The Washington times., 1934-05-04
KENTUCK|ANS
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By DAVIS J. WALSH

1OO4ONAAA4C' ny" way H
Down in this staid, old town, al.
most unchanged since the war Of
the rebellion, word was going
around today that Col. E. R. Brad.
ley is fixing to put over another
fast one in the Kentucky Derby
tomorrow.
The colonel, who holds this title
by courtesy, the cost of same being
II cents each on a quantity pro-
duction basis, according to the lat
est available statistics, is an expert
in fast ones on the Derby; so
much so, in fact his slightest ut
terance before the race is listened
to with the deepest respect.
The behavior of the blue grass
section in this connection is prac-
tically infallible. 1t simply listens
to What the colonel has to suggest
and then does something else.
Ladysman Way Back
Last year, for instance, he in.
sisted no other horse in the race
had a. chance with Ladysman.
But when they hung up the mum.
bers after the race, the colonel's
horse, Brokers Tip, was first and
Ladysman was so far away that,
for time, there was some talk
about organizing posses to make
sure he got back before the follow
ing Friday.
Twice, too, the colonel's horses
have run one-two in the race,
quite without premature warning,
the belief being that Bradley had
bet it that way but that, in mo-
ment Of inattention, had forgot.
ten to mention these possibilities
in the hearing of others.
Therefore, when he set out the
other day to eXtol the virtues Of
his filly, Bazaar, the boys around
here were frankly nonplussed. He
said Bazaar would either win the
Derby or come so close that they
wouldn't find out the difference
until the following day; whereas,
the statement is so absolutely out
of line with the stenciled proce-
dure of professional chance
taker as to be funny.
Don't Warn Ruth
The Whitehills and the Groves
do not Wann Mr.. Babe Ruth
when they are going to hurl q
fast one through the slot, nor did
Dempsey make it common prac-
tice to wind up with his right and
yell, Here it comes" on approach
ing the business of a knockout.
So when you are presented with
the spectacle of a gambling man
telling the good people to rush in
and support his filly, and thus
help him to see his money by re"
ducing the odds, in event of VIC
tory, you are naturally disposed
to look for the comic supplement.
Wary Fasteners, already con-
fused on the eve of what appears
to be the most open Derby in the
sixty years of its existence. found
themselves wondering today if the
dear old colonel wasn't putting on
the tWelye-pound spool, with the
ultimate notion of roofing his
Blue Again home at very generous
odds. Blue Again is 40 to l in the
freeze out, or winter books, as
against 6 to l on Bazaar. That
gives you an idea as to what the
Derby day prices may be.
Another thing that makes the
boys look askance at the colonel'S
openly expressed enthusiasm for
Bazaar is that he has repeatedly
stated he would give odds against
any fllly in any early spring race,
it being well founded by precedent
and biology that the maidens Of
the turf are markedly untruSt-
worthy at this time of the year.
Why The FavOritiSm
So why now this feverish ad.
miration for one of the young
ladies Of the turf on the part Of an
owner who is not only a cash and
carry gambler, but one, that
through the years, has been
severely taciturn? Don't tell me?
Let me guess. I've been guessing
all my life, anyway. Can it be that
the colonel has a really great filly
and that at the age of u he has
decided to Let the world in on q
good thing. That might be so.
George Bernard Shaw might be a
Japanese juggler, too.
just to keep the records
straight, I should like to point out.
being an All-American pointer-out,
that only one filly has ever won
the Derby, a thing called Regret,
owned by the late Harry Payne
Whitney. The Derby had been go
ing on for Al years before this
phenomenon occurred. And 1t
may be another IL years before
it occurs again.
II am wrong, the sensation
will not be exactly novel. And be-
sides, I don't mind seeing the
Colonel right. After all, some
thing has to win this Derby. The
State law demands it.