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■■■■■ MV vt„* , Benedicto Is Part of Unusual Team Millionaire, Bar ; Tender Own Colt Trainer Walter Coleman and Jockey Bobby Dever Round j Out Colorful Combinaron CHURCHILL DOWNS. Louisville, Ky., May 2. — One of the most colorful and unusual owner-trainer-rider teams in all Kentucky Derby history is associated with the colt Benedicto, T. T. Harkins, millionaire Texas geologist, and Mr. and Mrs. Anthony j Tony Bellardi. Tony Is a wine steward for the Turf Catering Company who al-, ways takes time out during the Churchill Downs season to tend bar at the track.here. The trainer is Walter Coleman, who gave up a thriving trucking and tire business at the age of 45 to do what he had always dreamed of doing — train horses. The jockey is Bobby Dever, contract rider for Coleman, a. steady and consistent lad during his five years of riding, who has not yet won a major stake, Devers most notable victory being in a 5,000 added event the winter before last at New Orleans. Only Paid ,200 for Colt - "We live in a trailer, tut call Lexington home," Bellardi says. "I came originally from Detroit, but 10 years ago went to work for Turf Cartering and I make the "circuit through Kentucky, Louisiana and Arkansas. We, of course, cater the sales at Keeneland, where r became interested in the idea of buying a horse. I had three of -my own 10 years ago whom I trained myself but with a notable lack of success. "I picked Benedicto out of the sales my-£«lf, and had a limit on him of ,500. We got him for ,200. Im not working the Churchill meetingthis year, but rather am enjoying the season as an owner." While Bellardi tends bar on occasion, his post-with Turf Catering is that of wine steward in charge of all bartenders as well as the buying of supplies. Harkins is well known in racing through- » out the Midwest as the owner of a small but hard-hitting stable. He also usually races a second string during the summer at Ruidoso. Coleman, when he decided to give up business in favor of the vagabond life as a trainer, apprenticed himself as -an aide, to Henry Forest for a span of 22 months, after which he took out a license and launched himself as a public conditioner, in addition to owning a few thoroughbreds for his own account, "I guess my bankers thought I was crazy to sell out my business to engage in racing," recalls Coleman, "but I figured I wasnt getting any younger, that I had but one life to lead, and that I might as well be happy and do the thing I wanted to do — race horses. So far, "Ive been successful in that my owners always have finished in the black." Coleman, now 55, makes his home in Louisville. He represented his district, the 37th, in the state legislature as an assemblyman some years .back. . Benedicto is the first really good horse he has ever trained. Bobby Dever, 23, is a native of Louisville. He hid a cousin, Roy Dever, who was and is a trainer, so his introduction to the turf as an exercise boy was not difficult to accomplish. Dever, who has been riding five years, is five feet. two and scales in at 105 pounds. He was ready to graduate from high school when he decided" to quit and devote his full time to the saddle. Those who saw his effort un Benedicto in the Arkansas Derby, in vhich the horse finished second, were impressed. Trainer Coleman believes the boy rides flawlessly and is going places. j BENEDICTO — Midwest runner is a scheduled starter in todays Derby.
