Evening star., 1939-05-02
Rain Might Help
His Techniiciian,
Woo|f Feels
TN. Dorsett's S Jockey,
Lightspur's Handler
Fear Woodward Colt
BY SID FEDER,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

LOUISVILLE, KY, May 2.-The
Derby atmosphere was as pleasant as
the mint juleps along Fourth street:
the field was about complete for the
65th running Of the Kentucky classic
Saturday. And still, Herbert M.
WooH, owner Of Technichan, the
peoples cherce" from the West,
wanted Just a little something more
today.
"Now," said the big clothing store
and movie theater man from Kansas
City, If the rainmakers just decide
to hold a convention here Saturday,
we should have a pretty fair chance"
Woof, who sent Lawrin out to win
the $4,000 pot of gold a year ago,
has come back this season with
very nice race horse in the bay son
Of Insco, which sired the 1888 con-
queror. He figures his hopeful is the
best horse in the field of dozen or
so expected to go to the post, but.
with typical business acumen, he
would like to be sure Of it. And,
playing them close to the vest, he
believes that weather, lots of it-and
plenty damp-wil turn the trick
against the only one he fears, Will
liam Woodward's JohnstoWn.
Nine Get Final "Prep" Today.
Technician, w. E. Boeing's Porter's
Mite and seven other Derby eligibles
get their final competitive prep"
chance today in the second running
of the Derby Trial. The outcome of
this mile gallop figures to cut all but
the top two or three flnishers from
Saturdays starting field. Woolf's
hopeful and the Boeing bay, top
weighted at 118 pounds, stand out in
the event, with w. H. Whitehouse's
American Byrd, ridden by Charley
KurtSinger, a dark horse"
Woof expressed his hope for rain
insurance" today as racing lovers,
already treated to sight of most
all of the colts expected to answer
when my Old Kentucky Home
echoes over beautiful Churchill
Downs Saturday, turned out to
watch the arrival of Johnstown, Joe
w. Browns T. M Dorset and the
Earle Sande-traine Heather Broom,
which worked the full mile and a
quarter in 2:06 at Keeneland yes
terday.
All Fear Johnstown.
"Certainly," Woolf admitted,
"Johnstown is going to be tough. But
no owner yet has held a patent on
the Derby, so we have pretty fair
chance. Don't forget, Johnstown
has been funning at Jamaica, where
the footing is faster than here at
the Downs. And that gives Tech
nician a definite edge, because he's
been here for several weeks and has
proved he can go on this track.
Also, he has the master trainer in
Ben Jones.
But, just to be on the safe side,
I've sent out a call through the
South for the rainmakers to come
Saturday If they do, it should help
us-definitely."
With all contending eligibles on
hand, word was received today that
Buddy Haas will be aboard T. M.
Dorsett Saturday. but even Buddy
had a lot of respect for Johnstown.
That big fellow" Haas told the
boys, "is the fastest thing I've seen
in a long. long time, and anybody
who thinks he can't run mile and
a quarter and like it is crazy"
Lightspur Apt to Start.
At the same time, Trainer Roscoe
Goose -poohed those who al
ready had counted John Marsch's
Lightspur out of the starting field.
Just suppose" Goose pointed out,
"that Johnstown broke a leg and
Technician came down ILL., Wouldn't
I be silly to keep Lightspur from
going to the post then?" (Somehow
or other, it sounded as if Goose
was merely voicing hope existing
among all the trainers except Ben
Jones and Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons.)