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I :,...__„ . — ME_jHlL_iH Preston Burch Has Bold1 Contender; Is Known as a Horsemans Horseman Brookmeade Conditioner Has* Given Many Trainers Their Start; Headed List in 1950 PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md„ May 18.— Preston M. Burch, who bears one of the great names in American thoroughbred I :,...__„ . — circles, circles, is is in in the the f ortu- circles, circles, is is in in the the f ortu- fortunate position thisyear in having a "bokTcoh-tender for the jubilee running of the Preakness, a three-year-old called Bold. Burchs chances of winning the classic are the brightest ever, for Bold is one of the pre-race favorites. Burch led led the the list list of of American American ME_jHlL_iH led led the the list list of of American American Preston Burch money-winning trainers last year, his record embracing 100 winners, 94 seconds and 61 thirds, and earnings of 51,399. Burch is a horsemans horseman. During his career of almost 50 years on the turf, he not only has developed almost countless numbers of good horses, but scores of trainers. He has taken the time to teach young men with a knack for training, and passes on to the younger generation his experience and skill in the inexact science. Many trainers today, when asked by newswriters to explain their success, say with more than a degree of pride, "1 once was with Preston Burch." The traditions of the thoroughbred are inherent in the Burch family. Prestons father, William P. Burch, was a South Carolinian, who, born in 1846, he rode his own thoroughbred mare in the Confederate cavalry. The elder Burch later became a trainer, and conditioned many top thoroughbreds of his time. Preston Burch followed in the fathers footsteps and saddled his first winner, in his own right, at Gravesend in 1902. He has etched him name in the annals of American racing since, climaxing his career when he became the leading money-winning American trainer last year. Burch had much experience abroad. When, in 1910, New York racing headed into a blackout, he went to Prance, and plied his profession there until the outbreak of World War I., when he returned to this country.. It was then that his genius as a conditioner began to assert itself. He took over the famed Nevada Stock Farm stable of George Wingfield, Reno miner and banker, and developed it into one of the most successful in the nation. Burch took over his present post with Brookmeade in 1944, and since then has r trained such well-known campaigners as ; Great Admiral, Atlanta, Sunglow, Greek Ship, Going Away, Dart By, More Sun," Liberty Road and Master Bid, to mention only a few. Last season, Greek Ship was his top winner.
