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Between Races By Oscar Otis — Douglas Sale to Speed Downs Expansion Master Plan for Progress Is Outlined Cupola Towers Remain as Link to Past CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 5.— It was axiomatic with the late Colonel Matt Winn, builder of the Derby, that no sooner was one Derby decided and 1 the toasts to the winner properly sipped immediately after the race that planning started for the next one. In the days of Colonel Winn, this was literally true. And now that the excitement of the eighty-second Kentucky Derby has died down, and the winner duly heralded and proclaimed, we can report that president Bill Corum and executive director Stanley Hugenberg are more than excited with the prospect of modernizing and expanding the spacious Downs on a far faster schedule than had been dreamed possible only a few months ago. Of course, Churchill, like most major American race courses, sets aside a substantial sum each year for capital improvements, and in past years, while the money has been expended, its beneficial results have not always been noticeable by the public. For instance, one year, a vast sprinkler system was installed at the insistence of the insurance people, and while this was a necessity in the case of the ancient Downs, it did nothing to relieve the most pressing need of Churchill, more seats. "As you know, there is talk of us selling Douglas Park," explains Corum, "and whether this happens right away or not, as it may, it is obvious that Douglas Park cannot be maintained indefinitely because of the encroachment of the developing City of Louisville. The money that could accrue to Churchill Downs from the sale of Douglas Park would make it possible ot only to improve and expand our barn area here at Churchill, but also would make possible a saving of 0,000 per year in maintenance, which could be used, for instance, to strengthen the Churchill purse program. The pressures for seats for the Derby are so great that we are are forced to concede, even if we hadnt felt so before, that Churchill Downs cannot stand still, but must ever go forward. While nothing definite can be said until architects and engineers have made a complete survey of the plant, it is our dream to take the roof off the old clubhouse, expand rearwards and upwards with thousands of new seats. Our ultimate goal cannot be stated but our immediate one is to make it- possible for as many as 150,000 people to attend the Derby in comfort each year, and Im sure if we had the facilities, we could get that many." N English Classic Far Outdraws Derby Corum is right about the crowds. Each year for many years, the Derby has drawn 100,000 plus, and it is something of a sight from the wonderful vantage point of the press box to overlook the sea of humanity as the field nears the starting post. It is most impressive just a few minutes before the Derby, for by that time, most everybody save a few stragglers, have made their Derby race wagers and have spotted themselves from their own particular vantage point from which they will see the race. But, when it was our good fortune to have gone to England a bit back, we saw about . 250,000 people turn out at Doncaster for a classic called the St. Leger — a, crowd that made the Derby -pale just a bit by comparison. Of course, Doncaster had ample room to take care of up to almost half a million people, whereas Churchill does not. The notion struck us at the time that perhaps, within reasonable limits, Churchills attendance potential Derby Day was not less than 200,000, if accommodations could be made for that many people. It is therefore not too surprising to learn that Corum and Hugenberg feel pretty much the same way about it. Incidentally, if the present Downs structure is completely rebuilt, it will be accomplished in concrete, and only one vestige of the ancient past will remain. These are the two cupola towers, which have become a trademark of the Downs and the Derby. "Well put those on top of our new structure with glue if we have to," adds Corum, "for these towers have been identified with Churchill from the very beginning. They are as much a Derby tradition as could be possible." City Has Traffic Problem in Hand A special mention should be made as to the expert way the authorities of the City of Louisville handled traffic on Derby Day. The chief of police has traffic flow down to almost an exact science and considering the magnitude of the task, it was a masterful accomplishment to get the people to the track as speedily as was evident, and, after the races, get them to wherever they were going, i.e., in all directions from the track. As for the added fillips given Derby Week cele- j brations, such as, the Thursday night parade, we for one rather enjoyed them. Some may look down their nose at such doings, but the Derby is an unique race — a race dedicated to the proposition that going a-racing, especially from a distant point — can be loads of fun. ! Hence celebrations which in certain areas would be pure corn are transformed in Louisville into delightful occurrences. You can be sure of one thing, i.e., the City of Louisville and the State of Kentucky are squarely behind the notion to make the whole of Derby Week an exciting and memorable one to the visitor, let the corn tassels fall where they may. V Hugenberg, by the way, seldom looks at the Derby "oa the hoof," but prefers to watch it on television in Continued on Pago Forty-Three . I BETWEEN RACES By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Fifty-Two - his office, as was the case this year.- "Of course, seeing the Derby at Churchill is .considered by most people to be a great I privilege," explains Hugenberg, "and rightly so, but my watching the race on tele-I vision is. business. I believe that teleyisfoii has become an integral part of the Derby presentation .and as such is important not only to Churchill, but also to all Amerirv can racing. Therefore, I make it my business to check the; television presentation, for that is the picture of the Derby that millions of Americans will receive of the race and its ..attendant color and drama.. It is just our hope that these TV shwos will reflect as accurately as is humanly possible the glamour of Derby Day and the race itself, as is felt by the tens of thousands of people who* are here in person, and plant the wish hi all who tune in on their screens that they, too,, some day," will be dble to witness a Derby in person/",
