The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-06
Fighting Fox Now Strong Betting Fauorite
TODANS .SPORTaPARApE,. . b8#HMzB!
BY HENRY McLEMORE

United Press Stan CorrespondenD
 Louisville, Ky, May 6-How does 1t feel to run in the Kentucky derby2
 Today, while the dew was still on the blue grass and the Juleps of my breath, I Henry McLemore (freckled colt, 31, by railroad tracks out of Georgia) ran full mile an one quarter on the Churchill Downs track where the derby will bc raced Saturday.
 Ignoring the questioning glances of clockers, stable hands, guards, and Jockeys, I went to the head of the chute where the derby is started, and paved the brown earth with patent leather shoes. A guards yell of what the devil are you doing?" served as my starting bell and was off.
 moved to the rail immediately, figuring I might need 1t before I got around, and started the run down past the grandstand. Guards .continued to yell and my conscience, which was riding me, put me under restraint and I passed the judges stand the first time laying slightly off the pace.
 Already my weight was beginning to tell. At the first turn I went wide and hit a soft spot. Resisting Q temptation to lie down in 1t I spur red myself with & jagged aspirin tablet I found in the pocket of my silks" and staggered into the back stretch. It looked Il miles long and wondered if the saying l had heard since childhood-"McLem colts can't go a distance"-was true. passed a clocker and he tore another page off his calendar. Then I remembered turf saying had heard a thousand times-"Hc was so good he just walked home,"
 started walking.
 As I moved into the stretch I cursed myself for all the harsh things I had said about horses who quit. And 1t was there, a quarter of a mile from the finish. that first really appreciated what is means for q horse to run the derby distance in two minutes and fraction.
 It was exactly 45 minutes after I broke from the barrier that I passed the finish line, on all fours. staggered to veterinarian who diagnosed my case as: bowed ten dons, spread hoof, thrush, pulled ligaments, weary wtthers, slipped stifle. fatigued fetlocks, and q quarter crack.
 The vet said he did not think would be in condition to run again before the Kentucky colonels dinner tomorrow night, and only then if I were fired"
 Fortunately he didn't mean by fired" what I thought he meant. Tn the language of the horse doctor fired" involves the use of hot irons, which is very painful of course. but nothing like the amputation of the pay check.
 Following my workout veteran horseman who happened to see 1t, handed me a chart of my mile and quarter run. It follows:
 Went to post 6:45 q. m. At post quite a while.
 Start--sloW and ragged.
 McLemore. off in tangle. man. aged to straighten himself out after going 10 yards and smartly bore Into the rail He held on gamely and sensibly. but began 10 weaken rap idly after the 20 yard pole had been passed, and was laboring under stout punishment at the 50 yard pole. Hangover. his only rival. began to close with rush and in the back stretch, not only caught McLemorc, but punished him unmercifully. Mint Julep, on the inside. took the place, as McLemorc pulled Up lame. Copyright, 1888. by United Prcss)