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Churchill Downs By Joe Hirsch Corum Outlines Plan to Enlarge Plant Leach Puts Another Derby In the Files Hartack Provides Week of Riding Thrills CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 8.— After the Ball is Over: A peaceful, relaxed air pervaded this historic Downs yesterday, the quiet disturbed only by an occasional rehash of Saturdays Derby* For many it was getaway day, though the meeting still has two weeks to run — trainers packing their tigers off to Baltimore for the Preakness, visiting war correspondents heading back to cover the home front, tourists gingerly stacking julep glasses in the backs of cars. Even president Bill Corum was leayjng, though it was only for a two-day visit to Nashville, Tenn., where he trill join with co-committeemen John Morris and Jake Isaacson for activities in connection with the TRAs Grantland Rice Scholarship to Variderbilt University. Corum, lounging behind a desk in the general offices, waved a fistful of telegrams, all of a congratulatory nature on the smoothness of the Derby day operation. "Theyre from top horse people," gruffed the Colonel in his distinctive voice. "Its very encouraging." The final figures arent in yet, Corum said, but in all probability it was the biggest Derby crowd ever, and of course the betting set a new rec.ord. "Outside of a few minor problems, everything went •well. Were handicapped by this old plant. Why we spent 00,000 a year or so ago — on a sprinkler system and some other things — and no one knew about it." The Colonel was asked about the future. "Well," Corum said, "if we sell Douglas Park, and get a fairly decent price, well probably tear off the roof of the stands and build back. It would give us about 25,000 more seats and wed add another dining room in the back. The same facilities would exist throughout the stands, and for Derby day the whole thing would be one huge clubhouse. We hope to put in a cantilever roof but our plans must first stand up from the point of practical engineering. And of course wed have to find a way to put those two cuppolas on the roof — theyre our trademark. Weve got plenty of room to build behind. For one thing, wed like to enlarge our paddock; add a little more walking room, so that the breeders and others interested in horses can get in there without crowding. Wed have to build between Derbys but it can be done. Everything would be concrete which would also go a long way in reducing fire hazards. As for the race itself, I think its a real good colt that won it— maybe a lot better than people think. "Kentuckians, who know their horses, were agreeing "With Corum this morning. AH Is Quiet on Publicity Front Right Hand to the Tress: In another section of the sprawling plant, the eminent story-teller, George B. Leach, could stroll through his publicity office without a single request for working press accommodations on his way to the water cooler — a situation without parallel for some time. On its hook, the telephone was strangely silent. The typewriter, the mimeograph machine — both were unattended. The whole atmosphere was one of a public library at midnight, but "Brownie" Leach had done his work well, had spread the gospel of the Derby throughout the land, and was entitled to this hour of solace.. Leach, whos seen every Derby mn in the past 26 years, has been directing Churchill Downs public relations department since 1946 and is considered an expert in his field. Here is a man born to his job, his maternal grandmother was named Derby; his father was a noted veterinarian in the area, a frequent contributor of articles to the Daily Racing Form and an outstanding analyst of blood lines; his uncle was Maj. Tom McDowell, the noted breeder, and his wife, Frances, is also from one of Kentuckys first racing families. In the course of his career, Brownie was sports editor of~ the Lexington Leader for eight years, was an executive vice-president of Keeneland Race Course and a prime mover in the early days of the Breeders Sales Company. He came to Churchill Downs in 1943 when Keeneland raced here during the war years, and Col. Matt Winn liked his work and asked him to stay on. His Derby brochures, covering the -contending horses, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys have been copied by race tracks throughout the country for their important stakes and he has also been first with a number* of other key press box innovations. He has just finished handling the largest newspaper turnout in Derby history, and handled it with his usual graciousness, calm and dispatch. Hes earned his hour of rest. Billie Just Misses a Stakes Triple Harfack in Louisville: No account of the Derby week end would be complete without some mention of the remarkable riding feats of a William Hartack Jr. Billy the kid made his first appearance at Churchill Downs, a week ago, when he won the Derby Trial with Calumets Fabius, but in the pre-Derby excitement, his brilliant work aboard the same stables Princess Turia in the historic Kentucky Oaks on Friday was largely overlooked. The Oaks developed into a thrilling stretch duel between the Princess and Claibornes champion filly Doubledogdare, who was the choice in the eighty-second running of this important stake. The favorite Continued on Page F-ortv-Nirc KENTUCKY I By JOE HIRSCH Continued from Page Four pushed her nose in front for an instant past the sixteenth pole but Hartack, driving like a man possessed, got his mount up in the final strides for a superb score. And then, in the Derby itself, Billy concluded his Kentucky excursion with a superlative effort on Fabius, getting more out of this lightly made son of Citation and Shameen than was generally believed possible by professional horsemen, missing all the money by only three-quarters of a length. For a boy who has only been riding three full seasons, Hartacks development- has been amazing. He has the requisite skilis, the intelligence and the personality, and like the great athletes in every sport is always seeking to improve his work. This is the Arcaro of tomorrow, and tomorrow is almost today.
