The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-05-04
STAGE HAND IS
Third IN trial
Gould Have Won" Say
Hardboots; Chief Sets
Track Record

i. CUP)-Stagehand, the heh-
lucky Derby co-favorite, was beat,
en- in his first outing since Marc"
vesterdav-but the AardbootS to-
day were saying that i was just a
workout; that Sta2ehand coul"
have won if he wanted to.
The Son of Sickle and Stage
craft finished third IN the DERBY
trial preview for Saturdays Ken
lucky Derby. The race was won
bv his stabiemate, The Chief, AT
ter a savagely fought duel down
the stretch. -.
The Chief, which will run as an
entry with Stagehant on SatGr-
day. set a track record for the
mile as he outlasted Nooitof4
Farms Lawrin by half a head
Five lengths back in third place
not under drive, came Stagehand'
winner Of $15O,000 during the
winter and early betting taVorite
for the derby. Jackie WeStrope'
who was up on Stagehand, han
died him easily throughout ana
critics believed Trainer Earle
Sande had sent him out just for
the workout.
As a result. it appeared that
the big three for Saturdays bat
tie would be Fighting Fox, winner
of last Saturdays Wood Memo
rial. and the H. Maxwell Howard
entry of Stagehand and The Chief.
Fourth money went to Elooto
of the Blue Ridge Farm Co.
Sport, Mountain Ridge, Wise Fox,
and Red Breast followed in the
ordcY named. -,
The Chief, coupled in the bet
ting with Stagehand, closed at z D
and paid SO, $500 and $2.l0,
Lawrin paid $40 for both place
and show.
The Chief, carrying l15 pounds,
covered the distance IN :35-4 >
TO equal the mark established by
Peace Chance in 1885. Co-Sport
set a blazing pace from the bar
ricr, but The Chief was right be
hind him, and at the quarter ship
ped inside and took charge. lie
never was headed, but he had to
make a blistering fight down the
stretch to beat off the bid of Law
rim who came a-boiling after the
three quarters pole.
Stagehand started slowly and
raced wide throughout. Westrope
held him snugly and urged him
but once. Off fifth, the Sande hope
was sixth at the quarter. Leaving
there he picked up speed and was
third at the top of the stretch. lie
seemed ready to challenge for the
lead but Westrope rode him like a
general reviewing his troops.
Co-Sport looked fine at the start
but caught the 'backstretch blues
after three quarters ard ceased to
be factor.
Elooto showed stamina. which
was more than Red Breast and
Wise Fox did.
The better minds believed last
night that d field Of no more than
Is would answer the call to battle
in the derby Saturday. The Is
likely starters are seen as Stage
hand. The Chief, Fighting Fox,
Bull Lea. Dauber, MenOw, Can't
Wait. Lawrin. Co-Sport, Wise Fox,
Red Breast. Mountain Ridge, and
ElootO. -,
Fighting Fox. winner of the
Wood Memorial last weekend and
rated as Stagehand's chief rival,
arrived in town yesterday and APP
peared absolutely fit when ne
reached his barn at the Downs
He was accompanied Ev his stable
mate Madero, a derby eligible who
won't start, and Myron SelzmcKs
Californian, Can't Wait.
The first big push Of spectators
arrived in Louisville yesterday.
Hotel men say that in no time III
the history of the race have rooms
been at such premium. Colonel
Matt Wlnn, 1atnef VI 'iie Wv
confidently expects a record crowd
in excess of $4,000. g,
The probable field was reduced
further when Joseph c. Metz an
nounced he had withdrawn ms
Governor Chandler. Metz said the
Reign Count gelding was thor
nmnbIv sonnd but ."hardly meas
ured up to derby qualifications
Bull Lea. one of the favored
horses, worked mile ana an
eighth over a fast track in Id
is handily and galloped out the
derby distance of a mile and
half in 2:O8-3/5. He went the
Quarter in :24-4/5; half in Sc;
threc-quarters in 1:15-2/5 and the
mile in 1:41-1/5. Dauber opened
up a half mile in :5O-2/5. Dauber
will have his final long workout
today. Yesterdays was Bull Lea'S