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River Downs By W. A. Cruse Lucas Provides Some Family Background Ship Citation Miss for Arlington Lassie Figures Show Uptrend in Monday Handles RIVER DOWNS, California, Ohio, June 28. Weve enjoyed receiving all sorts of mail but one of my greatest pleasures was a communique from a Mr. John E. Lucas of Riverside, HI., this past week. Needless to say, the letter was a compliment about the River Downs column and the parts which induced Mr. Lucas to send the letter regarding the famed outrider, Joe Moran, the aged campaigner, Circus Clown and the rider, W: D. Lucas. Mr. Lucas, who is W. D. Lucas older brother, went on to fill in a great deal of interesting background regarding- one of the pioneer families in recognized racing circles and with his permission, shall refer to part of one paragraph. "The boy who rode Circus Clown in his Kentucky Day triumph, W. D. Lucas, has a very interesting background, as his late father, Derby Lucas, was one of the better riders of the fair cirouit in western Kentucky in the late 90s and early 1900s. Derby rode for S. P. Sturgis, who was an associate of Capt. S. S. Brown, who owned Agile, winner of the Kentucky Derby ir 1905. Mr. Sturgis stood Blue Wing at the Ohio Valley Stock Farm at Dekoven, Ky., in 1891, and Blue Wing was second to Ben-Ali in the 1886 renewal of the Derby. Derby was the man who galloped him. He was also unbeaten on a horse named Garry-Herman on the fair circuit. Garry-Herman then went on to sire Governor Gray, winner of the Latonia Derby, in 1911." May Send Mementos to Museum of Racing Mr. Lucas continued to say that he believed the last man to ride with Derby Lucas was the late Mr. Olin Johnson who trained for J. C. Ellis. It was Johnson for whom W. D. Lucas first began to work around a race track. He also stated that in his possession is the silk banner that hung on Blue Wings stall in 1886 at Churchill Downs, and also the 1891 stud pamphlet of his, along with his racing record and a picture of Garry-Herman with his father, Derby. . . . According to the letter these wonderful mementos of racing may some day be, sent to the Museum at Saratoga Springs, New York. Doug Davis, Jr., shipped Newmarket Maid, one of the first daughters of the. illustrious Citation to Arlington Park to fulfill her engagement in the Lassie Stakes on July 9th at the Hlinois course. The filly was accompanied by Darling Dora, one of her stablemates. Davis, one of the leading trainers at River Downs, went along to supervise his stars training activities in preparation for her big test. . . . G. C. "Mick" McDermott, the former stall man at Wheeling Downs, as well as owner-trainer and racing official at various other tracks around the country during the past decades, was a visitor at this course last week. "Mick" is currently involved in the furniture business in the "Steel" City but is seriously contemplating a return to the race track. Bryan J. Steele, noted racing official, celebrated his natal day last Friday. Bryan admits to being over 39, but wont say how far over he, might be. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Connell, he is the president of Hazel Park Racing Association, Inc., have been here in the "Queen City" for several days. Mr. Connell, however, since arriving has been confined to his quarters at the Netherland Plaza Hotel, with a bad foot. Leon A. Slavin, president and general manager of River Downs, said that Dick would be on hand for the races as soon as the doctor releases him. . . . Slavin also announced last week that the Medical College of the University of Cincinnati, will benefit from a part of the proceeds of July 7 racing at River Downs. The division known as Preclinical Sciences will receive" the money. Hugenberg and Young Recent Visitors An interesting note to the strides that River Downs, Inc., is taking are the comparison figures for Mondays racing, notoriously one of the duller days. Taking the last four Mondays, the handle has shown a very decided increase. The first of the four, found 14,593 going through the machines with 3,608 fans in attendance. The second, -21,259 and the turnstile count 3,765; the third, 51,412 and, 4,043. Yesterday a new high was hit when 4,700 thoroughbred fans pushed 60,536 into the mutuels. . . . Stanley F. Hugenberg, executive vice-president of Churchill Downs at Louisville, has been a frequent visitor to this plant during the past week. Mr. Hugenberg was accompanied by his track-superintendent, Tom Young. Wallace Strong added seven to his contingent of thoroughbreds campaigning at this course. Strong bought out the C. H. Young group, which included Marie H Barachel Bob, Porzo, Hard Sea, Hook Tanzy, First Mission, Highland Dream and In Form. The amount involved in the sale was not disclosed. . . . James J. Gavin, Jr.s Botafogo chalked up his third consecutive win in the feature attraction last Monday. . . . The 11-year-old Oakland Cantimpla horse flatly refuses to be beaten and displayed the usual strong heart for his last victory. . . . The Chilean-bred was the sophomore champ of his native land in 1947, and in his illustrious career, before campaigning in this country, managed to win 11 of the top stakes races in the various South American countries.
