Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-11
Kenucy Makes Ready Another Gm Derby the Ss5 Day of Days

Exterminator, whose record for two miles OF
1925 at Belmont Park stands to this day; Sir
Barton, a maiden when he won the Derby
but what a horse he was afterward; Black Gold,
a sterling piece Of horsefesh; zev, the biggest
money winner on record; Bubbling Over, the
best horse that E. r. Bradley has ever owned,
and Reign Count, which showed his quality to
English turfmen last year.
All of these Derby winners were giants In
their day. Besides these stars I've mentioned,
Plaudit Alan-a-Dale and Paul Jones were all
famous horses which deserve ranking with the
best winners of the great race.
The belief and hope that the race may bring
to light another great champion TO rank with
these stars Of the past adds to the excitement
that reaches its peak on Derby day. 1t also
is responsible for many of the thrills, the hopes
the heartbreaks and disappointments that nh
the two weeks before the famous stake is rum
for during those two weeks the morning work.
outs of the Derby candidates are held. Fresh
arrivals from Maryland and New York are sub
jected to the closest scrutiny. If they venture
on anything faster than a canter, hundreds OF
stop watches click to chronicle their speed
When some favorite for the big race, with his
Derby rider up, makes his appearance, accom-
panied by his work horse, the group spring into
action and quickly arrange among themselves
so as to miss no part Of this dress rehearsal
"You get them from the 6-furlong pole"
g. "In get them for the once around"
"Get the last half"-meaning the last half
mile.
These are some of the hurried instructions
as they see the trainer, watch in hand, moving
to position in the infield from where he can
get a good view Of every furlong pole. They get
a great kick" out Of it.
These morning workouts bring to a close the
strong preparation that a 3-year-old must
necessarily receive to win the Kentucky Derby.
So intense is this preparation that it is charged
with the breakdown of many horses. But I
think this is placing blame where it does not
belong. Unless a trainers hand is forced by
an owner who wants the honor and glory of
seeing his colors carried in the Derby, he should
be able to judge If the colt he is handling can
stand the work required and if the horse has
class enough to warrant running him.
The principal reason the Kentucky Derby
occupies its outstanding position among great
races is its location and environment. The re.
nowned old Churchill Downs course at Louis
vile, if not exactly in the heart of Kentuckys
famous blue grass district, is right next door to
the numerous breeding farms where, even in
this mechanical age, the thoroughbred horse
still reigns supreme.
At least three-fourths of the field that will
go to the post in the Derby have been raised
in old Kentucky. There they were foaled and
as youngsters played at their dams sides, and
to its green pastures those of them that sue
return to take the places of their sires. New
York, New jersey Maryland, Virginia and dis
tant California produce great race horses, but
the blue grass lands of old Kentucky still stand
unrivaled as the home Of the thoroughbred.