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JG£f -** B E T W E E N R A C E S *«*** "s CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 7. — The breeding theories of John D. Hertz may be credited with producing Count Turf, the winner, and in a manner most convincing, of Saturdays seventy-seventh Kentucky Derby. Count Turfs breeder is Dr. Frank Porter Miller, of of Riverside, Riverside, Calif., Calif., a a student student of of and and of of Riverside, Riverside, Calif., Calif., a a student student of of and and a firm believer in the Hertz theories, inscluding some of his best known points, the doubling of gray blood, the rotation of stock between Kentucky and California, but perhaps more important, the insistence upon the presence of some degree of speed in the immediate ancestors. In this last respect, Count Turf is bred almost exactly like his sire, Count Fleet, from stout and determined stock on the top, and from sheer speed on the bottom. Count Fleet was by Reigh Count, a stayer as evinced not only by his victory in the Kentucky Derby and other important American stake races, but also in the Coronation Cup in England. But Count Fleets dam, Quickly, was so fast that it is a wonder she was able to keep her feet from flying out from under her. It was this combination that produced not a mere Triple Crown winner, but a horse who has been rated as one of the three greats of modern American racing, Man o War, Citation — and Count Fleet. It was this example which led Dr. Miller to breed Delmarie, a smart horse up to seven-eighths of a mile to Count Fleet. AAA "You can usually teach speed to stay with proper training," Hertz has often commented, "but you cant make anything of a plodder. And inasmuch as racing is primarily a contest of speed, it is essential that some speed be available in the blood if you are seeking to John Hertz Theories Produce Derby Winner Count Turf Bred to His Speed Hypothesis Class on Top Line, Bottom of Speed, Works Amiel Colt Reared in Sunny California produce stakes winners." It is for this reason that Hertz has often doubled, and sometimes redoubled speed, which is especially apparant in the so called gray blood, but after a certain degree of fineness is attained, a bold out-cross is then made in the line. So far, the results of this theory have proven successful at Stoner Creek and year after year the farm produces an astounding percentage of stakes winners. Count Turf, incidentally, was foaled at Stoner Creek. Dr. Miller sending the mare there to the court of Count Fleet, and Hertz allowed his friend to board the mare at the Amarillo place while Dr. Miller was arranging the details to take possession, on lease, of a portion of the old Runnymede Farm. One of the classic examples of speed converted to distance, by proper training, came about with another Count Fleet out in California, a horse named Be Fleet. This fellow was used to going about six furlongs, and was dropped into comparatively cheap company, but not until tried a distance did he come into his own, winning in impressive manner the mile and six furlongs 0,000 added San Juan Capis-trano Stakes at Santa Anita. This is a grueling test, and was bitterly fought, but Be Fleet demonstrated extreme courage in rallying near the end to win going away. AAA Count Turfs career also included the Hertz theory of rotation, a plan which has found scant support in this country, but which in some other countries, notably, in Germany and Italy, is in high favor. Hertz, as does Dr. Miller, maintains two places, one in Kentucky and the other in California. While Hertz rotates only a percentage of his mares, usually for a two-year stay in the West, Dr. Miller keeps his mares in Kentucky, but sends all his weanlings to California as may be stunted in growth or retarded through illness, or by reason of other factors, feeling that they will develop faster in the year-round sunshine, and, perhaps even more important, year-round green grass which is available In California. While Hertz selected the upper reaches of the San Fernando Valley for Amarillo Ranch, Dr. Miller preferred the uplands of Riverside County, near the City of Riverside. Both places have two things in common, however, an absolute lack of smog. The Riverside area is widely known as a tuberculosis recuperative area ecause it is high, dry, and has very little humidity. Dr. Miller is a specialist in respitory diseases, has a hospital located not far from his farm, and feels that what is good for man also is perhaps good for beasts. He might have something, at that. AAA Considering the size of the field, the Derby was sf cleanly and truly run race. No horse, so far as we could see, encountered enough trouble at any stage to materially alter the outcome of the event. Credit here should go to the riders, and to the stewards. "Weve never had a disqualification in the Kentucky Derby," observes presiding steward Sam McMeekin. "But any idea that we wouldnt disqualify is erroneous. We would disqualify as quickly in the Kentucky Derby as in any other race, stake or not. Naturally, we always are gratified to have a clean Derby, as the eyes of the world are upon us." AAA Horses and People: Phil D., in running fourth, scored a moral victory for Colorado. At last report, we under-Continued on Page Forty-Three , BETWEEN RACES By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty-Four stand that Phil D. is shipping to Omaha, but wont race there, but will be given a light blister and then brought up for stake events at Centennial Park, and after that will return to California, the scene of his greatest stakes triumphs. . . While Repetoire did not exactly step on his pedigree, as many predicted, he did run a smashing nine furlongs, was prominent to well past the eighth pole . . . Dr. Frank Porter Biller, breeder of Count Turf, is prominent in another field of sports. He is a well known judge of dog shows. The man judged a show in Chicago last week, came to Kentucky to inspect farms near Lexington and Paris, but did not stay for the Derby running. His patients in California make it imperative that while he makes many trips to judge dogs, he keeps said trips short . It has been mentioned, but the John Hertz are more than pleased over the precedent that Count Turf set in the Derby in that he is the first horse whose sire and grandsire won the blue ribbon sophomore classic of the American turf, the Derby . . And even though Princess Rita was adjudged the best two-year-old filly of the year at Santa Anita, the man does not consider that a true test of a sire, hence he is anxiously awaiting the opening of the Hollywood Park meeting next Friday to see how the get of Count Speed, the full brother of Count Fleet, do at the races. Count Speeds first crop attained racing age the first of the year, but only a few, including Princess Rita, have reached the races, and three-furlong straightaway dashes, while an indication, are not of necessity a conclusive test.
