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â– tit "ffai *im John M. Gaver the elder Gaver, Former School Teacher, Joined Whitney String in 7929 JOHN MILTON GAVER will be saddling his ninth Kentucky Derby starter when he tightens the girth on Greentrees Straight Face. Gaver is a native of Mt. Airy, Md., and now makes his home at Garden City, Long Island. A Princeton alumnus, he taught school in Maryland for a brief time, but thoroughbreds and racing long have been his primary interest. Gaver first became associated with the sport in 1929, when he was appointed agent for the powerful the elder Harry Payne Whitney string by Jimmy Rowe. When James Rowe, Jr., assumed charge of the Greentree horses training, Gaver transferred his allegiance to that establishment, first as agent and since 1939 as its head trainer. The first winner he ever saddled was in a stakes event at Lexington. This was White Tie, who won the Lexington Stakes on October 24 in 1936. White Tie was owned by Mrs. Payne Whitneys daughter, Mrs. Charles S. Payson, and her friend, Mrs. C. McLaughlin. In 1942, Gaver saddled Shut Out and Devil Diver for the Derby, the former proving the winner. In 1944, he trained Stir Up, who was third in the race, and in 1949, Capot, who finished second.
