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Judges Stand — -By Charles Hatton Nashua Looms Odds-on for 81st Derby Downs Employs Record Mutuels Crew Hancock Recalls Choice, Rival as Foals CHURCHILL DOWNS, May 5.— This 8 1st -Kentucky Derby no longer is a "match" between Nashua and Summer Tan, those two bitter and embattled rivals who have contributed so much to the thrills and the excitements of contemporary racing. There is also Californias Swaps, who is "a runner," and is definitely not the sort either of the big name horses can allow to steal off and breeze on the lead. Then again we expect that Harry Guggenheims entry of the improving Racing Fool, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes, and the Derby Trial winner Flying Fury will have some Support. "Weide" Weidkamp, longtime mutuels manager here at Churchill Downs, will make Nashua the 4 to 5 choice on his program, with Summer Tan 2 to 1 second favorite and Swaps at 6 to 1. He is an uncommonly accurate judge of Derby Day crowd psychology. The Cain Hoy entry will be the fourth choices. Wagering on the big race Saturday will begin, as usual at 9:30 a. m., and the turnover reached its peak in 1952, when a total of ,565,901, was handled on the Derby itself. We can think of many tracks that would settle for that sum as the entire days play. Weidekamp tells us that hejvill have the largest mutuel crew ever on duty this Derby Day, one totalling 1,184. This personnel will include 377 sellers, 47 at the special Derby wagering booths, and 393 cashiers. Youngs Forty-Fourth Classic Renewal Track superintendent Tom Young is decorating the Downs for his 44th Derby, and it could not look more attractive than it does this spring, especially the crim- j son tulips, even though they are victims of the robust winter just passed. Some years ago, Young used to " import "foundation stock" for his tulip beds from Holland. Extraordinarily enough, he now exports tulips to the land of dikes and canals, where they find a ready market. They are exhibited in flower shows, and when they win the blue the mayor of Louisville receives an expense free trip to Holland. Discussing the Derby course proper, Young says that "the weather controls the going. All we can do is to level the track, and we never take any drastic action to circumvent the elements. The footing that is suitable for one horse may prejudice the chances of another, so we just let nature take her course, since they all pay the same fees to run." Young long has been a familiar figure at the Downs, where he began as one of the late Col. Matt Winns maintenance crew. He is a native of York, in England, and next to the Derby the famed St. Leger at Doncaster holds the highest place in his affections. Incidentally, Joe Stevens mother also came from York, so that he and Young never lack for conversation. Racing commissioner A. R. "Bull" Hancock, Jr., is expected from Claiborne this Friday to see his Delta perform in the 81st Kentucky Oaks. He plans to j remain over for the Kentucky Derby, in which he has I a certain vicarious interest, since he reared both Nashua j and his arch rival Summer Tan at Claiborne. "I have a vivid recollection of them as youngsters," the noted breeder says. "Nashua has improved remarkably since he was a foal "and a yearling. He had a hernia, which marred his v appearance, and as a foal showed none of the quality and definition lias has since developed. The men on the farm thought him the least likely to succeed of any of the first American crop by Nas-rullah. I think very probably he will win the Derby. But considering them as youngsters I may as well say at once that Summer Tan was always a more pleasing individual. Except that his dam had produced a couple of platers he would have been even more highly regarded than he was." Hancock notes that the Derby favorite now has a brand new baby half-sister, a filly by the French stallion Ambriorix who was foaled two nights ago. The mare Segula is to be bred this season to Nashuas sire Nasrullah, along with Nashuas staging half-sister Sabette. Bed O Time Roses for Winner Turf ana: "Bed O Times" roses have been ordered for the winners wreath Derby Day. . . . Mischa Tenney literally is living with Swaps, Rex Ellsworths Santa Anita Derby winner. . . . With 10 starters, the Derby will have a gross value of 52,500, netting the winner 08,400. . . . "This colt has never been better than he is these last four days," Sherrill Ward says of Summer Tan. "I do not think anybody will beat him again with a final furlong as slow as that in the Wood Memorial" . . . The largest Derby Day handle was one of ,306,065 back in 1953. . . . Nashua will be the program choice for the Derby. . . The John Hertzes plan coming on from Stoner Creek for-the Saturday classic. . . . Californias Swaps will be the third choice on the program if not in the "tote" machines. . . . Indications are there will be no mutuel field for this Derby. . . . There will be nine more sellers in the Derby wagering line thjs spring . . . Pearl Mesta, "Dear Albin" Barkley, W. E. Boeing, "Happy" Chandler, Andy Crevolin, Eugene Constantin, Judge Dooley, Charley Fisher, Harry Guggenheim, Barney Gimbel, Louis B. Mayer, Gene Mori, J. Samuel Perlman, Don Ross, Dale Shaffer, Hon. Tom Underwood, Seymour Weiss, Jock Whitney, George : Widener, William Woodward Jr., C. V. Whitney, Goy. Wetherby, the Shah of Iran, Cyd Charisse and Pasha Ahmed Abboud are among those expected for the upcoming Derby. « v
