The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-17
THREE CREWS TO.
 SETTLE REGATTA TODAY.
California Seems ''Sure Thing" to Take Race
 at Poughkeepsie
BY HENRY SUPER

A3AO United Press Staff Correspondent)
 Poughkeepsie, N. r., June IT, (UP)-They row the 42nd Pough- keepsie regatta at dusk today and, if you like 8 crew with reputa- tion, one of those red-hot favorites that can't lose, put your green backs on the Golden Bears of Calif- ornia in the varsity main event.
 If you go for 8 crew with fight, a boat that has behind 1t the tradi- tions of Peary, Farragut, John Paul Jones and Dewey, ride along with Uncle Sam,s Middies of Annapolis, the boys who showed them the way home last year.
 And if you're one to string along with an eight that always shows promise in training but never comes through when the chips are down, then stand up and cheer for old Cornell, which once used to be pretty good around here until Washington and California started coming out of the west back in the early 20's.
 There's be four other boats in that back-breaking swing down stream tonight-Washington, Syracuse, Col umbia and Wisconsin-but Califor- mia, Navy and Cornell are the "big boys."
 But strange things happen to old Man River, and when they swing away from the stake boats at p. m. (EDT) on the four-mile car- nival it'll be every man for himself with the long shots having just as much chance.
 If you don't believe that, look back 8 year when Washington, which has won the freshman, jun for varsity and varsity events in 1886 and 1887, was one of those sure things. But it was navy-driven on by a VOW to win for Coach Buck Walsh who went to a hospital the night before with spine injury That came winging out of the rain and whipped California by a third of length in a heart-lashing fin- ish.
 The sailors, 8 to shots in the betting, rolled down the river in 18 minutes, 19 seconds, to carve IA 3-5 seconds from the record set the year before by Washington and gave the east its first victory since another sailor crew won in 1881.
 Title Goes West
 But, unless veteran river men are wrong, the title will go west again tonight, carried there by California which has won four times since its first appearance in 1921.
 The Bears were favorites at from five to six to one to two. They have a veteran boat containing six men who rowed here last year. In 8 time trial they whipped down the course in 1895.
 Even Coach Kyebright, who wouldn't recognize victory if it walked up and bit him, broke down and confessed today that i've have a very good chance"
 Next is Cornell, at 181 pounds the heaviest boat on the river, which will pay you $3 for $1 if it comes through. Cornell has good record over the sprint distance this year, having beaten among others, Harv- ard, which hadn't lost a race since 1897.
 Bracketed third is Navy, at Al, along with Washington. The sail ors are in perfect condition and are ready to fight because, to quote Coach Walsh, "fighting's their busi- ness" The sailors have three men back from last years boat.
 Washington is green crew, with not single holdover from a year ago. Out in Oakland, Cal, in April, the huskies were licked badly by California. Five men are sopho- mores, two juniors and one senior.
 The others, according to the ex- perts, will be in the race for the ride. Syracuse, as usual is the "dark horse", but on the records doesn't figure to win. Columbia is light-172 pounds to the man-and might find the distance too long. Wisconsin is smooth, but hasn't the power necessary for four miles.
 A crowd of 75,000 is expected.
 The two-mile freshman race opens the show at 4 p. m. (EDT) with Washington favored to win in a breeze. At 5 p. m.; six iunior- varsity crews start the three-mile grind which is expected to be a three-way battle among California, Navy and Syracuse.