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+ Our Columnist Report From Louisville + Oscar Otis Kentucky Derby Many Things to Many People Dr. Asbury Tells Breeders Important Role Louisville Classic Has Outgrown Any Person CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 1.— The Kentucky Derby is many things to many people. Dr. Eslie Asbury, a Cincinnati surgeon who owns Forest Retreat Farm here in the Blue Grass country, recently provided a new and refreshingly different slant on the sophomore classic. Forest Retreat, incidentally, was the home of Determine, winner of the 1954 Derby. "The Kentucky Derby is without doubt the single most potent influence in bringing new owners into the sport," said Dr. Asbury. "Thousands of mint julip television parties are held over the country, and millions of other fans not only watch the race over TV, but also read about it in their papers weeks in advance. The pre -Derby newspaper articles on the leading horses and their owners go a long way toward lessening any unjustified prejudice against racing. For example, many of the owners are leading national figures in finance and industry." "Of course, the people most involved are those who actually come to Churchill Downs," Dr. Asbury continued. "Leading figures in government, entertainment, industry and the professions share the huge crowds sense of satisfaction in seeing great horses in a great competitive contest. And many a new owner has been created by a trip to the Derby as a spectator — and the faith of veteran owners is rewarded simply by having a horse considered good enough to start in the race. "Fortunately, Kentucky is at its best this time of the year — with everything in bloom. The grass is at its greenest, with the excitement on the farms of mares getting in, and out, of foal. This, coupled with the sap of optimism that rises in all people in the spring, makes it natural for them — given this setting — to feel the romance and tradition surrounding the thoroughbred that attracts so many people to the turf. Huge Parcel of Tradition "Kentucky hospitality is at its finest, and the showing of yearlings, coupled with the color of the Keeneland and Churchill Downs meetings, is all part and parcel of the Derby tradition. All breeders are vitally interested in the Derby. A few have their own produce in the race, but many more have shares in stallions who are represented. Still others have yearlings to be sold, while many will be interested in breeding to the winner when he eventually is retired to stud, for a victory in the Derby is an automatic passport to a chance at stud. "As the breeder of Determine, I felt as much interest in the Derby as the owner, though for some reason the breeder — unless he also is the owner — if the foregotten man after the Derby. Ive always felt that the Derby would have just a bit more tradition and effect if the breeder, trainer and jockey were given a momento for winning such an important stake. At any rate, in Determines Derby, the prestige of Forest Retreat Farm, the enhanced value of his dam Koubis and her produce as well as the increased value of the granddam, Brown Biscuit, and her four producing daughters whom we still own, were all at stake that Derby Day. Opinions Die, Facts Live "And in spite of carping from time to time and other dubious criticisms, the Churchill Downs management deserves a tremendous amount of credit for so successfully conducting what must be a trying job but one which so satisfies its public and the horsemen. Minor criticisms always are with us, be it with the Derby, Keeneland or The Jockey Club. But as John E. Madden once put it: Opinions die, facts live. The facts are that Kentucky is the national leader in thoroughbred breeding and hence the true spiritual home of such a race as the Derby, and that its citizens, in building Churchill and a race like the Derby, and Keeneland — a sport-for-sports-sake track — have provided positive and progressive national leadership for the sport." The Churchill folks insist that the Derby is a race the people have created and built, and that managements major job is to be sure and not make any mistakes in the future that would harm it. According to Wathen Knebelkamp, new president of Churchill Downs: "The Derby has outgrown any one person or group of persons, and we at Churchill are merely servants of the great classic. It is true that Col. Winn single-handedly built the Derby from being just another race, so to speak, but at the time of his death it had outgrown even him, and he realized it and was happy, for he realized he had built something that would endure through the ages. And what better accomplishment, or monument, could any man ask?"
