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■ —■■—- Turf Personages in Spotlight At Historic Downs Track Today Snapshots of Principals t ♦ Participating in Renewal Of Famed Kentucky Event Continued from Page Forty-One reer at the age of 16. His early experience ■ was gained at nearby Douglas Park, where ! he galloped horses for Odie Clelland. Johnson ■ began riding in auspicious fashion at Dade Park and he was one of the top apprentices to show at the western Kentucky • course. During his long connection i with the race-riding profession, Johnson i has been forced to hustle against increasing poundage and gave up riding during ! the war years. He came back to the saddle ! to show excellent form. Johnsons last ; Derby mount was in 1946 when he handled [ Kendor for Mrs. Denzil Hollingsworth. * . Seventh Try for Johnny Adams; ■ Free Lance Throughout Career JOHNNY ADAMS is known as the . "mighty mite" from Iola, Kan. He is famed in riding circles for being one of the ■ —■■—- few few jockeys jockeys who who ever ever Johnny Johnny Adams Adams few few jockeys jockeys who who ever ever made good without riding with an apprentice allowance. Adams has consistently refused to sign a contract with anyone, figuring his word was his bond, and good enough. It has so been. When Adams showed up at old Riverside Park in Kansas City and asked , I for a license, he was 3 advised advised by by officials officials 5 Johnny Johnny Adams Adams advised advised by by officials officials 5 that he never would make it as a rider unless he apprenticed himself to someone. Adams refused. He not only rode well at I Kansas City, but went from there to Seattle . to become the leading rider at Long-acres. . Adams, a free lance throughout his long r career, has ridden in six previous Derbys, but the best luck he ever enjoyed was in 1943, when he finished second with Blue ; Swords. He was leading American rider r for three years, in 1937 with 260 winners, in 1942, with 245 winners, and again in i 1943 with 228 winners. ■ • Batcheller, Missouri Native, Brought Out by Paul Kelley LOGAN BATCHELLER, born in Azusa, Calif., in 1929, moved as a youngster with ■ his family to Missouri, 90 miles from Kansas City. Ben ■ , „„ . . .;,.,_| Walters, who was asso- * 4 ciated with the Paul jry Kelley Stable, bought a JS/ farm near the lads Hr-home, noted Batchel- L aSL lers size and 85 *** pounds, recommended *JI I F * him to Kelley as a po- ! mlt tential rider. Logan Pallia joined the Kelley es- Brt. tablishment in 19 4 6 . 1~ and did his preliminary / :.:and../ m "h o t walking" tack, cleaning and other Logon Batcheller stable tasks before accepting mounts during the 1947-1948 Florida season. "Nobody seemed to know I was at Hialeah or Tropical," says Logan. On the fourth day of the e Arlington meeting of 1948 — June 24 — he handled his first winner, Dry Belt. Batcheller has never ridden in the Kentucky Derby ; before. Last year he rode in 1,014 races, won 118, was 128 times second, and 126 ;6 times third. His mounts earned 49,825. ♦ ■ Arcaro Riding in His Twelfth Derby; Seeking Fifth Success EDDIE ARCARO is so well known as a rider to the American racing public that j any additional stories about him would d seem like "gilding the lily." The boy took t ♦ ■ ! ■ • i i ! ! ; [ ■ . : ■ a whole book, "I Ride to Win," to relate his life story, said story, incidentally, being far from complete. However, for the records of this seventy-seventh Derby, it might be advisable to mention that he has handled four Derby winners in 12 efforts. He is on Battle Morn today. Arcaro has ridden in more Derbies than any other rider, with the single exception of Mack Garner, who competed in 14. Arcaro, inci-! dentally, has usually been right close with his mounts even when beaten. His two worst years were in 1942 with Devil Diver, which finished sixth to his stablemate, Shut Out, and in 1949, when he also finished sixth with Olympia. Other than that he has never been worse than fourth. Last year, of course, he was second with Hill Prince. ■ ♦ Ken Churchs Amazing Vitality Enables Him to Ride Today KEN CHURCH, one of Americas more brilliant riders, is riding in the seventy- seventh running Of the Kentucky Derby on , I Ken *en Church Church what might be termed a "rain check." Church was injured at Keene-land when a horse reared up in the gate, and boy and horse hit their heads together. Needless to say the horse had the best of the encounter, and Church suffered a concussion. However, his youth and vitality enabled him to recuperate perate with with a a speed speed , I 3 5 I . . r ; r i ■ Ken *en Church Church perate with with a a speed speed which amazed the doctors, and he resumed riding early in the Churchill Downs meet-. ing. He will ride Bernwood and it will be the second effort of Church in the Derby. Last year he was astride Oil Capitol, which dead-heated with Hawley for fifth place. Last year Church rode 231 winners, which landed him fifth on the national standings and he was eighth in the roster of stakes-winning pilots. A native of Windsor, Cana-J da, Church is a development of a master in teaching riding skills, Harry Trotsek. Church won the plaudits of the entire sporting world last year when he saved jockey Wendell Eads from what might have been a fatal fall in a Chicago race. ♦ Old Reliable McCreary Has Fifth Mount in Derby Today CONN McCREARY is one of the old re- liables of saddledom and is an old hand at Derby competition. He has ridden in five Derbys to date, and has won one of them, with Calumet Farms Pensive in 1944. He finished third in 1943 with Slide Rule. McCreary is extremely short, but has powerful shoulders and arms and is of much help to a horse at any stage of a race. He is adept at rating, and many of his victories have been won with stretch drives that "paid off" at the last minute. ■ • McLean, Pilot of Repetoire Riding in His First Derby PETER F. McLEAN, pilot of Repetoire, is riding in his first Kentucky Derby and make the best of his opportunity. McLean has been engaged for Derby horses before, but for some reason or another, the horses failed to get to the post. Although a native of Bel Air, Md., McLean started his racing career in California under the tutelage of Charles Shaw, trainer for Cedar Farms. He was out of the saddle for a long spell be- that and came back "better than ever." He got the mount on Repetoire through a curious circumstance. He laid up last winter, moved into a place near Bowie, and got the job of galloping the Mikell colt, who was being freshened up there because Continued on Page Forty -Six .. . . . -% V ■■■■. ■■•■■■■■iW . n .. ., n Turf Personages in Spotlight At Historic Downs Track Today Snapshots of Principals Participating in Renewal Of Famed Kentucky Event Continued from Page Forty-Three of a slight injury and in consequence missing the Florida season. Trainer Al Jensen remarked that McLean seemed to fit the horse perfectly and when Repetoire made his seasonal debut as a three-year-old McLean was in the irons. Jensen thought so highly of McLeans skill that he used the boy to ride in the Experimental even though this meant carrying three pounds overweight. McLean did not let him down. McLean, incidentally, has ridden Repetoire in all his four stakes victories this spring, in as many starts, it might be added. ♦ Bill Boland Rode Last Years Winner When Still Apprentice BILL BOLAND, born April 16, 1932, at Corpus Christi, Texas, began riding his fathers quarter horses at an early age. .. . . . Prior Prior to to donning donning silks silks Bill Bill Boland Boland Prior Prior to to donning donning silks silks young Boland galloped horses for Max Hirsch, serving in that capacity for almost five years. He rode his first winner at Belmont Park, May 13, 1949, his mount Safe Arrival, was his fourteenth. Boland won his first stakes race April 29, 1950, piloting Better Self in the Fallant Fox Handicap. Handicap. Hirsch Hirsch then then Bill Bill Boland Boland Handicap. Handicap. Hirsch Hirsch then then said of Boland that the lad had unusual ability. The Texas -born reinsman was the second apprentice to ride a Derby winner, Middleground taking down the roses last spring under the youngsters smooth handling. Boland also rode the winner of the 1950 Kentucky Oaks, hustling home in front with J. J. Hauers Aris Mona. Ira Hanford, who rode Middlegrounds sire, Bold Venture, in the 1936 running of the Derby, was the first apprentice to win such laurels. Boland was eighth among the money-winning jockeys for the 1950 season, his charges earning 38,128. He will be up on Sonic today. • Brooks Rode Calumet Farms Ponder in 1949 Renewal STEVE BROOKS, 30, is a native of Mc-Cook, Nebr., and broke into the riding game on the small midwest tracks, piloting horses owned by his uncle, Ed Orrin. Brooks rode his first winner at Shreve-port, La., November 17, 1938, on Coventry Cup. On May 15, 1948, the heady and hustling saddle star piloted six winners at Churchill Downs. Brooks, who is under contract to Calumet Farm, is no stranger to Kentucky Derby competition. He won with Calumets Ponder in 1949, finished sixth with Star Reward in 1947 and he was eleventh with Dooly in the 1950 renewal of the great race. Brooks will ride at Chi- cago and New York tracks for Calumet during the balance of the 1951 season. • Atkinson Will Be on Greentree Colt in Quest of First Success TED "THE SLASHER" ATKINSON will be making his fourth appearance on a Derby mount this year when he rides either Hall Hall of of Fame Fame or or Big Big Hall Hall of of Fame Fame or or Big Big Stretch for Greentree Stable, his contract employer. After finishing far back with Cold Shower in 1943 and Perfect Bahram in 1946, the Canadian-born veteran finished second with Capot in 1949. Atkinson has been riding in the best form of his career, which got a belated start start when when he he was was al- al- Ted ,e* Atkinson AtKmson start start when when he he was was al- al- Ted ,e* Atkinson AtKmson most 21 years old in 1936 and is currently leading the Jamaica jockeys by a wide : margin. This has been something of a , comeback for Atkinson, who rode under a serious mental and physical handicap at Hialeah last year when his five-year-old 1 son, John, was seriously injured by a truck. While young John was waging a life and death battle at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Ted was spending most of his time either at his sons bedside or in the saddle, which didnt improve his riding, though it apparently did the more important thing, aided in his sons recovery. ♦ Ray York, Only 79, Has Been Around Almost Entire World RAY YORK Phil D., is the youngest jockey in the Kentucky Derby field, a mere 19. Yet he is a veteran in a sense, for he has been around about three-quarters of the globe, has attended school in such towns as Manila, Tokyo and Samoa. His. parents are Navy people, and they took young Raymond with them on their many tours of duty. Last year York was the 21st ranking American rider in number of winners, having 137 scores in 985 mounts. He no doubt would have done better but-for two accidents, slight ones, which kept him inactive for a spell. York is a product of California tracks and Caliente in Mexico. He is smooth tempered, is not talkative and rides with a quiet assurance of a boy who has confidence in both himself and his horses. York was flown to Kentucky especially to ride Phil D. because the stable was so satisfied with his work in California ♦ Raymond Adair, Mamelukes Jockey, Riding Since 7 936 RAYMOND ADAIR, born July 19, 1917, is a native of Pine, Ariz., and he started i riding in 1936 at Agua Caliente. Adair was successful with a plated named Gaul in his first appearance in silks. Adair, who is married, now makes his home in Miami, Fla. He will be making his first try at Derby honors since handling No Wrinkles in the 1943 renewal of the big stakes. Adair : , displayed sterling horsemanship at Keene-land when he guided Mameluke to victory. In that race one of his stirrup webbings broke and he then slipped his other boot out of the iron, hand rode his mount cleverly and won an upset decision on Mameluke. ♦ ■ King Clovers Pilot Hails From Out Oklahoma Way FRANKIE BONE, who will ride King Clover, like so many other race riders, is a graduate of quarter horse racing. The 17-year-old lad began his career around his home town of Kreds, Okla., from the time he was 10 until he began handling thoroughbreds for Art Dishong in 1948. He rode his first winner at Randall Park, Cleveland, in 1949, and 15 mounts later was successful in achieving his first victory. Last year was Bones best. Until August he was leading American rider with more than 200 winners, then was sidelined as a result of a fall and reached the end of the season with 258 victorious mounts. ♦ Riding in Derbys Nothing New for Douglas Dodson * Greentree Stable is going all-Canadian in its quest of jockeys»in this years Derby, having engaged DOUG DODSON to supple- ment the services of contract rider Ted At- kinson. Dodson will guide either Hall of Fame or Big Stretch and neither colt can be considered exactly "second string." Dodson rode Wine List for Greentree two years ago and finished far back, while Capot was being hustled into second place by Atkinson, while Calumet Farms Ponder was winning the race under Steve Brooks. Dodson came a little closer last year, finishing third on Mr. Trouble for C. V. Whitney. • Bailey Began Riding While Working in Coast Shipyard PAUL J. B ATT .FY, age 27, was born on a farm near Buffalo, Ky., approximately 65 miles from Churchill Downs. He is married, Tied, has has a a daughter, daughter, ■■■■. ■■•■■■■■iW . n .. ., n Tied, has has a a daughter, daughter, Patsy, born April 12, this year. He calls Chicago, HI., his home. Bailey started riding about five years ago while working in a shipyard in California, and made his debut on the county fair tracks. He weighs in at 110 and does not have to make the trip to the sweat box. He He was was among among the the «»«" Paul J. • Bailey »«» * He He was was among among the the «»«" Paul J. • Bailey »«» * leading riders in Canada in 1947 and 1948 and was second leading rider at Hawthorne last fall. Riding 43 winners out of 219 mounts at New Orleans this winter, placed him in third spot among the reinsmen.
