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A Dragon Killer Named for Reason Best to Fly Colors Of Mrs. Sadacca Colt Represents First Derby • Hope for Trainer Haymaker; Veteran John Adams to Ride CHURCHILL DOWNS. Louisville, Ky., May 2. — Chicago sportswoman Mrs. S. He-lene Sadacca entered racing about seven years ago on the advice of her physician, who suggested an interest that would keep her out of doors. So, her husband, who is head of the Glo-Lite Corporation of Chicago although the family now lives in Florida, claimed a horse for her. She raced the dam of A Dragon Killer, Lutza, and was the second horse she ever owned. A Dragon Killer is, without question, her best horse to date, in fact, good enough to giver her a Kentucky Derby starter. The story goes that A Dragon Killer was so named because her husband has a group of friends known as the "Dragon Killers," with the club coming into being as the result of a Michigan homecoming football game when he tried to buy a dragon which ,a fraternity had erected in front of its house. First Trip to Louisville Trainer Norman L. Haymaker has never started a Derby horse before. In fact, he says, "Ive never been to Churchill Downs prior to this spring meeting. The closest Ive ever been was flying over it en route to the horse sales in Kentucky." Haymaker was born near Berryville. Va., in the heart of the Old Dominion horse country. At the age of 14 he broke into racing as an exercise boy with steeplechasers and jumpers, later rode in competition "through the fields,"- He started training in the 30s, and saddled his first winner on the flat almost 20 years ago at Charles Town. Haymaker operates a public stable, and considers A Dragon Killer the best horse he, has ever conditioned. In addition to training", .he owns Clifton Farm near Berryville. Veteran Johnny Adams will be making his *14th Derby try with A Dragon Killer, getting the mount at the last, minute and after the Derby entries had been drawn. The nearest Adams has ever come in the Derby was in 1954 with Hasty Road, second to Determine. Never Had Apprentice Allowance A native of Iola, Kansas, Adams started his career on the Kansas and Oklahoma "bushes," and first came to a recognized track at old Riverside Park near Kansas City. He is one of the few riders ever to make good in rating without ever using his apprentice allowance. Under the rules of racing, an apprentice must have a contract with an owner, and rather than sign up with anyone, Adams elected to begin as a journeyman and without the five pound allowance- despite warnings from officials that hed never make it. After the Riverside meeting, Adams went to Longacres, near Seattle,, where he became a sensation, and hes been among the top flight riders of the nation ever since. He led the national list no less than three times, in 1937, 1942, and 1943. While he makes his home in Arcadia, Calif., his riding in recent years has been mostly in the Middle West and in Florida of a winter. Adams is making a riding comeback this spring after being out of action most of the winter with a back ailmen.
