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zzr . . „,.,, BUI •■ JKk *■ V REUBEN W. WHITE Reuben White Succumbs; Derby Starter 1941-1956 Kentuckian Also Served in Same Capacity at Several Other Tracks CHURCHILL DOWNS. Louisville, Ky., May 15. — Reuben Wesley White, who served as starter here from 1941 through 1956, died at 11:25 p.m. last night in the Veterans Hospital. White was 61 years old. White, a native Kentuckian, was born at Stanford. Kentucky. He had been ill for several years but it wasnt until last autumn that he was forced to give up his official post here. This years Kentucky Derby was the first missed by the famed starter since he sent Whirlaway on the way to a mile and one-quarter record of 2:01-5, which still stands. White seemed at his best when the "Chips were down" and his Derby starts were excellent. While White was better known through his Derby and Churchill Downs connections, he also had served as starter at the New Orleans Fair Grounds, Ellis Park, Hawthorne. Keeneland, Lincoln Fields, now Balmoral, and Oaklawn Park. Prior to taking over the switch button, Ruby worked as an assistant starter at many of the nations leading tracks. White was the first starter to send a Derby field away from an electrically-operated gate. That was in 1941, after he took over following the late William Ham- Contmued on Pago Throo Reuben White Succumbs; Derby Starter 1941-1956 Kentuckian Also Served in Same Capacity at Several Other Tracks Continued from Page One iltons appointment as Illinois Racing Board steward. White had been chief assistant to Hamilton for many years. Whites first association with the thoroughbred sport was in 1910. As a lad. he became an exercise boy on Lexington horse farms and later was a regular member of the Idle Hour farm training staff. White, although generally taking the Derby in stride — just another horse race, he would say — pointed with considerable pride to the fact that he never had a bad start in the rich event. He gave much of the credit to the men on the ground and often said, "the men are the ones that do the work. I only have to push the button," he would say modestly. White had been admitted to the Veterans Hospital on April 30. He lived at 1111 South Second Street. He is survived by his widow. Betty. Funeral services for White will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, from the D. J. Dougherty Funeral Home, 1230 South Third Street, Louisville. Burial will be in Zachary Taylor National Cemetery and full military honors are to be accorded the deceased at graveside ceremonies. Rev. Frank C. Taafel. Veterans Hospital chaplain, will officiate.
