Evening star., 1933-05-05
HEAD PLAY GAINING
FAVOR; ODDS DROP
Charley O. Also Well Backed
for Classic Starting About
$50 Tomorrow.
BY ALAN GOULD,
Associated Press Sports Editor.
OUISVILLE, KY, May S.
The thoroughbred horse
II flesh that parades to the

IL flesh that parades to the
post at Churchill Downs to-
morrow afternoon in the fifty
ninth running of the Kentucky
Derby possesses real equine beauty
and color, unusual racing courage
and interSectional claSS-in fact,
all the essentials to the kind of
"hoss race" that sends the pulse
soaring, plus the paradox of a
public favorite not expected by
many observers to finish inside the
money.
In recent years, at least, there have
been no more perpleXing situations or
more heated horse-racmg arguments
than those confronting thousands of
turf followers moving into the Blue
grass today from all parts of the
country. They came to join the hard
boots in brave attempt to chase the
turf blues away, sustain the glamour
OF Americas most romantic horse race
ana get their share of thrills out of
wagering 81 or maybe little more OH
another tussle between East and West.
They arrived by train and motor, by
airplane and on foot, to find w. R.
wv Aoby olllnll, JuNClll4C otdl VI lSCL
and Winter book Derby favorite, cling
ing precariously to the position of the
horse to beat" at odds that shifted to-
day from 2 to l to to l. They dis
covered, too that with startling dis
regard of this, few experts pick the
Eastern ace to finish better than
fourth. Instead, the form students in
dicate a preference for the winning
chances of Mrs. William Crump's Head
Play, a handsome chestnut colt, Tennes-
see-owned, but backed by considerable
Kentucky cash and sentiment.
LEAD PLAY, already to and
i 1 going down, may 60 to the post
favorite, if it develops there
is no further reason to be concerned
over an injury to the colts right hind
leg. cut in recent race. The sore spot
has healed nicely. apparently to the
complete satisfaction of trainers, and
no trace of lameness has been shown
IN subsequent workouts.
Ladysman, on the other hand has
failed to convince most critics he is
anything more than sprinter or that
the; colt S legs are altogether sound. de-
spite his excellent 2-year-old record.
his early season victory at Havre de
Grace and subsequent private trial
over the Derby route in the good time
of 2:06 and a fractien.
The experts may be wrong and the
public correct. If 50, it wouldn't be the
first time. yet until they actually see it,
most observers will not believe a son of
Pompey has the ability to 60 the
full Derby distance of l mile and a
quarter and win. They recall too vividly
the Derby of 1925. when Pompey him.
self, likewise champion as a 2-year-
old, and subsequent favorite in the Ken
lucky classic, faded abruptly after chal-
lenging Bubbling Over and failed even
to place. Blood, in short, IS expected
to tell and history to repeat itself.
Kentucky's sentimental support Of
Head Play may be due partly to the
fact this handsome colt has been more
on display at the Downs, in contrast
with the pampered care and secrecy
surrounding Ladysman and his stable
mate. Pomponious, but it has not OBJ
scured the highly regarded prospects Of
a number of others in the probable
field of Is three-year- -olds.
DESPITE the withdrawal of such
- earlier favorites as Repaid and
Swivel, the Derby lineup looks
the fastest and best-balanced brought
together in several years, whether or
not the winner jeopardizes the record
of 2:0l AS made two years ago by
Twenty Grand.
Especially well backed at around 6
to Is Charley O.. an Hourless colt,
winner of the Florida Derby and
owned by Mrs. r. NJ Eastman Of Chi
cago. The silks of Col Edward Riley
Bradley, master of the famous Idle
Hour Farm and triple winner Of the
Derby. will be carried by Brokers Tip,
10 to l.
The Eastern contingent has Kerry
Patch. 1882 Belmont Futurity winner,
as well as Iadysman, but may have
to place its main reliance in the stretch
drive upon the Catawba Stables Mr..
Khayyam and Good Advice, or on the
speedy Sarada, owned by F. A. Griffith
of Rochester, N. Y. and sired by Sir
The death Of Buddy" Hanford in
an accident at Pimlico yesterday came
as shock to those who expected the
popular little jockey to make a strong
bid in the Derby astride Trace Call.
4 LTHOUGH racing in Kentucky as
"A well as elsewhere has withstood
severe financial shocks, the 1888
Derby will lack little. if any of its usual
color and none of its competitive at
tractiveness. The historic Downs never
looked more picturesque nor bloomed
with as abundant shrubbery. The purse
for the big race, retains its boom time
value, with $50 900 added, and is the
years richest stake to be run outside
Belmont Parks twin classics, the Bel
mont Stakes and the Futurity.
If the weather's support can be ral-
lied from a forecast today of rain, the
picture will be complete for the blue
ribbon event Of the bluegrass. probably
around $50 pm. tomorrow $3.50 East
ern standard time). The Derby is the
sixth race on a card Of eight.