view raw text
Oscar Otis OtisTRA TRA President Cites Power of Derby Public Relations Value Deemed Sturdy An Example of Goal of American Turf CHURCHILL DOWNS Louisville Ky May 3 Comes now James Stewart of Hollywood Park and first Western president in the history of the Thoroughbred racing Associations to pay tnoute to the Kentucky Derby as not only Americas most famous race but also the most valuable single public relations vehicle for our sport Whole books have been written about the Derby on its impact on the breeding pattern of this continent column after col ¬ umn has been written about the fun that people have going to the Derby and seeing the race for themselves and in times past mention has been made now and then that the Derby is wonderful public relations in its broadest sense But Stewart in an official estimate of the race has high ¬ lighted the importance of the Derby as a national even global public relations positive factor more vividly than thanany any other turf executive ever has before The TRA adds Stewart is embarking upon a new and expanded public relations program but even so it is not possible to overestimate the public relations job accomplished by the great Churchill Downs spec ¬ tacle which makes almost everyone in America thor ¬ oughbred racing conscious on Kentucky Derby Day Naturally our members are proud that Churchill Downs is a TRA track and that the Derby is raced under the code of ethics of our organization and we are well aware and highly appreciative of the excellent work that Bill Corum and his associates do in staging the event both for the patrons who attend and for the millions who follow the progress of the race on radio television and in the press Id go so far as to say that if each and everyone of our tracks could have one climactic race of such national interest importance and appeal as the Kentucky Derby wed never have anpther worry about getting the story of the thrill and pleasure of thoroughbred racing over to all the American people peopleDramatic Dramatic Climax Properly Located LocatedBut But by the very nature of things there can only be one such dramatic climax of this kind every year And it is entirely logical that it should take place in Kentucky in the Blue Grass country where so many of the great thoroughbred champions of the world have been bred and raised Moreover more than any other single race the Derby brings a feeling of the warmth and hospitality of the fine folks who breed and race thethorouglibred to the people of America either at the track or on their TV screens or through the press along with the excitement of a championship event comparable to the deciding game of a Worlds Series in baseball I believe it puts over through these media dramatically and forcefully and yet with great dignity the feeling that here is a sport worthy of everyones interest at least in all probability genuine enthusiasm In view of this the growth and development of the Kentucky Derby into virtually a national sports monu ¬ ment is about the finest thing that could happen and has happened in American racing racingIt It is significant that the TRA has chosen the Derby week end to hold its annual meeting of the Grantland Rice Scholarship Award Committee which at this time is selecting the young man who will receive this TRAsponsored full scholarship for four years at Vanderbilt University Grantland Rices alma mater Bill Corum is a most important member of this com ¬ mittee and his active participation as a committeeman during this busy week end is a proof that no matter how busy the Churchill Downs executives may be seeing to it that every little detail of the Derby presentation is smooth and coordinated they do not lose sight of the allover significance of the race and take the time to help on national aspects which are so important to all racing the year round roundIn In conclusion I say that the Kentucky Derby has pointed the path as to what can be accomplished in brbad public relations that the TRA is hopeful that suchrthings as its scholarships and other projects dove ¬ tailing with such a race as the Derby and especially through an expanded intelligent and more vigorous public relations program that the sport of thorough ¬ bred racing everywhere in the United States will ap ¬ proach perhaps even equal the levels of public interest and acclaim achieved by the Kentucky Derby DerbyBranch Branch Office in New York YorkBill Bill Corum is making a year round job out of the Derby promotion even though for much of the year he is sports writing from New York But my New York apartment is also a Derby office explains Corum and I put in a lot of time the year round on Derby business I like to get to most every part of the country at least once every other year We asked Corum a question which we are sure many folks who were unable to get boxes this year would like to know namely just how many nonreserved boxes does the man have to dish out each year Depends on the size of the field ex ¬ plains Corum Every owner of a Derby starter is en ¬ titled to one box We start on the assumption the field will number 20 different interests If the field numbers only 10 ownerships we have 10 boxes If it number 20 w have none Thats my sole working leeway
