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Connors Corner . By "CHUCK" CONNORS — Chief of Chart Correspondents—— JAMAICA. L. I.. N. Y.. May 3.— It wont be long now, so say the boys and girls of the racing set. and their remarks to the . only subject that is uppermost In the minds and thoughts of residents, tourists, and the turfmen on the back-stretch, the Derby. Track conditions, weather and a few other subjects come in for passing mention along with the names of their choices. At the moment they are as varied as a schoolboys excuse for cutting class. This year, more than ever before, it is a sectional rivalry, with Kentucky and the Middle West relegated to the rear rank. California and New York are for the moment the top sectors, while Virginia battles for its place in the conversations. Back in the olden days, when Washington Parks American Derby was the mecca of racing enthusiasts, this years Derby will to a certain extent be a replica of the glamorous tallyho days. The big difference is that instead of well groomed horses and colorful rigs, the motorized bus takes command. Big Greyhound busses have been chartered by the dozen and these speedy craft will carry visitors I from nearby communities with Lexington leading the way. Leslie Combs II. reported the other day that he has over one hundred guests on the scene or due within the next 24 hours. To accommodate his guests, Combs has chartered a whole fleet of the big cars, with their starting point at Lexington. Luncheon will be served en route and after the running of the event, the guests will head back to Chitlin Switch, Lexington to you. The opening festivity of Derby week was staged Tuesday evening. The locale was the Brown Hotel and the occasion was the dinner tendered to trainers who have a starter in the Derby. The men who condition the starters wereintroduced to the assemblage, spoke their liiece and sat down. No, not one was put on the spot in making a direct prediction, and the sighs of relief could be heard from here to Douglas Park. The trainers proved that should they retire from their profession and, with a little brushing up, this country could turn out a a flock of diplomats who could hold their own with the suave smoothies of other lands. Bill Corum presided while Roscoe Goose acted as master of ceremonies. Benny Fields, the old minstrel man, was called upon for his act and the veteran found a receptive audience . .What will the track be on Saturday? Well, Tom Young, who has been around Churchill Downs for many a Derby looked up at the skies and with his right hand raised heavenward, swore that the girls could wear their finest and forget all about umbrellas and raincoats and bask in warm sunshine, which led one to beleive that it will be fast. He had better find a bombproof shelter should his prediction be wrong. The Right Reverend Monsigneur Francis J. Timoney, known to thousands of racing men as "Father Tim" will miss his first Derby in years. The man of the cloth is in Rome on a Holy Year-mission, but his final act before departing for New York to the boat for Europe, was directed to Joe Stevens, and his words were brief and to the point. "If the men and boys I sent you make a mistake, let me know when I get back." Joe Stevens is well satisfied with the setup for in their years of service as caterers at Churchill Downs, Father Tim supplied thousands of men to fill in on Friday and Saturday. . . Charlie CNeil of Miami, he maintains a breeding farm in Florida and races a well balanced stable, came on from the Sunshine State and his first act was to order two overcoats and three raincoats. . .Governor Earle C. Clements braved the elements to witness the Derby Trial. He was a luncheon guest of Bill Corum before the first race . . Amos Carter, the man who wears the "twenty gallon hats" checked in from Fort Worth, Texas, and immediately declared that his choice was Middleground, "Texas Little Darling". . . W. Langley, a member of the New York State Racing Commission, checked in from Gotham for the main event of the three-year-old season. He will return to the Metropolis on Sunday... Judge James E. Dooley of Narragansctt Park, is en route, and his Derby selection Is a secret . Donald Ross, the man who guides the destiny of Delaware Park, forgot all about his chief mission in life and rued the fact that his colt Greek Song did not stand training for the "Run for the Roses." Dave Woods, whose one ambition in life is to have Iimlico usurp the front pages Continued on Page Thirty-Eight 1 ; I Connors Corner Continued from Page Five. from a worlds big story, is due today. Jack Kelly and Tommy Lyons of Atlantic City deserted the land of bathing beauties and million dollar piers for the most important event on Saturday. . .Mrs. and Mrs. Frank J. Heller, he and Dan OShea race in partnership under the nom de course of the Lester Manor Stable, came on today. Nope they have no Derby selection as yet.. Bob Saxton, ye old time sports scribe who graduated to the stewards stand, will leave tomorrow for Beu-lah Park. . .Thomas Piatt and his son Thomas Carr braved the elements and motored over from their respective farms near Lexington ... Sam J. Look was on hand during: the afternoon and predicted big- things at the next dinner of the Thoroughbred Club of America. . .H. H. "Doc" Mundy from Pawhuska, Okla., made- the pilgrimage. He is interested in cattle, yearlings and a few oil wells... F. N. Phelps survived the journey from Oakland, Calif. He is taking treatments to help his vocal chords in rooting for a substitute for Sturdy One. William M. Goetz of Los Angeles, who is the proud owner of Your Host, will come on from New York tomorrow. He will head a large delegation of rooters. . .Louis B. Mayer is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow from all places on the map, Miami, Fla. California chambers of commerce, please note. Dont be surprised if you see his racing colors back in action in a year or so . . . Tom Simmons, president of the Hollywood Turf Club, is here, and in the market for a heavy overcoat. . .Mrs. Elizabeth Graham, mistress of Maine Chance Farm, came on from New York. Her racing silks will not be seen in this years Derby. . .H. F. Krim-endahl of Indianapolis, whose interests outside of business encompass a directorship in Michigans newest racing venture at Detroit and the ownership of a racing stable, came on today. . . J o e Stevens poring, through a sheaf of requests, nay demands, took time out to remark that despite the weather the Derby Trial crowd was the big-est on record . .Henry H. Knight who can outdo David /Harum, was among the belated rainy day visitors ... Gene Mori, who in addition to Garden State Park at Camden worries over Tanforan, checked in... Phil McGuire of the New York McGuires deserted Jamaica and Broadway for the weekend. Toots Shor and Joe Noonan compared Broadway and Fourth, Louisvilles Rialto, to the roaring Fifties in Old Gotham. You can draw your own conclusions ...Jimmy Sinnott and Johnny Maluvius compared notes during the afternoon and arrived at one conclusion. You must catch Your Host to whip him. The selections for tomorrow at the Downs course are FIRST PAL in the fourth race, RODRIGO in the sixth and MR. JOE PUCK in the eighth.
