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. « Casey Hayes, One Eye on 50, Tries Again for Derby Triumph Saddles Juvenile Champion j First Landing, Arcaro Up, For C. T. Chenery at Downs By Staff Correspondent CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 1. — The popular Casey Hayes, who saddles C. T. Chenerys First Landing for tomorrows 85th Kentucky Derby, can be forgiven if he shakes his head in recollection of his last participation in the celebrated "Run for the Roses." This was in 1950, and Hayes had brought along a fine colt from New York in Chenerys Hill Prince. But Hill Prince, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, had to settle for second money behind Middleground, after being in close quarters on the upper turn and suffering interference from a tiring Your Host as they straightened into the stretch. Many knowledgeable observers insisted Hill Prince was the best horse that afternoon, and to his credit the handsome son of Princequillo went on to become "Horse of the Year." Developed Host of Stars Hayes is back again this year with another fine colt in First Landing, and as before, Arcaro will do his riding. Hayes is due for a change of Derby luck, but win or lose, the 52-year-old veteran from North Carolina has been around too long and is too much of a gentleman So be emotional about the outcome. In the 20-or-so years that Hayes has been training Chenerys horses, he has developed such stars as Third Brother, Prince Hill, Bryan G., Mangohick, Manotick, Hill Prince and numerous others. It may be his brightest star will be First Landing, who was the nations champion two-year-old last season and has earned over 50,000 to date. Hayes fines work with First Landing illustrates why he is considered one of the Easts leading conditioners. After a brilliant two-year-old campaign in which the colt won 10 of 11 starts, First Landing wintered poorly in Florida. So the experienced Hayes stopped on him, gave him a chance to freshen in the north, and Continued on Page 8 0 | Casey Hayes, One Eye on 1950, Tries Again for Derby Triumph Continued from Page Five D brought an alert horse back to the races. Born in Asheville, N. C, Hayes has been around horses all his life. His father dealt in farm horses, and as a boy, Casey worked with saddle horses and jumpers. Eventually he began training hunters and polo ponies at Scarsdale, N. Y., where he met Chenery. Hayes had many good show horses for the Virginia financier before the latter installed him as head trainer of his thoroughbred stable. During World War II., Hayes put in a couple of years with the coast guard, and like so many American trainers, also served briefly with the Maine Chance Farm 1952. An astute student of the sport, Hayes enjoys and is articulate in discussing various phases of racing, while his sunny disposition makes him one of the best-liked horsemen on Long Island. Hayes and his charming wife, Helen, make their home in Yonkers, N. Y. during the summer, and recently purchased a winter residence in Coral Gables, Fla., for the Miami racing season.
