The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-04
Every Box
Taken for
Derby Race
Additional 200 Available
All Will Be
Occupied.
BY HELEN WORDEE
Times Special Writer

/
IL We're expecting a crowd OF
100000" Col. M. ]. VIM guiding
star Of the Kentucky Derby, said
yesterday. We've added 200 new
boxes this year, and every one OF
'6m is sold out"
I arrived in Louisville from New
York yesterday morning. Bright
sun, blue skies and long shots con-
tributed to the charm of Churchill
Down. The track is within Is
minutes walk Of quaint little St.
James Court where my house party
is quartered. All roads in town
lead to the race course. GAY ban
nerS, big posters and soda pop
stands point the way.
The original clubhouse and grand
stand, built in 1875, the year
Aristides won the Derby, remains
the hub. Like some country fair,
white shed after white shed has
been added each year.
And we've given them all a fresh
coat of paint this spring." said Col.
VIM, leaning back in his office
swivel chair and gazing out the
window at the rambling galleries
which house the general admission,
clubhouse restaurant and club boxes.
The coloneIs sturdy square figure,
friendly red face and Sho i Of white
hair are familiar to all Derby fans.
He's the ''big man" Of the Southern
racing world.
His office on the third tier of the
grand stand is hung with photo
graphs Of Derby winners. Bronze
statutes Of the horses decorate the
directors table in the old-fashioned
board room.
It's spring time in Kentucky,
which means dogWood trees, red bud
and bridal wreath in full bloom.
Purple lowered acacia trees and
white blossomed horse chestnuts
shade the quiet streets. Doors and
windows are wide open. The girls
are in summary clothes and the men
are wearing light flannels.
But it turned cold last night" a
gatekeeper tod me as I famed N.Y.
self. up to Monday we had nice
warm weather"
Hotel Filled
Every room is taken in the Brown
Hotel. All the local families who
could found a place TO drape them
selves Derby week while they rented
their own homes.
For the time being Louisville is
having a boom. The shop windows
have horseshoeS of flowers, posters
of race horses and Good Luck at
the Derby" for decorations.
Gov. Ruby Lafoon is busy greet
ing guests and was to receive
the seven Governors who will be
with him Derby Day, among them
Paul V. McNutt of Indiana; Stiles
Bridges, New Hampshire; Eugene
Talmadge, Georgia; George w.
Earle, Pennsylvania, and DIN john
ston, North Carolina.
AS rule the big crowd doesn't
show up until Friday. This year
they came earlier, because of
Derby week. Balls, luncheons, din
ners and Derby breakfasts kept
things humming.
Those who like their gaming in
the evening as we'll as IN the after
noon try out the greyhounds, across
the Ohio River, in Indiana, Or good
old French Lick Springs, also in
Indiana.
Life Moves SereneIy
Whisky distilleries, bourbon ads
on the front of street cars and
talk Of mint juleps provide local
color Mixed in with this kaleido-
scopic picture are mules, darl1ies,
hound dogs and tobacco ware
h~uses.
Nobody hurries here. There is q
a velvet-padded silence to the
peaceful streets, jogging carts ard
leisurely ambling of strollers.
Rocking chairs, Venetian blinds
old family portraits and plenty of
black servants are part of the set
up in every private house.
The women are all beautiful and
the men complimentary.
Louisville has its quota of IA
nous persons. Alice Hogan Rice
of Mrs. Wigs of Cabbage Patch
fame, lives three doors below us.
Annie Fellowes tombstone, author
of THE Little Colonel series, made
her home, up to the time of her
death in the Pee Wee valley inst
outside Louisville.
The ghost of James Lane Allen
fingers and there are those who
still speak Of John Fox Jr. and
THE Trail of the Lonesome Pine,
but all these, famous as they are
or have been, get second place in
Louisville on Derby Week. The po-
MES have the lead here.