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Lavin Is Well Suited To Secretarys Post Downs Solon Has Wide Practical Experience for Writing of Races CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville. Ky., May 2.— Few racing- secretaries at Ameri-man tracks have brought to their jobs the wide practical experience that Allan. "Doc" Lavin had behind him -p?hen he was appointed to the post at Churchill Downs in 1956. Lavin has been an owner, trainer and breeder of horses and in addition has had working experience at the starting gate and in veterinary medicine. . . Lavin, who has worked with Gil Haus for many years at Delaware and Randall Parks, is a 46-year-old native of Fayette County, outside of Lexington, Ky, His father, a physician, bred horses on a modest scale and his uncles, Allan and John Gallaher, were prominent owners, trainers and breeders. Lavin broke yearlings for his uncle Al during summer vacations in high school, gaining a sound foundation .in horsemanship. At the University of Kentucky, Lavin played basketball for the first Wildcat team coached by the famed mentor Adolph Rupp, who brought the fast break to the south. He also studied English under his cousin, the late Joe Palmer, who was later to become one of this countrys best known racing writers. During World. War II., Lavin served with the U. S. Army Veterinary Corps in Northern India, where he played medic to supply animals hauling goods to the famed Indian Eighth Army. Since 1947, hes made his home in Hot Springs, Ark. and also is racing secretary at Oaklawn Park. He has a son and two daughters. "If theres a secret to this game," Lavin says, "its writing races for the: horses on the grounds. When horsemen have races they can run in, the entries come in a* lot easier. Of course, my first book is the toughest to write, because I make it up in January. But by and large many of the same stables return to Churchill Downs year after year and you can pretty much plan on what will turn up for the opening of the meeting. "Entries come a bit slower in the spring, too, because of the changeable weather, and the- fact that not all the younger horses are ready to run. In the fall,, with a summer of campaigning behind them and * many stables planning to lay up for the winter, everyone wants, to take a crack." Lavin, a sound, practical professional, schedules as many distance races as he believes will fill. He also believes in providing sufficient opportunities for horsemen with fillies and mares in the barn. As for the Derby Day card itself. Laving tries to arrange a well balanced program of wide general appeal. "You cant fool Ken-tuckians about horses," ifavin says. "They can spot quality on an overnight at first glance."
