Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-18
ny the Associated Press.

ny the Associated Press.
LOUISVILLE, KY, May 18.-By train
and motor, by airplane and blirnp,
ahorse and afoot, the main body of the
greatest of all Derby crowds poured into
the Bluegrass capital today for the
tifty-flfth running of the $4,000 Ken
lucky classic for 3-year-olds.
Semi-oficial estimates placed the
number of visitors at 100000. All have
come with one object in mind, to place
a bet on and catch glimpse OF the
big race at Churchill Downs late this
afternoon, but it will be miraculous If
more than $4,000 actually witness or
even get within proximity of the
running.
In many respects this is the greatest
of American sports spectacles. 1t yields
to none in color and tradition and COM
bines the best features of many others.
Roll together the excitement of a big
heavyweight fight or base ball world
series such as Washington or st. Louis
has known, season with the mellow
flavor of such an ancient event as the
Harvard-Yale boat race, add the spirit
of milling golf gallery-and you have
a composite of Louisville's jam on Derby
day.
Plenty of Inside Tips.
The fervor of these followers Of the
turf is little short of frenzied. A
chance visitor, suddenly caught in the
midst of bitter debate over the rela-
tive merits of rival horsefiesh, finds
himself caught in the argument in no
time. 1t is not necessary to do like
30 Txie fYNN NH
is private fight" Everybody and his
opinion and his money is welcome.
Every one studies form charts. Inside
tips are offered gratis by the elevator
boy and the girl at the cigar counter
or at the prevailing rates by retired
jockeys and other professional men who
follow the races as small boys follow
the circus parade.
Glass makes no difference or distinc-
ton. The relative merits of the out
standing two horses in the race, Blue
Larkspur and Clyde Van Dusen, along
with all the rest of the record field, are
debated just as keenly by the million
aires in their private cars as by the
turf tribe typified by Umbrella Herb"
who hasn't missed a Derby in at least
30 years.
The main facts of the 1929 edition of
the Derby can be set forth much more
quickly than any argument can be
closed.
Overnight 26 of the country's FORE
most 3-year-olds have been named
This surpasses the field of % that
started last year, but turf experts ex-
pected no more than 10 or 20 actually
to go to the post.
Hiram Kelly, st. Ignatius and Boris
were scratched today, leaving % en-
tries for the field.
The weather prospects were for
thundershowers, increasing the likeli-
hood of several scratches. Post time
was set for approximately 5 pm, Cen
trail standard time. The race Is at a
mile and a quarter.
Winner Gets $4,000.
Depending on the number of actual
starters, the stakes were expected to
approximate $50, 900, of which $4,000
goes to the winner $4,000 to second
horse, $4,000 to third and $1,000 to
fourth.
The outstanding favorite all along,
Col. E. r. Bradley's Blue Larkspur, the
hope of the home folks, occupied con-
fiicting position. The son of Black
Servant, after sparkling final trial
that justified all the good things said
Of this colt, drew the extreme outside
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