The New York herald., 1922-05-13
NORWICH FAVORI7E
in TO-DAY'S DERBY
New York Horse Well Backed
at 3 to 5 to Win Kentucky
Turf Classic.
ELEVEN STARTERS NAMED
Louisville to Entertain Amer
ica's Largest Racing Crowd
at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE. KY, May 12-All the
trials for the Kentucky Derby are over
and all the owners and trainers of the
thoroughbreds named to start in Amer
ica's greatest turf event at Churchill
Downs tomorrow are hopeful, if not
confident, their horses will be returned
the winner.
The event, which has been run an
nually since 1875, attracted the nomi-
nation of ninety-two three-year- old
colts and FLIES. but only eleven OF
them survived the preliminary tests of
| speed and courage and stamina to be
entered overnight, and it is likely that
at least two Of these will be withdrawn
before post time tomorrow
M The race will be worth s55.S00, a
1 $1,000 gold service set and world wide
fame. 1t is at mile and a quarter.
/ Largest Racing Crowd.
/ To see the for.y-eighth running of
the race the largest crowd that ever
States or Canada will be present Of
fcials of the Kentucky Jockey Club said
to-day that 10000 persons will see some
part of the race. This may be an ex-
aggerated statement but the most con-
servative citizens Of this city are willing
TO wager that more than $1,000 will be
az the course.
or course all those who pay $3.50
admission will not see all the race. The
accommodations won't permit. Churchill
Downs Is beautiful course. and al
though the track measures only one
mile it Is quite large enoug.i to take care
of a large crowd. 1t ism. a little En-
pire City or Jamaica.
Neither Is it a mammoth Belmont
PARK or a Saratoga. 1t IS something We
haven't got in the East. 1t ~ small but
beautified, and will sea, about 10000.
But provision has been mace SO that
standees can see all parcs of the track.
On its lawn. reaching for half mile.
have been built graduated landings, 80
that those standing nifty feet from the
rail can see over the heads OF all In
front of them. But despite these accom-
modations there are sure 70 bs thousands
of those on the ground who will lose
sight of the contestants at some stage
of the race Such a condition Is bound
to arise when such tremendous crowd
is grouped together.
Prominent Folk TO Attend.
Among the throng in this city to-day
to see the race are Governors and
MAYORS. United States Senators and
Congressmen, army and navy officers.
social and financial leaders and thou
san nds and thousands of plain everyday
lovers of the thoroughbreds.
Derby Day here Is what tho English
Derby Is to. Europe. To see II run men
and women come from all parts of this
country and Canada, and some cross the
Atlantic. New York, Chicag" st. Louis,
San Francisco, Pittsburgh. philadelphia,
Denver and Boston, Montreal and
Toronto have sent full quotas.
kentucky is here en- masse. It's more
than a horse race to its citizens. It's
holiday.
From all towns and hamiets In the
State come hundreds and cities turn
loose what stranger would believe was
their entire adult population.
While the Derby itself IS a great mag
net it has extra drawing power this
year because of Norwich. This unbeaten
colt belonging to Benjamin Block Of
New York Is the idol OF all the race
goers here. even those who ordinarily
believe that greatness belongs solely 10
kentucky bred and owned horse.
some Norwich History.
Like the Fasteners. the Southern and
the Western horsemen and rscegocrs
who have inspected him sec nothing ous
of ths ordinary In him. They don't like
his conformation. They don't like his
pedigree and they don't like his de-
formed knee. But ell admit they are
compelled to admire his great ppeed
They see in him a speed marvel that
has been tested UP TO n mile and be-
llev, he can travel the extra quarter
fast enough TO beat his opponents.
Therefore they have made him an over
wheIming favorite. Men who know the
ways OF The mutuel machin - and the
way OF such a crowd estimate ne will
be at the short odds Of to S. In The
overnight betting that is the best price
obtainable against him.
To almost all here Norwich is the
king Of the turf He is not OF the purest
royal blue blood in their opinion. He Is
a plebeian. and deformed In tho knee
but king nevertheless.
Bred In California OF unfasnlonable
r~~xs--~l D.-~