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ALLAN LAVIN I IDowns Downs Racing Secretary Has Practical Background in Sport Lavin Was Owner Trainer Breeder Before Becoming Official Sees Great Derby DerbyCHURCHILL CHURCHILL DOWNS Louisville Ky May 3 Its the greatest Derby field in my time Churchill Downs popular racing secretary Allan Doc Lavm commented the other day from behind his desk at the nerve center of this historic plant Ive never seen its equal for overall class I honestly dont believe I could pick a win ¬ ner nerOi Oi course Lavin is too much of a dip ¬ lomat to attempt to single out one horse or an entry as the victor in tomorrows 83rd running of Americas blue ribband of the turf but the professional horsemen with whom he deals in the course of his job of writing and filling the races here at Churchill Downs would undoubtedly re specf his opinion in the matter as ey would few others othersFor For Lavin is considered one of the out standing young secretaries in racing an official with a highly promising future who in the year that he has Jield his pres ¬ ent post has done a remarkably able job jobKarive Karive of Fayette County CountyWhen When he succeeded Lincoln Plaut who stepped up to the stewards stand Lavin probably had as wide a practical experi ¬ ence in racing as any man of his age in the profession having been an owner trainer and breeder of horses in addition to his prior work as an official on the starting gate and in veterinary medicine medicineA A 45 yearold native of Fayette County Kentucky Lavin has for many years been chief aide to Gil Haus at Delaware and Randall parks Lavins father a physician bred horses on a modest scale and his uncles Allan and John Gallaher were prominent owners trainers and breeders Lavin broke yearlings for his Uncle Al dur ¬ ing summer vacations from high school gaining a sound foundation in horseman ¬ ship shipAt At the University of Kentucky Lavin played basketball for the Wildcats famed coach Adolph Rupp and also studied Eng ¬ lish under his cousin the late Joe Palmer who was later to become one of this coun ¬ trys best known turf writers with the New York HeraldTribune HeraldTribuneDuring During World War H Lavin served with the UJ5 Army Veterinary Corps in North ¬ ern India where he played medic to the pack mules hauling supplies to the famed Indian Eighth Army Since 1947 he has made his home in Hot Springs Ark and works at Oaklawn Park under Kenneth Red Mclntosh Lavins son Gary is in his second year of veterinary school at Oklahoma A M and Doc also has two young daughters daughtersIf If theres a secret to this game he says Its writing races for the horses on the grounds Its toughest to fill the races in the spring particularly distance events because of the unsettled weather and the fact that many horses have had the winter and are not yet in condition to run hard But like a basketball coach you have to make the best of the material available and thats what we try to do Last year Lavin introduced the 48hour 48hourclosing closing for the Derby day program and ar i iContinued Continued on Page 35 D Racing Secretary Levin Has Practical Background in Sport SportContinued Continued ham Page 75 0 0ranged ranged what was probably the best sup ¬ porting card Churchill Downs has ever known That extra day helps increase the uspense and gives the publicity drums a chance to beat a little longer he observes A sound practical professional with a thorough knowledge of all phases of a rac ¬ ing operation Lavins ability at bringing good horses together was further under ¬ lined by 1956s record Derby day handle of 4360232 signifying an overall card of wide general appeal ou cant fool Kcntuckians about horses Lavin notes shrewdly They can spot quality on an overnight at first glance
