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*i slip imawW ■ , *"" REX ELLSWORTH REX ELLSWORTH, owner of Swaps, has moved to the top of the list as Californias leading breeder. He stands the sire of Swaps, Khaled, and this son of Hyperion, acquired from Prince Aly "Khan, also is Californias leading sire. Originally from Arizona, where he began his thoroughbred breeding operations, Ellsworth moved his production interests to Chino, Riverside county, California, because of the 10 percent breeders awards which prevail in the Golden State. Ellsworth has made good as an owner and breeder by literally lifting himself up by his own bootstraps. More than 20 years ago, he drove a truck to Kentucky, purchased some horses at depression prices, drove them home, more than 1800 miles. He camped out en route, turning out and tethering his horses for the nights. Prom that foundation s,tock he [ has built steadily, built up a strong band of mares, and year after year has produced running, sturdy, able horses. In late years, more and more have developed into stakes winners. While Swaps is Ellsworths first representative in the Kentucky Derby, he was the breeder of Correspondent, and under terms of the long lease to Gordon GUi-berson, had a 25 percent interest in the horses earnings. So he is not entirely a stranger to the Kentucky Derby, although he personally has seen but one previous Derby running, as a spectator. Ellsworth had the good fortune to be associated with Louis B. Mayer when the movie man had the strongest stud in the West, -operating the cattle fattening part of the Mayer farm operation. In addition to his powerful breeding and racing interests, Ellsworth has taken an active part in West Coast turf affairs, serving on the board of directors of the Del Mar racetrack and on the board of directors of the HBPA as well. W L RANCH Honeys Alibi is the hom de course of HARRY M. WARNER, noted California motion picture executive and one, of the, coasts best known patrons of the turf. Warner has one of the show place farms Jn the San Fernando valley, and stands, among other sires, W. L. Sickle and Stepfather, the two horses which carried his green and white silks in his first Kentucky Derby attempt in 1947, the year of Jet Pilot. Both were unplaced, but both have proven successful in the * stud. Warner entered racing in a major way by purchasing in the Louis B. Mayer dispersals, and that he is in racing to stay was indicated only a few months ago when he flew a planeload of choice broodmares from Ireland to- the California farm. Honeys Alibi is by Alibhai from his great race mare, Honeymoon, and while foaled in California is not technically a California bred, having been conceived in-Kentucky. Honeys Alibi was a maiden at the start of the Santa Anita meeting, but kept on improving with racing to the point that Warner decided the colt was entitled to a Kentucky Derby chance. HARVEY C. FRUEHAUF, owner of Blue Lem, has never before even nominated a thoroughbred for a Kentucky Derby, and while Blue Lem is not one of the favorites, come mud, and he might be dangerous, as witness his bold race to Nashua in the Florida Derby at Gulf stream Park last winter. Fruehauf, a Detroit motor trailer manufacturer, purchased his first thoroughbreds in 1948. His first horse, Jersey Isle, also was his first winner, scoring at Jamaica in New York. Until Blue Lem came along, he considered Precious Stone as his best thoroughbred to race in his ownership. An ardent golfer, Fruehauf slowed up his game several months ago after a mild heart attack. He does not maintain a farm in Kentucky, keeping a modest band of broodmares as boarders at the Crown Crest Farm, Lexington. G. ROLLIE WHITE, owner of Trim Destiny, has never been represented in the Derby before. White is a Texas banker and cattleman, and is a devotee of thor oughbred racing and his alma mater, Texas A and M. He was graduated fr_om that school as a civil engineer. He maintains a vast ranch near his home in Brady, Texas, and He now has 20 mares and two stallions -at the ranch. In 1954, Texas A and M named its largest building, which has a seating capacity of more than 13,000, the G. Rollie White Coliseum. CLIFFORD MOOERS, owner of Nabesna, has had two previous Kentucky Derby starters, Old Rockport, which finished fourth in 1949, and Hawley, who dead-heated for fifth place in 1950. Mooers has had a colorful career, including being a flyer in the World War I, prospecting in Alaska, and developing oil holdings in Texas. Born in California, Mooers grew up in Renton, Washington, near the present Longacres race track. He galloped horses as a youngster in Seattle, and thus it might be said -he has been a lifetime devotee of the thoroughbred. In late years, he has, from time to time, taken a hand in
