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» _ Tomy Lee First Derby Starter For Trainer Frank Chi Ids, 71 Veteran Conditioner Believes* Ben Jones Technique; States Proved Maxims of Profession By Staff Correspondent CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville. Ky., May 1.— Veteran western trainer Frank Childs, at 71, is saddling his first Kentucky Derby starter tomorrow in Tomy Lee, second-high ranking two-year-old on the Experimental last year. Tomy Lee is an Irish-English thoroughbred who was imported by Childs patron, Fred Turner Jr. of Midland, Texas. The septuagenarian has a background as a trainer that is seldom encountered in this day and age. He is a third-generation horseman who, in addition to his experience with thoroughbreds, was successful as a trainer-driver of standardbreds and also schooled polo ponies. Veteran of World War I. Childs grandfather traveled west in 1859 and settled in Oregon. Franks father was a career owner-trainer and, by 1905, had his son rubbing horses for the family stable at the old Emeryville track in California. Childs devoted a good deal of 1909 and 1910 to breaking yearlings at the old Exposition Park in Los Angeles. He ventured into the standardbred field in 1911 at Pleasanton and by 1913 was campaigning the champion pacing filly of the Grand Circuit, Lita J., who had a mark of 2:03. He was absent from the racing scene during World War I. he served with the Armys 22nd Engineers and for 14 years after the cessation of hostilities. During the latter period he was in the contracting business in Omaha. In 1932 he returned to the turf, assembling a stable for Omaha sportsman Mark Waller. A few years later Childs drifted to California, where he trained his own horses, one of the most successful being the mare Watersplash. His stable prospered and many patrons were soon seeking Childs services. In 1938 he took over the stable of the late Abe "Murphy" Hirschberg of San Francisco. There then came along in steady succession such good campaigners as Ca-nina, Dinner Gong, Bolero and Berseem. Oddly enough, Childs did not develop a top-ranking two-year-old prospect during this period. His patrons were men of wealth who had the money and inclination to acquire "made" horses. "Tomy Lee was developed along the methods used so successfully by Ben Jones," Childs has explained. "He was slow to be broken as a yearling, not until September at Santa Anita. And the first time he breezed I suspected he might be a good colt. At least I felt he could run at least some. Mostly his works have been on the slow side." Some of Childs training maxims are: 1. Many young trainers of today, even though they didnt "grow up" with horses as did many of the veteran conditioners, are proving themselves to be better than the "old timers." They have the benefit of the veterans experience plus new. proven scientific aids. 2. The most necessary attribute of a successful trainer is an affinity for the profession". 3. The groom is the most important Continued on Page Ten D Tomy Lee First Derby Starter For Trainer Frank Childs, 71 Continued from Page 8 D key to the success of any trainer and the quiet, efficient groom is the one who "makes" the trainer who gets the headlines. 4. Horses learn by routine, and the groom is the most important man in the establishment of the routine. 5. Horses are becoming better all the time. 6. The greatest reason for unsoundness is not deterioration of the breed, rather, over-racing. Winter racing has helped bring this about.# 7. There is a scientific explanation for the widespread prejudice against four white feet, and while he isn t condemning Tomy Lee for having this identification, hed prefer that his stock have feet of another color. Childs will be on hand for the Derby because of an iron will and a strong con ; stitution. Last winter, at Santa Anita, while astride a "new" stable pony, he was thrown and the pony, after rearing, fell upon him. The trainer suffered a broken clavicle and an injury to a knee and was confined to the hospital for several days but gamely returned to the track in time to saddle one of his runners for an important stake. His only concession to medical science, once out of the hospital, was the wearing of a sling for one week and the use of a cane, which he discarded after 10 days*. Childs has campaigned on the California coast almost exclusively since 1932. His first major foray to the east occurred last year, when Turner shipped Tomy Lee to Belmont to compete in the Champagne and later The Garden State. Madeline, Childs wife, is with him here in Kentucky. The veteran conditioner i also has a brother, Marvin, who resides in Lexington, and a son, also named . Marvin, who is a colonel in the United ! States Air Force.
