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WILLIAM MOLTER Second Derby Win Molters Aim Today TodayTightens Tightens Girth on Round Table Saddled Determine To Score in 1954 Renewal RenewalCHURCHILL CHURCHILL DOWNS Louisville Ky May 3 Willie Molter the man who de ¬ veloped the public stable into a science on the West Coasif will be shooting for his second Kentucky Derby tomorrow when he saddles Round Table for Oklahoma sports ¬ man T M Kerr His victory in the classic came three years ago with Determine Prior to that he saddled On Trust fourth to Jet Pilot in 1947 and Boot and Spur an alsoran in 1942 1942Molters Molters success in the West has become legendary and during the last decade he has often led the list of American trainerr in number of winners saddled or has beer among the leaders leadersBecame Became Associated With L 0 Lee LeeMolter Molter was born in Fredericksburg Texat in 1912 His elder brother Herman wa ahorseman so as a youngster Willie grav ¬ itated to the racetrack He tegan as ar exercise boy and came under the eye of the late Stuart Polk who gave him a chance first on the jungle circuit then on the big wheel of 4he West which in those years was Tijuana in the winter Canada in the summer summerPerhaps Perhaps the most fortunate break in his life came when he made an association with L O Slim Lee then a trainer for the powerful stable of Jack P Atkin ring master for James Wood Cof froth at the old Tijuana course Lee took a keen interest in Molter because the boy showed promise was an apt student and Lee realized that weight would catch up with him within a few years Molters riding career covered a span of 10 years after which Lee persuaded Atkin to allow the lad to take a division of the stable to Canada Molter had an extremely high average of winners per starter the first season on his own ownWhen When Atkin died and the stable was dis ¬ persed Molter was able to purchase a few from thesale for his owji account He raced for himself as ownertrainer until 1941 when he formed a partnership with G F Williams the stable being registered as the Edgemont EdgemontMolter Molter did so well with the stock he had that gradually other folks began asking jhim to train for them and to become a Continued on Page 4D Second Derby Win Molters Aim Today TodayTightens Tightens Girth on Round Table Saddled Determine To Score in 1954 Renewal RenewalContinued Continued from Page 17 D Dpublic public trainer Today Molter has several wealthy patrons who come up with good horses horsesIn In California Molter has endeared him ¬ self to management by his willingness to race his horses He never ships away from a meeting early staying right through the last race He almost always has a horse that is eligible for most anything that can appear in the condition book bookOn x xUntil On Trust First Big Horse Until On Trust started in the Kentucky Derby in 1047 Molter was not well known except on the Pacific Coast But On Trust who was Californias first horse to win more than 500000 made him a national figure and while On Trust did not win that Derby in 1947 he was far from dis ¬ graced being beaten just a mite more than a length for the whole pot Since On Trust he has had any number of good horses in his care pelhaps the two best of recent vintage being Determine and Imbros both of whom are now retired ana at stud in California CaliforniaPersonally Personally Molter is quiet and retiring Whatever he has to say he does in a few words and gets right to the point pointThe The records show that Molter led the list of American trainers four years in 1946 with 122 winners 4h 1947 with 155 winners in 1948 with 184 winners a new alltime record which stood until 1953 when the late B H McDaniel saddled 211 and tied with W Hal Bishop in 1949 with 129 winners In 1954 he was Americas leading trainer in point of money won with 1107860 1107860Ifc Ifc has been charged that Molter does not like to race anywhere but in California and this charge he flatly denies deniesPerhaps Perhaps the most newsworthy incident in his whole life as a trainer came when he flew with Determine to Louisville from Sau Francisco and upon boarding the plane was handed a revolver by the pilot pilotWhat What is this for Molter asked askedWhy Why to shoot the horse if he goes ber ¬ serk in midair and endangers the plane replied the pilot pilotMolter Molter handed back the gun with the classic reply but one which came from his heart saying Id shoot myself first before I would do anything to Determine
