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♦ _ r— — — — — — 1 — — Nagler on Racing Price McGrath Wouldnt Know O/ Derby town— Its Booming — By BARNEY NAGLER CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville. Ky.. May 2. — Price McGrath would not believe it if he were around. He isnt. He was the Kentucky boy who went to California in 1849 to dig gold. He fell into a running brook and came up covered with the stuff, enough to make him a rich horseman. He put a running horse called Aristides into the tne first nrst Kentucky iientucKy _ r— — — — — — 1 ♦ 1 1 — • the tne first nrst Kentucky iientucKy Derby and "won. The purse came to ,850. "Wouldnt be enough today to pay Silky Sullivans board bill for 3. year," a man said today. "It was a lot of money them days," a fellow- said. "Price McGrath was quite a guy. Grew up poor, so poor he he couldnt couldnt* afford aiiora 12 iz he he couldnt couldnt* afford aiiora 12 iz — — and a half cents for a spelling book, so instead of learning he quit exercising horses for a neighbor and went to California, where he got rich. He came home to Kentucky to see his colors win the first Derby." They have run 82 of these races since then and the history of the event is replete with happy tidings for* some and despair for others. Now, on the eve of the 84th time, ttiey are talking around this town about _Willie Hartack, who is not going to ride Tim Tam tomorrow. Willie didnt fall into a brook when he was thrown here last Saturday. He fell hard and splintered a leg bone and now Ismael Valenzuela will have a leg up on his horse. Studying Daily Racing Form Charts Last year, just before midnight 365 days ago, Hartack was encountered in a cafeteria down the block from the Kentucky Hotel. He sat alone, eating his. curds and whey, and checking the charts in the Daily Racing Form. "Burning the midnight oil, Willie?" he was asked. The question startled him. He bolted at first, then he sat up straight and smiled. 1 — 1 • He is an intense young man and not readily disposed toward soft soap. He was trapped, however, and he safd something pleasant. Just grabbing a bite before getting to bed," he said. "All alone?" -"Like it that "way when Im reading these charts," Hartack said. His eyes went back to the printed page before him. Then, in answer to a question, he conceded that there was something special about the Derby, beyond all other events, and that the sensation of having a mount in the big one was real and warming. There was truth in his words. Down here they jack up the room rates Derby week. They pile up the prices for gin and bitters, and the julep twig brings a pretty penny, too. They do all these things, and those who complain do so smilingly, knowing deep within themselves that this is as it should be because this is something special, as Willie Hartack said. Around here there are men who have written up every Derby for years and when their wails of sophistication are pierced they admit they still are moved emotionally- when "My Old Kentucky Home" is heard, even though they have to concede that their Kentucky, home is a hotel room at 25 slugs a day, no stay shorter than four days. Just being around is fun. There are parties and even a parade down the main streetr Hotel lobbies are crowded. Old acquaintances who do not get to see each Continued on Page 49 D Nagler on Racing Continued from Page SD other from year to year get to slap each others back. Barn 10 at Churchill Downs has been the main visitation point, this year. That is Silky Sullivans address and it has become more important than 10 Downing Street. They have clustered in front of his hayloft to talk to Reginald David Cornell, the trainer, md when the horse has worked mornings, he has been under closer scrutiny than Ed Sullivan Sunday nights. With one difference. Silky smiles. So it is on Derby Eve. Some few hours hence the issue will have been .joined and a decision given. And when it is over the winner will have roses for a collar and the human losers will have chagrin for their fare. Yes, there is something special about the Derby, which recalls the one they tell here about the man who was asked if he knew who was president of the United States in 1923. "For the life of me I cant remember," the man said. "I really should remember because thats the year Zev beat Martingale in the Derby. By a length and a half."-
