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Whitney Whitney family family and and Blue Blue Grass Grass classic. classic. New Jersey By Fred Galiani Marshall Lilly Recalls Regrets Derby Victory Went Right From Farm to Earn Immortal Fame Says She Was Best Horse Eyer Bred in Jersey MONMOUTH PARK, Oceanport, N. J., June 22.— ! Marshall Lilly, for many years an employe of the Whitney Whitney family family and and one one of of trainer trainer James James Rowes Rowes most most one one of of trainer trainer James James Rowes Rowes most most trusted lieutenants, was found the day before the renewal of the Regret Handicap sitting in his accustomed spot under a tree near the Monmouth Park paddock. The venerable gentleman, who exercised some of the greats of the American turf, was unrestrained in his praise of the gallant gal who made turf history by winning the Kentucky Derby back in 1915. Shes the only "lady" horse to speed to victory in the Others Others have have tried: tried; all all have have failed. failed. Blue Blue Grass Grass classic. classic. Others Others have have tried: tried; all all have have failed. failed. Monmouth Park officials, using excellent judgment, carded todays filly stakes in honor of this singular member of the supposedly weaker sex. The late Damon Runyon was so impressed by the daughter of Broomstick he named one of his incomparable Broadway J characters for her. But she was ho "character"— she ■was quite a horse. And lets listen to Lillys estimate of her: "Regret was by far the best horse ever bred in New Jersey," he remarked. "I didnt break her as a yearling because I was in England then with Andrew Joyner, with the horses Whisk Broom II. and Iron Mask and others. I came back to the U. S. that winter before Regret was a three-year-old and we got her ready right at the Brookdale-Farm here. I worked her a mile and an eigth in 1:52 and. change and then we shipped her to Kentucky, although I stayed here. The Derby was her first start and she just walked off with it. Nowadays trainers figure they have to have a couple of races in their horses before they go in the Derby, but Mr. Rowe didnt work that way. She went right from the farm at Red Bank to win." Lilly, looking back with fond memories over the years, naturally regards Regret as one of the best mares, ever to race in the U. S. and although he wouldnt go out on the limb and unqualifiedly state she was better than anything that ran in the last couple of decades, avers that she wouldnt have to take back from any of the latter day misses. And thats praise indeed, because Marshall dates back "to the days of Sysonby, Artful, Delhi and others of that ilk, and has surveyed trie American turf scene for all these years with something more than just a passing interest, making him a qualified critic. Frank Smith to Ride for Cochrane Monmouth Shorts: Frank A. Smith has given first call on his services to trainer Al Cochrane, who has a public stable on the grounds. Smith has always done well in New Jersey since he was an apprentice. . . . Jack Kearns came down from New York and will stay for the rest of the season in quest of horse insurance matters. . . . Spring Lake provides a number of patrons for the North Jersey shore track and among the most recent visitors from that town was Tony Avallone. . . . With the Regret Handicap being decided, it reminds that trainer Jack Slavin has as one of his employes, Dick Sharpe, an old-time jockey who used to gallop another amazori of the turf, the incomparable Pan Zareta of 40 years ago. Sharpe, a native of Washington, D. C, .came around the races at his home town track of Bennings, and for 16 years was associated with the stable of E. B. MacLean. Sharpe rode, from 1913 to 1926 and he recalls that his swan song in the saddle was at the Mineola Fair in Long Island, where horses came over from Belmont Park to compete in a few races. . . . Frank Fiore,and the indomitable Col. John Donovan were at the track- Friday checking on the numerous stall applications filed for the Atlantic City meeting. Pruning the lists at the shore track is a veritable headache for all involved. Trainer George S. Howell has a homebred who races in his wifes name, and is called Com II Faut. The tag N was hung on the horse by Mrs. Howell, but around the stable he is known to his trainer as Joe Louis. . . . Chris Wood is busy reading proof these days on the conditions for the hurdle races which will soon become a part oof the Monmouth activity. . . . Eddie Feakes, manager of the Woodland Farm, reports that High Sparkle is recovering from a sesamoid operation performed at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital. The colt was injured at Garden State and had a fragment of. a shattered sesamoid bone removed. High Sparkle will be out of action for about six months and will recuperate at owner Amory Haskells farm. Colleen Next for Unbeaten Noordeen Noordeen, a nice looking filly who won here earlier this week for her second in as many starts, will be sent back here for the Colleen Stakes on June 29 according to trainer Mike Freeman. . . . Cedrus, another recent winner, will go after honors in the Long Branch Handicap with Frank Bonsai sending out the Cedar Farm colt. . . Don Reed, who also handles publicity for Beulah Park, says that Jack OHara will not be able to return on the microphone for the fall meeting because of prior commitments. No successor has been named as yet. . . . Al Cadeaux, the Miamian, takes careful note of the progress of Florida-breds at the meeting and proudly announces that two have won so far. Sounds like his mentor, Everett Clay,
