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Landmark Year for Dfclrby: Coriimj Race Has Attained Nationwide Appeal Downs Prexy Says Coast Now Part of Classic; Discusses Plans for Plant Expansion By OSCAR OTIS CHURCHILL DOWNS. Louisville. Ky„ May 2. — "This is a landmark year for-the Kentucky Derby." observed Bill Comm. president of Churchill Downs. "A landmark year because at- long last. I believe the race has "become truly national instead of merely intersectional. We always used to say it was a national race but the competition -seemed to revolve around the East and the Midwest. But in these last few years California lias been added to the fold — so much so that representation from there is taken for granted as a part and parcel of the Derby appeal. Florida, which lias provided one Derby winner in Needles, will become more prominent in our picture as the* breeding industry there grows. "J3ut more than just horses, the desire on the part of people to see the Derby has become national. I base that estimate on the number of long distance phone calls I have received from areas which heretofore have shown only scant interest in. the Derby. The Pacific northwest for example. When we consolidate the Derby interest, nationally, insofar as horses and people! are concerned, the next step obviously is the world. New Jockeys Room Built "Last year I told you that we had long range plans to expand the Churchill Downs racing plant to the point where it would accommodate maybe 200.000 folks instead of a mere 100,000 plus. This plan has not been abandoned, even though our capital expenditures this year went for things other than more seats. Specifically we built a new jockeys room which was badly needed, a new office for the racing secretary, and certain improvements to the press box. • . "But when this season is over, the Churchill board of directors will again meet to act upon my suggestion, already approved by William Veeneman and Stanley Hugenberg. that priority be given in capital expenditures to providing more public facility. I say this because I am sick at heart from answering the long distance telephone almost constantly for the past month and being forced to tell people in all walks of life that we aresold out. "Im no architect, but it seems to me the most sensible thing to do would be to deepen our present stands to take immediate care of our seating needs, which have become critical. Every year since I have been here, the pressure for tickets has become increasingly acute. I can say once again that this expansion will be carried out in a motif and in a manner that will add. and in no event subtract anything from Churchill Downs traditional charm. A crowd of 200,000 is entirely possible if you wish to take a projection from the number of checks we have had to Teturn to people wishing tickets."* This is to be the ninth Derby for Corum. who was recommended for his present post by his predecessor, the late Colonel TMatt J. Winn. Winn transformed the Derby from "just another race" into Americas most publicized classic. Corum is carrying on. supplementing the Colonels basically sound ideas. True Public Relations Approach Corum has a two-pronged approach to the Derby problem — the brass hats and the common man. He has ample respect for both. He recognizes -that important people should be accommodated, for the good of Churchill, and for the good of all American racing. Yet the two dollar man is recognized as the backbone of the Derby, so he is neither forgotten nor overlooked in Derby planning. Corum still is fighting for one big ideal — the greater acceptance of racing as being part of the American way of life by the reigning statesmen of America. Perhaps the one big regret of Corums life is that Harry S. Truman, when President of the United States, accepted an invitation to be present for a running but was prevented from attending by the national emergency caused by a steel strike. The Churchill chiefs background has been sketched so many times we feel sure it must be well known by now. In schools. Corum was an athlete of considerable ability He enlisted as a private in World War I and emerged as a major. Upon leaving the service, he graduated from Columbias school of journalism. While working for the New York Times Ills writing caught the eye of the Hearst people, and Arthur Brisbane hired him. He lias been with Hearst some 36 years as a top sports writer, lie gravitated to the Derby year after year, nick-named it "The Rim for the Roses." learned the Matt Winn philosopliy. and upon the death of* the latter, was elected president. BILL CORUM — President of Churchill i Downs, Inc., operators of the world-famous Kentucky Derby track.
