Evening star., 1938-05-05
TRAINERS, RIDERS
AS WILD AS FANS
Wide-Open Race Promised
by Small Field Named
for Turf Classic.
BY ORLO ROBERTSON,
Associated Press Sports Writer.


LOUISVILLE, KY, May 5.-Ken-
tuckys annually recurring Tornado,
better known as the Derby, struck this
horse-minded community full force
To-Day and gave no indication of ex-
pending its energy until the king of
the 3-year-olds is crowned at Churchill
Downs late Saturday afternoon.
1t has been gradually gathering
momentum the last few days as the
IL equine principals in Americas most
color1ul turf spectacle stepped through
their nnal preps for the $4,000 test
ana tne early arrivals from every Sec
ton OF the country slipped their mint
Juleps and argued pro and con the
merits of each horse.
From the looks of the towns hostel
f'es and crowded streets. one would
never guess there is such a thing as a
recession The hotels have been sold
OUT Tor months despite the increasing
OF tne rates many fold. Refreshment
oars and restaurants found their hos.
pitality taxed even today. with the big
push not expected until tomorrow and
ooVoiudy morning.
Kentucky colonies. who hold tbeir
annual frolic tomorrow night. paraded
proudly through the hotel lobbies nro.
claiming their Derby picks and fine
points OF their favorite recipes for mint
Juleps. In one hotel there started a
t~o-day julep contest with experts on
nano 10 mix your favorite version of
Ine drink that has helped make the
Blue Grass Country famous.
Downs Preened for Big Race.
The Downs itself already has os.
sumed Its best bib and tucker. The
seating capacity has been increased TO
some $4,000, but thatll take care of
only about half of the expected crowd
Ine lnf1eld has had its face lifted and
resembles a beautiful garden with
many colored flowers, rock walls and
fountains surrounding a doorway
SYMBOLIC Of Kentucky mansion
orange and blue painted refreshment
STANDS In the field give the track a
resemblance to England's EPSON
Downs. Even the concession men and
ushers have been dressed in bright
blue outfits.
banoS from the universities of In
diana, Kentucky and Louisville and at
least half dozen high schools will
paraoe and play in large space al
lotted them in the infield. They will
combine for MY Old Kentucky Home"
the State anthem that annually greets
the horses as they parade to the bar
rler. Post time will be about 4:3Opm
Central standard time.
The intense excitement of the oc-
caslon has even reached the usually
calm trainers. A few of them remark
ed today they would be ready for an
insane asylum when it's all over
Jockeys. many of whom have been
plying their trade for years, are on
eoge. Although the ages Of the riders
range from l9 to 20, not one of them
IN this years race ever has had the
thrill OF returning to the Derby win
ners circle and having the horseshoe
OF roses draped around the head of his
mount.
Smallest Field Since 1922.
Out of all the arguments came only
one clear fact-this is the most wide
open Derby since Brokers Tip sur
prised in 1888. It'll be the smallest
field since nine trailed Norwich home
in 1922, but no less than seven of
the horses figure strongly and only
three can be claSsed strictly as out
siders. If the track should be muddy.
the field NAV be reduced tn even feu,er
than 10.
Heading the list is Maxwell How /
ards combination of Stagehand and |
The Chief, trained by Earl Sande. |
Backed by Stagehand's brilliant per-
formances on the West Coast last
winter and The Chiefs track-record-
equaling performance here on Tues
day, the entry is expected to rule the
5-to-2 favorite.
Next in line are Fighting Fox Wood
Memorial winner, from William Wood
wards Belair Stud, at 3 to /, and
Warren Wright's Bull Lea, chief hope
OF the Hard Boots, at 4 to /. Herbert
M. Woolf's Lawrin and Hal Price Head
ley's Menow, both speed demons, are
quoted jointly at 8 to l and William
du Pont, jr.'s Dauber at 10 to1.
Behind the leaders are Myron Selz-
nick's Can't Wait, at IS to l, and the
three outsiders-Mrs William O'Toole's
Elooto, Bert Friends Co-Sport and
Mrs. Ethel V. Mars Mountain Ridge
at odds ranging from 30 to SOL.