The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-07-06

~eSJ sVAASAA et NAA0AAAHAOlI Ol GIlC at old Churchill Downs.
 The night before is Derby eve. For days steady stream of Der by Special" trains, asTplanes and automobiles has been pouring into Louisville from every state in the Union, and most foreign countries. The downtown section, especially Fourth street between Walnut and Broadway, is packed. The hotels are full to the guards. The the- aters, bathrooms and other places or amusement are crammed with boisterous visitors-and the police grin and look the other way.
 (yof
 Joe Emery stood on the south west corner of Fourth and Walnut Streets, in front of the Seelbach Hotel, and looked about him with an appreciative grin. The old town looked the same, he thought.
 Derby Day was the one day of the year that found Joe back in the town where he had been born and raised. Though only twenty-four he hadn't missed Derby since his tenth year when, perched on house-top adjoining The Downs, he had watched as Behave Yourself and Black Servant, both belonging to Colonel "One-Two" Bailey, had fought 1t out down the stretch with Behave Yourself triumphing.
 Five years later, when sixteen, he had lain flat on the top of the 'baby grandstand" and seen the same Coloners Bubbling over an- mex the classic for that year by a good five lengths, with his stable companion, Bagenbaggage, taking second.
 When the spring season was over at Louisville, Joe had journed to New Orleans, Lincoln Fields, Fair mount, Agua Caliente, Hialeah, and many another track had known him.
 Joe's race-track peregrinations had not made him rich, although there had been times when he had had several thousands of dollars in his picket, and had thought seri- ously of ''setting down." Somehow, he had never come around to it, and the money had inevitably been dissipated on steeds. not so fleet as those that had brought him tenn porary affluence.
 And so Joe found himself once more in front of the old, familiar Seelbach---in which, incidentally, he had not spent the night. That dis tinction had fallen to cheap lodg- ing house. Joe had hit town with only $S in his pocket, and he need for Lady Luck.
 TT WAS TIME TO
 GO TO THE TRACK.
 IL start for the track. Joe swung Finally it turned to the right on Central Avenue. There loomed the two tall turrets of Churchill Downs and the green, fiowery infield with the towering flagpole in the center gayly bedecked with flags of every nation.
 Joe alighted and sauntered up to the green-and-white painted en- trance. A long line of turnstiles faced him, with crowds of racego- CTS filing through, and he frowned thoughtfully. A ticket was too ex- pensive a luxury.
 Crouching like a sprinter, he darted underneath turnstile in back of gateman. He felt hand grasp at his coat, but jerked free and was instantly swallowed up by the crowd. Many hundreds always crashed the gate on Derby Day.
 Joe invested 10 cents in pro- gram and sat down on the grass in front of the big board showing the odds to study the entries for the first race. He heard persuasive voice at his side and knew 1t to be that of tout.
 "Lady. I tell you this horse can't lose! Ain't his exercise boy? List en--I ain't told nobody else this, but T'oisday he had secret trial and done quarter in 23 1-5! He cant miss, tell val"
 A soft feminine voice responded. "Well, it's really awfully good of you to tell mo this, but-are you sure? You sec, l must win some money today. I-1 just can't afford to lose!'
 It was none of his business, Joe thought, but at the same time. .I
 He twisted his position bit. and saw a scrawny, pasty-faced youth, dressed in khaki brooches and leather boots, with trainers badge dangling from his shirtfront, earn of perhaps IS, who just then said: Well, l guess I might as well take a chance. do hope you're right! Where do buy the tickets?"
 "Lemme buy 'em for you, lady" wheedled the tout. You just sit right here, and I'll be back in a minute. They might not sell 'em to you, seein' as you're so young"
 To Joe's surprise, the girl pulled a crumpled fifty-dollar bill from her purse and started to hand 1t to