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California By Oscar Of is Nancy Kerr on Team of Round Table A 30-Day Break for Chicagoan De Vito Rider Turned to Training After Leaving Service HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., June 3. Round Table, whose mile in the Will Rogers Stakes last Thursday was faster than the score of Swaps in the same stake at three Swaps world mark for the mile was established as a four will race at best perhaps only three times more at this meeting, maybe only twice, it was decided today by a full scale meeting of the board of directors managing the colts future. Moreover, said board has definitely decided to confirm whatever the results of these upcoming Hollywood Park stakes indicate by a campaign at Wash ington Park in August with the American Derby as the - colts major objective. The racing of Round Table is not a matter, we might explain, that is decided by Travis M. Kerr, the Oklahoma City sportsman, but includes the, partners in the Kerr Stable, Mrs. Kerr, and daughter Nancy. Miss Nancy has purchased a 20 per cent interest in Round Table and others in the stable with he- own funds. And while it is obvious that she could be outvoted by her folks in case of difference of opinion as to campaign policy, the truth is that, a close and discerning observer of the American racing scene, from her early teens, her opinion is most often as hot the prevailing one. As proof, her mother sided with Nancy in the almost 24 hours of debate which preceded the decision to send Round Table to Kentucky for his brilliant win in the Blue Grass Stakes, and quite creditable third to Iron Liege and Gallant Man in the Kentucky Derby. El Dorado on June 15 Next for Round Table Round Tables immediate plans are to be named for the 5,000 El Dorado Handicap at a mile and one-sixteenth scheduled for June 15, and see what kind of weights Johnny Maluvius deems proper. If within the scope of reason, as assayed by the Kerrs, Round Table will start. If not, he will await the Cinema on July 6, and use that race as a final stepping stone toward the 00,000 Westerner on July 20. This latter, an allowance affair, does not unduly penalize a good race horse. Trainer Jack Williams who resigned from the employ of Willie Molter when the "no more than 40 horses per trainer" rule took effect at Hollywood Park, has undergone a bizarre series of circumstances which are worth relating. Molter sent Williams, as assistant trainer, with Round Table to Kentucky. Upon his return from what everyone deems a successful foray, he came back to California to take over, as trainer in his own right, the 40 "second string" horses of Molter. Then the latter was suspended for 30 days, and by permission of the stewards and in the emergency, Williams was recalled as head man for the Kerr horses as well as some of , Molters other patrons, including Louis B. Mayer and the George Lewis family. j This, in turn, left 40 horses trainerless, and provided an unexpected opportunity for coast wide attention to the man named as the 30-day conditioner, Pete De Vito, whose career in racing, while completely unspectacular, has nevertheless been highlighted by absolute success. Pete is a young man from the Campbell Park district on Chicagos West Side "who left school for the race track at 12, and dont ask how he broke into racing at 12, either, for we didnt ask and De Vito didnt volunteer the information. Suffice to say he did, at 16 become a rider, and was starting out to do okay when the army got him. Upon returning from the wars, he was too heavy to ride, so became a combination exercise boy-owner and trainer. Passes Trainers Test With Mark of A He had no trouble getting a trainers license in Chicago he passed the test with a grade "A" and as soon as he would save enough money from his earnings as an exercise boy, hed buy a cheap horse, and operate on his own. His most success at this type of "hit and run em" policy has been attained in California, perhaps his best winner being Sun Deck, acquired for the proverbial song, and winner of three straight in the De Vito colors. Upon losing a horse by claim, the man returns to serving as a foreman, or assistant trainer, or exercise boy until another likely horse comes along, when he puts up his cash and steps back into the role of owner-trainer. The ultimate test of a trainer is what he can accomplish with the stock he has, for as the saying goes, most good horses train themselves, but with problem claimers and cheap horses, skill and ability become more necessary. Under this rule, Dand Vito is one of the most successful trainers in California, for he has accomplished a lot with a little. De Vito is as sick as anyone that Molter should meet with misfortune, but this 30-day interlude has provided him with a once-in-a-lifetime-chance. What will he do with it? The best he can for 30 days, after which, he will return as an assistant trainer. For he is neither a glory nor a money seeker, simply enjoys racing and finds that being a part of a winning team, such as Molter has had for a long time, is ample reward in the glory departmentand of course, he is well paid.
