, when the brilliant son of Bull Lea and Easy Lass set a new one mile and one-quarter track record and equaled the worlds record of 1:59%. Scurlock is married, has no children and makes his home at EvansvHle, Ind., when not actively engaged at the races. Two brothers, Don Carlos and Henry E. Scurlock, are still riding. JIMMY JOHN DUFF Senecas Coin Should Senecas Coin start in the Diamond Jubilee Kentucky Derby, Jimmy John Duff, born at Newport, Ky., in 1931, is to have the mount on the Roth homebred colt. A graduate of the Detroit Fair Grounds riding school, Duff has shown occasional flashes of good saddle form, but he has never had much opportunity to 1 perform in higher valued stakes. Duff rode exceptionally well at the Motor City and local track last year where he handled many of the thoroughbreds trained as Harry Trotsek, who annually campaigns a big string. Duff handled 899 mounts in 1948, was successful in 79 of those and his percentage at the end of the year stood at .09. Duffs mounts earned 86,200 last season. Young Duff is single and makes his home at Newport, Ky.
