Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-16
DERBY TRACK is FAST.
Twenty Grand and Mate Favored
Among Is Entries.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHURCHILL DOWNS, KY, May 10
This is the day for the running OF the
ffty-seventh renewal Of the Kentucky
Derby and the worlds tribute to the
most aristocratic of Americas 3-year-
old thoroughbreds. The Kentucky
Derby assumes increased Importance in
the turf world from year to year and
now has lu5ter possessed by no other
race in America and very few in the
world
Louisville and the historic Blue Grass
Land presented their best Spring flnery
for the great throng Of race followers,
which comfortably filled the picturesque
city on the banks of the Ohio. Several
days Of rare Spring weather have made
the track of the rustic and flower
decked Churchill Downs lightning fast,
and a bright sun this morning indi-
Gated that for the first time in many
years the Derby would be run under
ideal conditions. Fifteen possible start
ers have been nominated for the $50 900
purse.
Twenty Grand Favorite.
Derby eve found the race crowd di-
vided in its allegiance to Twenty Grand
and Mate IS the favorites. 1t is likely
that Mrs. Helen Hay Whitney's Green
tree Stable entry, consisting of Twenty
Grand, Anchors Aweigh and Surf Board.
VIII be the ruling favorites in the post
betting and that the odds will be about
o 10 D, put Mate will be the selection of
thousands and either EQuipoise or Pitts
nurgher, depending on the track. will
occupy third position at odds Of some
where from TO to 10 to l.
twenty Grand seems to favor Church.
~ above all other tracks, recalling the
olo adage Of the English turf of horses
1or courses and courses for horses" It
was here that Twenty Grand set the
American record for a mile by 2-year-
oios, when he won the Kentucky Jockey
CLUB Stakes in 1886 last wear. Twenty
GRAND has worked well in his training
and is in grand condition.
But such keen judge OF horses as
Ear! Sanoe, who has ridden three
DERBY winners, leans toward Mate
~ ne b3stwick horse could have won
me Preakness by a much wider margin
nad ne been given a loose rein and I
ngure MN TO win rather easily here -
declared Sande before the race.
twenty Grand will be helped in the
race by either Anchors AWeigh or Surf
BOARD, who will be sent out IN set a
SlIllng pace until such time as Twenty
Irsnd takes the lead, If ever That
was the scheme in the Preakness. but.
Jockey Linus McAtee rode to win in
stead OF riding 70 kill of Mate.
Equipoise Loses Backing.
EquipoiSe, who won sl5S.335 as p
2-year-old and has been out Of The
money in only Of I9 races. has lost,
many supporters. But Equipoise was
the Winter book faYorite and A lot cf
money VIII go on him in the pari-
mutueIS in order TO protect early bets
Eq9ipolse IS conceded fair chance
oh4y IN case OF heavy track, and
should he win on fast footing it will be
tremendous upset
Col. Matt VIM, executive manager
OF Churchill Downs, expects one of the
greatest races in the history OF the
Derby. The colonel, who now is 20
years old, goes back 10 the days when
Aristides-the little red horse-won the
first Derby in 1875 Col. VIM is proud
~ the development Of the DERBY. in
which he has had great hand, for he
can recall the days when II had a
value Of less than 5000 and the years
When the entries ranged from three to
eight Those we're the times when the
Derby was luSRa Kentucky boss race
and patroni2ed only by natives Of the
State.
Curtis TO Present Trophy.
In those old days Kentuckians came
from the blue grass. the penny roll
and the limestone districts by buggy,
boat and on horseback, but now the
Derby Is a world event
The notableS here for this year S
Derby are headed by Charles Curtis,
Vice President of the United States,
and his sister-ilostess. Mrs. Dolly Gam.
The Vice President is an ardent lover
of horses and will present the winner
Of the Derby with a trophy. Mayor
Anton Cernak Of Chicago is the second
ranking political figure to be seen at
the Downs. although there are numer-
Gus Governors in attendance, including
Gov. Sampson of Kentucky, Gov. Harry
Woodring Of Kansas, Gov. w. @. Con-
Icy Of West Virginia, Gov. Albert
Richie OF Maryland and Gov. Morgan
w Larson of New Jersey.
Copyright. 1891