Evening star., 1939-12-24
A. G. Vonderbit-A Success at ~
Wealthy Head Of Pim|ico and Belmont Tracks Makes
Some Of More Sedote keehbos Sit Up and Take Notice
BY MAX HILL,
Associated Press Stan Writer.

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himself a seat beside a grizzled old
veteran Of the racing wars.
He wore plaid sports jacket that
talked out loud and tie on the
gaudy side, both of which he then
favored with typical college-boy
enthusiasm.
The horse parks provided spec
tator sport for him at the time, but
new and beguiling notion had
come to him that day. He would,
with a great show of nonchalance,
bid on a f1lly or a colt.
Just which one he didn't know.
But he was sure an opportunity
would come his way. The old man
next to him was intent on his cat
alogue, and our young man de-
termined after a number Of sly
glances that he was paying par
ticular attention to two yearlings,
one a colt, the other a f1lly.
Both pages in the catalogue we're
marked * x X"
First the colt came in from the
darkness outside, nervously circling
at the end of rope, and Whinnying
now and then, perhaps frightened
by the crowd and the glare of the
lights. He brought a fancy price,
about $6,000 The old man evidently
knew his yearlings.
Gets Desire to Bid.
The itch to bid absorbed the young
man. Not that he had any use for
horse at the moment. Far from
it. But small bid could do no harm,
one that would be forgotten a
mement later as the price shot up
and up.
So the filly came along and off on
the other side somebody bid 500.
That was easy to top.
II have $1OO," said the auctioneer,
mopping perspiration from his brow
and looking about for a bidder.
who will make it $20O?"
The young man raised a nervous
hand and the auctioneer was quick
to take him up.
Il have 200," he chanted, who
will make it three?
The silence was depressing only
to the owner, who must have ex-
pected more. and our young man.
Everybody else was studying the
next offering in the catalogue.
The auctioneer raped his gavel:
Sold, to Mr.. Alfred Gwynne
Vanderbilt"
Uamed Filly Sue Jones.
Vanderbilt, now among the mighty
Of racing and president of two Of
the Nations finest tracks-Pimlico
and Belmont-recalled his despair
and confusion the other day, just
after he was called on to take a
hand in the affairs of the New York
track.
''1t was back in 81 that I bought
the fllly. I named her Sue Jones.
She really didn't amount to much.
I didn't actually have a large stable
until 49,"
From that modest start has grown
a tremendous establishment, one
that takes most of the time Wander
bilt, even now only q years old.
doesn't spend with his family or on
the affairs of the two tracks.
But let's go back even beyond the
Saratoga incident and check up on
Vanderbilt as slender lad of II, in
not too robust health. After passing
a rather lonely childhood he be-
came a student at St. Paul's School
in Concord, N. H.
Even then horses came first. and
to keep up with their doings he had
racing form smuggled into his
room daily, made outwardly re-
spectacle by an innocent-appearing
manila envelope.
Kentucky Derby time rolled
around and Vanderbilt alone among
the students could talk with glib
familiarity about the race. its his
tory and the starters and owners
a good many of whom he knew.
Started Derby Book.
So it was that as sideline he
started a book and accepted bets
mostly of the Is and so cent variety
Some we'll heeled schoolmates
wagered dollar, however, and with
chuckle now he remembers that
even some of the teachers cast aside
their scruples and backed their
choice.
That Derby's favorite was Col
E. R. Bradley's Blue Larkspur, but
it came mud and Clyde Van Duser
splashed home the winner. an "eagle
bird" in bookie parlance, for oul
young layer of the odds didn't have
a penny bet on him. That Derby
probably financed a new subscrip.
ton to the Racing Form.
After st. Pauls came Yale, but
not for long. Vanderbilt had just
about the same idea on education
that young friend had. George H
(Pete) Bostwick was of the opinion
that he wasn't getting anywhere ir
particular in school, so why waste
time when he could straddle horse
and be on his way.
They didn't have any courses
about horses at Yale" Alfred said
That, for him, was a good enough
reason to leave.
Vanderbilt's father was Alfred
Gwynne, a son of old Cornelius Van
derbilt, a grandson of the founder
of the family fortune. The father
went down with the Lusitania II
1915.
One passenger said, he saw hin
standing outside the grand en-
trance of the saloon, looking quite
happy and perfectly composed. HI
was holding a jewel case for lady
for whom he apparently was wait.
ing"
Saved Woman PASSENGER.
Another passenger saw him latel
near the rail, wearing life belt
Vanderbilt noticed a young woman
searching vainly and wildly for one
He removed the belt, and strapped
it around the frantic young woman
He watched her plunge into the sea
Then he sought one for himself, fol
he could not swim.
mot many minutes later" sale
the passenger, who by that time wa