The Washington times., 1931-05-16
GALA THRONG
TOW|TNESS
B|GRACE
BY JAMES L. KILGALLEN

LOUISVILLE, May 16 GN.SO
Between $4,000 and 10000 per.
sons, typically picturesque
derby day" throng, wended their
way toward historic Churchill
Downs today to witness Americas
greatest sporting spectacle, the
running of the famous Kentucky
Derby.
They had come from all parts
OF the country to thrill to the
pulSe-stirring drama that is
crowded into the brief space of
two minutes this afternoon. About
5 o'clock. post time, a galaxy OF
the Speediest horses that ever
stretched a leg will thunder
around the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
? ter racing strip, a mad whirl OF
color, out of which will emerge
. thoroughbred whose prowess
will be sung to the four corners
Of the earth.
Maybe the winning horse will
be Twenty Grand. Maybe he will
be Mate. Or one of the other 13
entrants. Everybody was doing
their own guessing, although the
concensus of the railbirds was
that it will be ga twO-hOrse race"
featuring Twenty Grand and
Mate.
1t was a gay, carefree throng
that made its way through con-
gested streets to the track. Women
in Summery raiment, many Of
them carrying bright-hued para
soils. Men with binoculars. All
animatedly discussing the one and
only topic of the hour.
Nearly all of them will bet on
some horse. It was conservatively
estimated that between $1,500, 900
and $2,00O,00C will be poured into
! the mutuel machines.
Curtis Among Present
Celebrities galore were here.
There was Charles Curtis, Vice
President of the United States;
his sister. Mrs. Dolly Gam, and
her husband, Edward Everett
Gam; Mayor Jimmy" Walker,
Of New York city; Governor Harry
Woodring of Kansas and Mrs.
Woodring: John F. Curry, chief
Of Tammany Hall; Governor
Henry Caufield and Mrs. Caufield
of Missouri; Governor Albert C.
Ritchie of Maryland; Governor w.
q. Comfy Of West Virginia; Gov.
ernor Morgan F. Larson of New
Jersey: Senator Simeon D. Fess
Of Ohio, and many others.
There's no place in all the world
quite like Louisville on Derby
Day. The town was gaily deco
rated, the streets filled with
people. Hotel lobbies were the
common meeting places where old
acquaintanceS were renewed as
South greeted North, and West
hailed East.
All ;Ound for Derby
The street car crowd, including
q large number of colored folks,
began it's ride to the Downs about
n o'clock and by 10 the sides of
The cars were bulging with hui
manity.
Taxicabs swerved around the
street cars in droves. Automo-
biles slowly chugged their way
toward the course, and hundreds
Of persons walked. Everybody
seemed to be going in the same
direction.
A few Louisville families still
hold to the tradition of driving
out to the race course in their
tally-hos. 1t was pretty sight
to see these carriages with their
sleek, pranoing teams making
their way down the wide, tree.
shaded streets.
Vendors of knick-knacks and
souvenirs were reaping a small
fortune. Soft drink dispensers
did a land office business. Bell
boys in the various hotels made
enormous sums in tips. Apart
ment house owners. renting out
rooms to visitors who couldn't
get into the hotels, coined money.
Boys Howdy is conceded a good
chance because of his Havana
record. The rail birds think
Equipoise was raced too hard as
a two-year-old and besides he
has been sick and has not trained
any too we'll.
Prince D'Amour has a world of
speed but may not be able to
last the distance, they say. Span.
ish Play. according to the sharps,
was lucky in winning the
Louisiana as he and three other
horses came home in a blanket
finish.
Surf Board is regarded as
merely a pacemaker for Twenty
Grand and Anchors Aweigh
Insco, long shot is a sprinter
and shows an inclination to sulk
The 1881 Derby. the fifty
seventh running of the famous
event, promises, however, to be.
real contest. in contrast to the
easy triumph last year Of Gallant
Fox.