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W0 HIS bfJaaaaaSl IT" Hi*, , - i* » *2- i V : ]£B §p¥andsa«*aaaa! -*S IKsmF M| ... .."JMVJjgMMBaaCSllJMt. ■ I WK I IttfeahK V$: : ~- Bfl BS 91 HP IfelaaaW. aH MB affiS MR. AND MRS. WATHEN KNEBELKAMP— The president of Churchill Downs and his wife will play host to the huge Kentucky De;by Day assemblage that will swarm to historic Churchill Downs today. A director of the Derby track for years, this will be Knebelkamps first Derby, as head of the Louisville course, having been elected to fill the post vacated by the death of Bill Corum. Knebelkamp Starts on New Career President of Churchill Downs4 Witnesses 40th Derby Today c - Owner-Breeder Meets Every t Requirement for New Post; I Called Top Racing Leader C By JOE HIRSCH CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., „- i May 1. — Native son of a state noted for the % production of fast horses and fine whisky, . Wathen Knebelkamp has in one lifetime covered himself with distinction in both 5 r fields. Yet on the eve of the 85th Derby, 5 this 58-year-old Kentuckian, who has seen C 39 previous runnings of Americas most c coveted race, finds himself in the unique . position of beginning a new career as the J fourth president of Churchill Downs. C "We want more than just a host as our next president," one of the tracks largest stockholders observed last winter, following the death of the popular and colorful Bill Corum. "We want a man to take charge, a man who can devote his full time to the job and knows the administrative side of racing, a man who can build and add to the glory of the Downs and the Derby." It is a tribute to Knebelkamps outstanding qualifications that he was selected for the post. An owner and breeder of horses on a modest scale for many years, Knebelkamp had served as chairman of the Kentucky Racing Commission, president of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners, president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and president of the Kentucky Division of the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association. Ironed Out Dare Problem In each of these jobs, he had acquitted himself with honor and success, just as he had done in business life as a vice president and regional manager for Schenley distilleries. As racing commission chairman for instance, he played a major role in ironing out a date problem existing between Churchill Downs and Keeneland, and did it with such tact that both sides were pleased with the arrangements. Duval Headley, present president of Keeneland and president of the Thoroughbred Club of America, but then a fellow commissioner, said at the time: "Wathen Knebelkamp is one of Americas great racing leaders. Working with him on the commission, I have come to realize his innate sense of fairness, his tremendous background in racing, and his almost infallible good judgment." Knebelkamp, whose late father before him was devoted both to racing and the whisky industry, had an extensive background in the two fields early in life. "Ive been with Schenley over 20 years," Knebelkamp said, upon being offered the presidency of Churchill Downs, "and I could remain with the company until I retire. But Ive always loved racing and the Derby since my father and I stood in the infield at the Downs in 1911 to see Meridian beat Goveror Gray, and to me this is" a rich opportunity I cant refuse. I wouldnt leave Schenley for any other job but this one." The tall and gracious Knebelkamp, well-known and well-liked by racing people throughout the country, recalls that as a boy, he would occasionally accompany his fathers stable to Tiajuana, Cuba and Canada during vacations from school. Bill Finnegan, his fathers first trainer, taught him many of the fine points of the sport, while his uncles Pat and Ed also helped to sharpen his racing interests. Pat Knebelkamp, a noted horseman of his day, ran » — Spanish Play against the mighty Phar Lap in the Caliente Handicap. Ed Knebelkamp, a prominent racing official throughout the Midwest, once won the West Virginia Derby at Huntington with a horse called Tender Seth he purchased from Ben Jones. As for Knebelkamps father, William, who died on the last day of 1935, he was a true devotee of the sport. The story is told that when he was bedridden in his final illness, he had his favorite mare brought to the window of his room so that he could look at her in the pleasure known only to real horsemen. In 1919, Knebelkamps father purchased the Louisville Colonels baseball team, and Knebelekamp passed many pleasant summers as secretary-treasurer of the club, rooming on the road with the young manager, Joe McCarthy, who was to find fame in later seasons as the pilot of the champion New York Yankees. "We traveled around the circuit," Knebelkamp observes, "and as a young man, you can imagine how much I enjoyed this experience." Graduate of Washington and Lee Knebelkamp graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1921. "At first I majored in chemistry," he says, "intending to go in the liquor business with dad. in 1957, still trains Knebelkamps horses. But when Prohibition came along, I switched to business administration. In 1932, with Repeal, I entered the whisky business with my father, and a few years ; later went with Bernheim Distilleries. I j joined Schenley in 1937 and it wasnt long I af ther that my family sold control of the Louisville ball team to the Boston Red Sox." Milton Reiser, a veteran conditioner who trained for Knebelkamps father at the time of the latters death, and brought Clifford Lusskys Federal Hill to the Derby , "Dad always had 15 or 20 horses in the barn," Knebelkamp notes. "I havent gone J racing on such an extensive scale, but did manage to win a Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs several years ago with j Sentiment Sake. Of all the Derbys Ive ever i seen, I guess the one I remember best is Broken Tips win. The best race Ive ever seen was the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at the Downs in 1930, when Twenty Grand beat Equipoise in a great battle. Exterminator has always been my favorite horse." Knebelkamps family will have little difficulty adjusting to his new position. Mrs. Knebelkamp is an active member of a rid- ! ing club, while Knebelkamps two daughters won the Kentucky state equitation championship in 1952 and 1954. Barby, now married, lives in Homewood, 111., while Judy is a senior at Vanderbilt University. j In addition to his racing posts, Knebelkamp is active in civic affairs. At various ! j times he has been a member of the board of regents of the University of Louisville, is a past president of the Louisville Chamber of Commerce, and served on the Louisville Municipal Athletic Commission. Knebelkamp, who has largely closed out his other affairs, has held his Churchill Downs post only since April 1. "I want to ! get the Derby and our spring meeting out of the way first," he says, "before I turn to anything else. But Ive been doing some thinking along the lines of expanding cur i facilities for bigger and better Derbys in I the future. I love racing and the people in I it, and I want to do everything possible to insure the continued growth of the Downs and the sports greatest race."
