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JUDGES STAND By Charles Hatton Trial Fails to Simplify Derby Selection Derby May Pose Question in Strategy Downs Barn Houses ,000,000 in Horses Apprentice on Contender in Rose Run CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 3. You might say the Derby Trial was rained on, and it served Black George right, but it didnt simplify the Derby, for anyone. However, it did encourage William Veeneman, who is chairman of the Downs board, to say he would start Black George in Saturdays 09,000 classic if the track chances to be muddy. In case you have wondered about it, Black George was named or Father George Holtereth of the Notre Dame faculty. Some of the 15,000 who saw the last of the Derby previews anticipated that Middleground might be scratched and Hill Princes prep postponed owing to the wretched track conditions, but of course the surface is deeper today, though the skies are clearing. Track suoerintendent Tom Youns insnected it this morning and philosophized, "Well, there are a lot of mud-ders eligible, if it comes to that." The futures favorite, Your Host, is reputed to have worked smartly in such going on the West Coast for all his peculiar action, and the second choice, Hill Prince, looked a very superior soft track horse going a mile in 1:40% yesterday. The Trial field was driven out to beat that two-fifths of a second. The horsemen were guests of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders Association at dinner last night, and the trainers of the Derby colts were asked how they felt about their trainees chances. But none of them made any very precipitate statements, leaving it up to the horses to speak for themselves Saturday. This observer thought that the King Ranchs colt, Middleground, ran very creditably in going he didnt much like in the Trial, and for which he wasnt especially plated. The Texan has grown out and developed as a Derby horse should during the winter and he has the dash to avoid trouble in an unwieldy field on Saturday. The Klebergs will be here with a party of a score of Lone Star Staters, and they hardly can help feeling theyve a splendid chance of winning this Derby. On the Mark isnt within lengths of Middleground in the charts, nevertheless he is the best maiden that has been pointed for the Derby since Brokers Tip. Its going to be interesting to note if Bill Boland on Middleground sports the stables first colors in the Derby. Of course, thats the supposition, and yet many think him the only one capable of chasing Your Host the first part of it. If this is correct, it may pose a question of strategy that will have a great deal of bearing on the result. Barn 10 on the backstretch here at the Downs houses perhaps ,000,000 worth of horses, though it has only 24 stalls and is by no means the largest of the stables at the Central Avenue course. Middleground, On the Mark, Hill Prince, Your Host, Sunglow, Greek Ship and Lotowhite all are munching oats in this barn. It is doubtless the last stable in America any trainer would be asked to vacate in order to make room for a shipment of horses. And, of course, it is guarded like the gold at nearby Fort Knox. Additionally, there is one of those Whirlaway screens before Hill Princes stall. Trainer Hayes is well pleased with the way in which Hill Prince is coming up to Saturdays 00,000 run of a mile and a quarter, and Mr. Trouble and Middleground are others who appear to be nearing the top of their form. New Yorkers estimate that Middlegrounds race in the Wood was on par with that of Hill Prince, considering that he was beaten the two lengths he lost in going wide. There arent any apprentice allowances in the Derby, nevertheless William N. "Bill" Boland is to have the mount on Middleground. This is probably as nice a compliment as a bug rider is likely to get, but it isnt the first time Max Hirsch has given one the leg up on a Derby horse. By a coincidence, apprentice Ira Hanford had the mount on Middlegrounds sire, Bold Venture, and he beat the highly fancied Brevity a zip on the post in a long stretch drive. Boland is a quiet, blond youngster from Corpus Christi, where he was born in 32. He has been with the Kleberg string for a couple of years and accompanied Buddy Hirsch to Santa Anita last winter. The experts voted him the most competent apprentice active at the meeting, though he didnt get the most mounts nor ride the most winners. For all his reticence the wiry Texan has the confidence necessary to compete against the experienced veterans in important stakes events. Eddie Arcaros decision to ride Hill Prince rather than Middle- ground in this Derby was the most fortuitous thing that has happened to Boland up to now. Turfana: Navy Chief, who is to be sold at Belmont, was valued at 00,000 three weeks ago...C. V. Whitney wound up affairs in Washington, D. C, to join Mr. Troubles rooting section ...Sam McMeekin is ordering the Derby roses. Theyre usually described as American Beauties, but Cliff Burke says it depends , on the variety of red blossoms that chance to be in the best bloom. . .J. Graham Browns lively Juliets Nurse looms an odds-on choice in Saturdays Debutante. . .There will be a mutuel field in the Derby with more than 12 starters. . .Casey Hayes saddled nine winners in three weeks of New York racing, not to mention five seconds, with a string including 12 maidens.
