view raw text
MRS. HALINA GREGORY BRAUNSTEIN — Royal Orbit will carry her colors in todays Derby. Mrs. Braunsteins Hunch Pays Off Royal Orbit Was Apple of Her Eye Didnt Stop Bidding on Colt At Dispersal Sale of Mayer Estate Until They Had Him By OSCAR OTIS CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 1. — Helena Gregory Braunstein, whose husband, Jacques, died unexpectedly last December, had a hunch, a sense, or whatever you want to call it, that "we should have Royal Orbit" when he was included in the Louis B. Mayer Estate dispersal sale at Pomona, Calif. Mrs. Braunsteins 9,500 hunch, or whatever you want to call it, has paid off handsomely — as Royal Orbits presence in tomorrows renewal of the Kentucky Derby proves. The Braunsteins first became interested in racing as spectators. Mr. Braunstein, an attorney and tax consultant in Los Angeles, was also intrigued by the sport from a business point of view and, several years ago, he and his wife decided to form a modest stable. They engaged Lester Balaski, who has since returned to riding, as their trainer. They decided to try for their first "good horse" at the Mayer dispersal and succeeded in buying Royal Orbit for 9,500. Excellent Juvenile Form "I was drawn to this horse by more than looks," said Mrs. Braunstein. "When my trainer advised me that the conformation of the colt was right, and a check of the bloodlines indicated stakes possibilities, we didnt stop bidding until we had him." The Braunsteins then engaged Reggie Cornell as their trainer and its a matter of record that, at two, Royal Orbit more than fulfilled their fondest dreams. After Mr. Biaunstein died, his widow decided to continue the racing interests. Today she recognized as an adept student of racing. "I am a New York girl," explained Mrs. Braunstein, "but we made our home in Los Angeles for the last 10 years. I sang professionally under the name of Helena Gregory and appeared in several foreign films and on TV shows. I have been friendly for a long time with some of the people at Hollywood Park, notably Mervyn LeRoy, and I long have had an ambition to be an owner. "I decided before I did anything about that I would survey racing from a fans" point of view and get the feel of the sport before making the plunge as an owner. My husband agreed, and we were spectators at the races, and careful observers, for a lengthy period before we obtained our first horses." Mrs. Braunstein reports she has "seven horses in all, mostly young. Royal Orbit I was a good start. I have already started a modest one mare program of breeding and will learn more about this phase as I go along with a view toward getting my own farm eventually." The mare, Dark Abb, is being boarded at Royal Oaks Farm in Hidden Valley, Cal. From personal observation, as well as from frequent and of times long discussions on breeding -racing theories with Mrs. Braunstein, it is evident that racing has found a most promising and deep-thinking pupil.
