The Indianapolis times., 1932-05-02
TALKING
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAMS

NEW YORK. May 2.-Well, the
4 Y boys who said the Derby was
no place for young gal knew what
they were talking about.
I'm drifting back to the Wood
Memorial out at Jamaica over the
week end when Sonny Whitney's
Top Flight ran a feeble fourth.
Top Flights a little gal racer.
Last year she was the champion
two year old OF America. colts in
cluded. She won seven straight
races and set a new money winning
record for juveniles.
Rated of her record, she automa-
tically became the winter book
iavorite TO win the Derby. which is
70 be raced out in Old Ksintuck
this Saturday Despite the fact
there was no certainty about her
even starting. the magnanimous
layers wouldn't offer better than 8
to / against her winning. and these
ODDS we're gradually shaded TO TO
/.
Because Of her unbeatsn record
tWo-vear-oid and the extraordinary respect
shown her hv professional bettors TOP
Flight became the most talked OF hilv IN
she was tremendous sentimental favoritc.
ONLY one hliY IN history had ever won
This was Reeret. 1915 victor. owned.
eoincioentallv. by sonny Whitnevs father.
the situation Here was material for
rich racing romance Could TOP Plight do
ghat oniy one Other nliy had ever done
uD where his dad had isfft OH oH5 wa
NLDTIMERS recalled that May
~ day seventeen years ago when
the elder Whitney brought Sonny
out 10 Louisville TO see Regret run.
Sonny was just little fellow then.
He sat in a clubhouse box clutch
ing his dads hand as sixteen OF
the nations greatest thoroughbreds
cantered to the post.
She can't do IT," remarked veteran
racing man. She's too small. anc be-
sides no fillv ever has won the Derby
1iy. but she still looked small alongside
Sharpshooter. Pebbles and some Of the
lined up nervously 70 await the starter
CRY Of Go on"
they we're OF. So sak OF blue and brown
shot out in front OF the pack II was Re-
gret. Jockey Joe Notter famous IN his
oaY. had got the jump on the field
She won't stay there" mumbied {he
veteran racing man. Them other hosses
VIII be running over her on the back
But she did stay there. She led all the
way. Pebbles came up 10 make a night Of
y n the stretch. but Regret had enough in
tsnee in 2.o5 2-5 70 become an immortal
among her sex.
n
CONNY'S first big thrill at the
~ track his proud and happy
dad the stout hearted, beau
tiful Regret the passing OF
years Top Flight, and another
Derby.
Yes. II would have been a stirring
bit Of drama. one Of the really great
stories Of the turf. if this other
little gal could have come on to
do for the boy what Regret had
done for the father almost two
decades ago.
Mavbe some dav In the future another
MY Will win the Derby but . won't be
this year and it won't be Ton Flight. As
one Of the bows said after the running Of
the Wood Saturday she lust can't get
the LEGS. Which isn't a nice. thing 70
sev about anv little gal YOU will agree
As evidence Of the sentimental hold the
hlly had on the public. the largest crowd
Of the eastern season filled the Jamaica
stands and lawns to see her make her
hrst start as a three-vear-old
Before the race YOU couldn't get within
fortv wards OF the paddock rails. The
crowd was twenty deep. EVERYBODY wanted
70 see what TOP Flight looked ike close
up. She was in the No. ! stall The nine
other starters we're in their stalls before
she appeared.
Just like a woman Never on time"
rrumhled stable swine who apparently
had learned ahouf women from fliieS.
"Or" as an after thought. "mavbe she's
Just showing on