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Reggie Cornell, Self Made1 Horseman " On Threshold of Greatest Turf Thrill ♦ Canadian Headed West Ten* Years Ago, Formed Public Stable and Began. Winning If ever a trainer was entitled to the designation "self-made" it would be Reggie Cornell, "conditioner of Californias hope in the Kentucky Derby, the stretch-running Silky Sullivan. Cornell, a Canadian, started out his racing career as a groom, created his own "break" by saving his money, a nickel and dime at a time, until he had enough to purchase a cheap horse for his own account, then went ahead and made a success of his one-horse stable. As a stable foreman and trainer of a. second division string some years back for Horatio Luro, Cornell gained priceless experience, and while he was quick to observe and learn by watching others, at the same time it was apparent that he had a natural flair of training as was proven when he came west 10 years ago and set himself up as a "public trainer." Conditions were just right in California at that time for a public trainer to "prove his merit," for Willie Molter and the late R. H. McDaniel were developing their methods whereby they trained atcost, or as near cost as they could figure it, and depended upon their salary for a straight across the board 10 per cent of any earnings. If their horses won, they did rather well. If they didnt, they in effect worked for nothing. Had as Many as 100 Horses in Care •Opening a public stable under such circumstances took a lot of courage and self confidence; Cornells clients came slowly at first, but he built a reputation for success and during the last five years he has had all the owners he could accommodate. At one time, before California put in its 40-stall limitation per trainer, Cornell had just over 100 horses in his care. Of course, all these were not at the track, some being turned out for refreshening and repairs, but he has had as manjr as 65 in training at one time. Cornells career has been jolted only once. Late last spring in San Francisco when one of his horses came back with a positive in a flurry of stimulations which occurred in the West. He was automatically suspended, but made turf history when he became the first turfman in the west to volunteer to take a lie detector test to clear his personal name and reputation in the matter. The tests were given by the Pasadena police polygraph department at the request of the TRPB. Cornell passed with flying colors. Cornell is in his early forties, is an exceptionally good eater himself along with his horses Cornell 4s known as a man who relies heavily upon hay and grain as being better than vitamin pills and is a trifle on the rotund side. He makes his permanent home in the San Fernando Valley, a fairish sort of a commute to both his main Southern California tracks, Hollywood Park and Santa Anita. Which isnt much of an item except that in a land where an automobile is indispensable, he does not drive. So he has to have a man drive him anywhere and everywhere, and he seems to always be going somewhere. Cornells training methods are in some ways unorthodox, for he relies less upon speed drills than most trainers, preferring endless walks and long, slow gallops to speed. He has made the bizarre claim that it is easier, far easier, to condition a horse to go a distance than it is to sprint. If you leave his years association with Princequillo out of it. Silky Sullivan is the first horse that Cornell has ever trained ► ■ ; : ■ ■ _ that has the potential of being really good, or perhaps even great. His best known stakes winners of recent vintage in California include Swirling Abbey beaten a short head in the Santa Anita DerbyV, Kings Abbey, and the sprinter, Mr. SullU van.
