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i i »« ib— — ——n si |i | [ M | | [I I ♦ I t iiimimi iii-iiipsaMwagB SOEM jjH Sir % *d Hi Wt : HI kHSHH ■■■! H EH.. 1;HHh RR Hs I B ■TOIStoi isM l i H HI 1 ~ * F •* l • _ ■« „ : I / In Churchill Downs Spotlight Today Owners, Jockeys ♦ In Kentucky Derby Snapshots of Principals Participating in Renewal Of Famed Kentucky Event MR. AND MRS. EMIL DENEMARK are well known in midwest racing circles, their colors being consistently carried by high- i i »« class class thoroughbreds, thoroughbreds, Mrs. Emit Denemark Combs Bears Famous Name In Racing, Breeding World BROWNELL COMBS bears one of the I most illustrious of names in the thoroughbred world. He has been breeding and racing - ing horses horses since since 1920. 1920. ib— — ——n ing horses horses since since 1920. 1920. His mother was a daughter of Daniel Swigert, once manager of R. A. Alexanders Woodburn Stud and later owner of Elmen-dorf. While Swigert was at Woodburn, five Derby winners were produced there. Today, Combs brother Lucas B. Combs and his nephew, Leslie Combs II., II., are arje prominent prominent in in class class thoroughbreds, thoroughbreds, although, oddly, this is the first time they have ever had a Derby starter. "Ive always named horses for the Derby," says Dene-mark, "but never before have I thought I had a horse good enough to start in one. A stroke of ill fortune precluded the Dene-mark silks being carried in the Derbv last t year. The Chicagoans owned one of the outstanding juveniles of the year before, Curtice, but he was lost in a tragic stable fire, with other thoroughbreds, at* the Denemark farm near Hinsdale, 111. The Denemarks have two thoroughbred establishments, the 80 acres in Illinois, and a training grounds at Hot Springs, Ark., near the race track. The Denemarks race sparingly, if at all, during the winter, pref erring to freshen up their stock at Hot Springs, which Denemark describes as being ideal for such purposes, because of a fine winter climate and excellent water. While the Denemarks breed a few thoroughbreds, - they rely chiefly upon purchases - at yearling sales to keep their stable replenished with racers. Ruhe, obtained i at ,500, is the stables Derby hope today. . The horses name is pronounced "Roo." • ■ Browne// Browne// Combs Combs II., II., are arje prominent prominent in in Browne// Browne// Combs Combs Blue Grass thoroughbred production. While a breeder of many outstanding g thoroughbreds, Brownell Combs will be »e starting his first Derby candidate in Bern-wood. i- i- He has been particularly successful ll in the development of fillies, one being the te great Sweetheart, a top stake mare and d dam of Case Ace. In 1925 he purchased d BEr A. JONES and EDDIE ARCARO, who are seeking their sixth and fifth victories in the Derby, respectively. Jones saddles Calumets Fanfare and Arcaro rides Cain Hoy Stables Battle Morn. - - - i . Frizeur, great grandam of Bernwood, from John E. Madden. While owned by Mad-e den, Frizeur* had produced Janet Blair, dam of Heather Broom third in Kentucky Derby and sire of Uncle Miltie and Black Curl, grandam of Jet Pilot, winner of the 1947 Kentucky Derby. For Combs, Frizeur produced the stake winners Pairbypair, Crowning Glory and the great race mare and producer, Myrtlewood. ♦ I - si |i | [ M Brother and Sister Uphold Greentree Stable Traditions Greentree is the nom de course of John Hay "Jock" Whitney and his sister, Mrs. Charles Shipman Payson, who, until the death death of of their their mother, mother, _ [ M | | [I I g be »e i- i- death death of of their their mother, mother, Mrs. H. P. Whitney, operated separate breeding and racing establishments, but who since have oper-» ated jointly as Green-I tree Stud and Green-•! tree Stable. Greentree, when owned by Mrs. Whitney, won the Kentucky Derby twice, in 1931 Twenty Grand setting a new track record record for for the the race, race, J. ■*• H. "• Whitney Whitney i- i- ll te d d record record for for the the race, race, J. ■*• H. "• Whitney Whitney 2:0iy5. and Shut Out scoring in 1942. The silks were first carried in the Derby in 1922 when Letterman ran sixth. The pres- ent Greentree Stable has had two starters, Capot being second in 1949, and his stable-mate, Wine List, thirteenth. Greentree Farm is one of the best known places in Kentucky. It is located six miles north of Lexington on the Paris Pike, adjoining " the C. V. Whitney farm, and is across the road from Elmendorf. Among the stallions there are Bimelech, who was . second in the 1940 Derby; Swing and Sway, the Derby winner Shut Out, and Amphitheatre. _ Names of Calumet Farm And Derby Are Synonymous MRS. WARREN WRIGHT, widow of the ie late master of Calumet Farm, Warren n Wright, is continuing the operation of the fabulous thoroughbred nursery and its i- active racing stable. Fanfare, the Trial winner, is the stables hope today. The ie Calumet Farm silks have been most prominent _ on the American turf and horses carrying .. the devil red and blue colors led the money-winning columns in 1943, 1944, 1946, 5 1947, 1948 and 1949. Last year, Calumet »j was dropped from the top slot by Brook- Some Are Making Debut in Classic Others Have Gone Through It Before, but to All It Is Pulsating Experience meade Stable. When Ponder won the 1949 running of the Kentucky Derby, Calumet matched the record of the late Col. E. R. Bradley, whose silks were successful in the great race on four occasions. Calumets other Derby winners were Pensive, Citation and Whirlaway. The latter pair was rated among the all-time great thoroughbreds and Citation is still actively campaigning in an attempt to reach a million dollar purse earnings goal. Other horses who represented the Wrights in the Derby were Nellie Flag, Bull Lea, Pot OLuck and Faultless. « . Three Whitney Generations Associated With Big Events CORNELIUS V. WHITNEY is making his fifth try for a Kentucky Derby this year and perhaps this fifth try will be successful - " as Mameluke is considered one of the solid factors in this, the 77th running of the great three-year-old classic. Phalanx, owned in partnership with Abe Hewitt, was a stoutly- finishing second in 1947. Whitneys other starters included Mr. Trouble and Dooley last year, who ran third and 11th, re- sDectivelv: spectively; Todav. Today, 12th 12th C. C. V. V. Whitney Whitney " . _ ie n its i- ie _ .. 5 »j sDectivelv: spectively; Todav. Today, 12th 12th C. C. V. V. Whitney Whitney in 1935, and Jeep, fifth in 1945. Whitney is the third generation of his family to maintain the traditions of the turf in a glorious manner. His grandfather, W. C. Whitney, was the first of the family to keep thoroughbreds in Kentucky. His father, H. P. Whitney, bred and owned two winners of the Kentucky Derby, Regret, the only filly ever to win it, and Whiskery, winner in 1927. H. P. Whitney also owned Upset, second in 1920; Prudery, third in 1921, the dam of Whisk-ie ery and Equipoise, who was entered in 1931 but who did not start. Among the stallions that stood at the Whitney farm and helped make it world famous were Broomstick, Pennant, Peter Pan, Whisk Broom II., Equipoise and Boo-ie jum. Between them, or together, C. V. Whitney and his father led American breeders 11 times, nine years in succession, Continued on Page Thirty-Nine - i —— —— — ___ ___u —■— — — . Turf Personages in Spotlight At Historic Downs Track Today Snapshots of Principals ♦ Participating in Renewal Of Famed Kentucky Event Continued from Page Nineteen between 1924 and 1938. C. V. Whitney served as a colonel in World War II. and resigned a litte more than a year ago as | in President Trumans an undersecretary cabinet. The C. V. Whitney farm near Lexington is today one of the show places of Kentucky. It consists of approximately 1,000 acres, houses some 40 broodmares and the stallions Mahmoud, Phalanx, Burg-El-Arab, Black Majesty and Carrier Pigeon. « . Battle Morn Carries Colors of Breeder, Harry F. Guggenheim HARRY F. GUGGENHEIM is both the ! owner and breeder of Battle Morn. . Guggenheim keeps many of his mares at i —— —— — - Claiborne Claiborne Farm, Farm, where where e Harry F. Guggenheim Claiborne Claiborne Farm, Farm, where where e Battle Morn was foaled. He races under the g nom de course of the e Cain Hoy Stables. In a . addition to breeding, he has been a liberal j purchaser at the yearling sales, both in Kentucky and at Saratoga. Guggenheim originally raced his stable under r the stable name of f Falaise, and these silks s were seen for the first t time at Jamaica in April of 1936. The name a of the two-year-old colt to wear them was I Nebraska City. The colt won in June at t Aqueduct. Good Morning, the dam of Battle E Morn, was one of the best horses in his s stable in 1942. Guggenheim lives in New v York, but his business interests in America j are far flung. J. GRAHAM BROWN, prominent Louisville . turfman and business executive, has s two horses entered in todays Derby. The e Gink, who drew the rail position, and Snuzzle, who will break from No. 16 position, if he starts. Brown, who maintains s the Brown Hotel in downtown Louisville e and who has been in racing for several I years, as yet never has had a starter in i the "Run for the Roses." Brown maintains s the Brown Hotel Farm, near Louisville, j, and the stallion, Seven Hearts, perhaps s the best horse to carry his colors, stands s at the 451 -acre nursery. Brown retired d temporarily from racing several years ago, , but came back in 1937 and has maintained a stable ever since. Brown owns the three-year-old- - filly, Juliets Nurse, who was en- ♦ tered in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs yesterday. | Texan Liberal Purchaser Of Thoroughbred Yearlings SAMUEL E. WILSON, JR., of Corpus Christi, Texas, is a comparative newcomer to the ranks of thoroughbred owners, but, —■— — ___ ___u since since his his entry entry in in 1948, 1948, ! S. f . Wilson, Jr. since since his his entry entry in in 1948, 1948, he has been a liberal purchaser of stock, and, within the last two years, has acquired some broodmares and is now a breeder. He obtained his first thoroughbreds privately in Chicago, but in 1949 he attended the Keene-land yearling sales, buying 13 yearlings for 00,300. Only three buyers at that vendue . e g e a . j spent more money than Wilson, and Wil-l son was only ,200 short of topping the market. This year marks the first time that Wil- son has had a three-year-old of Derby calibre in Royal Mustang. His stable has been successful because he has been willing to pay a good price for a good prospect. He paid 2,000 for Royal Mustang as a yearling. His greatest success in winning races has occurred during the last six months. Wilson is in the oil and real estate business in Texas. r f s t a I t E s v j . s e s e I i s j, s s d , - King Ranch Owner Has Done . Well in Americas Big 9 Race ROBERT KLEBERG, JR., owner of the fabulous King Ranch, has been in racing and breeding some 16 years, not a long time judged by thoroughbred standards, but nevertheless he has made the name "King Ranch" known throughout the world and has had two Derby winners, Assault in 1946 and Middleground last year. His "running W" brand was carried in the Derby for the first time in 1941 by Dispose, who was sixth. One of the first really suc-3 cessful thoroughbred performers to cam-_ paign in the King Ranch silks was Split Second, who, upon her retirement to the farm, became the dam of Sonic, the farms Derby starter today. Kleberg is well known not only as a breeder of thoroughbreds but also for his quarter horse and cattle production. The cattle population of the King Ranch in Texas is estimated at 125,000, and some say that Kleberg owns more real estate than any other American. The ranch em-d braces more than three-quarters of a million acres. Kleberg now centers his thoroughbred breeding activity in Kentucky, having par- i chased a portion of the old Idle Hour Stock Farm of the late Col. E. R. Bradley. Most of his thoroughbreds, however, are shipped to Texas after weaning, and are broken and trained there. The Kleberg foundation stock of broodmares was acquired in 1935. King Ranch has started four horses in all in the Derby, On the Mark being unplaced behind his stablemate, Middle -ground. Two Derby winners in four starters is an enviable record in the big classic. Peavey Will Be on Hand to See Horses Run in This Renewal WILLIAM M. PEAVEY, of Ladysmith. Wis., has been in racing about seven years. He was represented by Jett-Jett in the 1947 Kentucky Derby but did not have a starter again until this year, although his Wisconsin Boy was nominated for the 1950 renewal. Peavey, who operates a large paper mill in his home city, Ladysjnith, was unable to see Jett-Jett run in the Derby, due to the press of business. This year his three-year-olds, Anyoldtime and Sir Bee Bum, were both winners circle visitors at the recent Keeneland meeting and he hopes to see his horses run in the Derby and on Illinois tracks. Buys Yearling Colt on Whim And Gets Classic Contender W. C. MARTIN is a bluff and affable rancher from Stratford, Texas, a small town in the Texas Panhandle not far from Amarillo. He has about 15,000 acres, of which some 4,000 are in wheat, with the remainder given over to cattle grazing. Like most Texas ranchers, Martin is extremely fond of horses, and he has been racing about eight years, but of that racing most of it was of the quarter horse variety. He went to Keeneland two years ago for the first time and, on a whim, bid on the inbred colt later to be named Phil D. He got the colt for ,500. With this horse, who showed some promise in training, Martin went to the] inaugural meeting at Denvers Centennial L Park, where Phil D. won in the best company. In fact, he did so well that Martin decided on a campaign in California, where Phil D. became a stake winner. The Louisville meeting marks the first time Martin Phil D. has fired his enthusiasm to make has raced that far east. Lady Luck Smiles Broadly On Ex-Restaurateur Amiel J. J. AMIEL, of New York, is another fortunate turfman in having a Kentucky Derby starter, for he has been in racing — . only only a a few few years. years. He He J. j. J. j. Amiel Amiel only only a a few few years. years. He He is engaged in the real estate business in New York, and he also operates the Turf Restaurant at 48th Street and Broadway. Amiel came up in the business world the hard way, selling soda pop at the ball parks. He parlayed that experience into the restaurant. During the Worlds Worlds Fair Fair at at Flush Flush - J. j. J. j. Amiel Amiel Worlds Worlds Fair Fair at at Flush Flush - ing, L. I., he ran three of the biggest "eateries" on the grounds. During the winter, Amiel makes a practice of hiring out-of-work racetrackers at the restaurant. He is one of Broadways best known and liked citizens. His first thoroughbred was a colt called Turf R, who won races. Count Turf was acquired by Amiel at the Saratoga sales for ,700. The horse was quite a traveler before being bid in by Amiel, having been foaled at Stoner Creek, in Kentucky, and then, after being weaned, was sent to California to grow up. The colt was then reshipped to Saratoga Springs for the sale. ■ V • REUBEN KOWALL will be starting his first thoroughbred in the Kentucky Derby Continued on Page Forty-One