Evening star., 1940-05-03
Win Just About
Conceded Star
AT Louisville
Throng Only Mildly
Excited Over Race:
Poor Weather Due
BY GAYLE TALBOT,

Associated Press sports Writer.
LOUISVILLE, KY, May 3.-Bime-
lech will go to the post tomorrow for
the 66th running of the Kentucky
Derby and it looks as though seven
other horses will go that far at
least with him.
Whether any of the others stay
with hlm-or even near him-for
the rest of the whirl around the
Churchill Downs track remains to
be seen.
Bimelech is supposed to win hands
down, and it would not be truthful
to state that the air OF Louisville
is charged with excitement. The
thousands Of visitors who are churn-
ing about the hotel lobbies are pretty
we'll charged, certainly, but not with
excitement.
No Hot Race Expected.
1t is much as it was a year ago,
when JohnStoWn SO obviously was
the class of the field. Everybody is
preparing to 60 out and warble My
Old Kentucky Home" and generally
get very sentimental, but nobody
seems to think it will be much of a
horse race.
Incidentally, the pre-race singing
promises not to be so ff-key as
usual for Irene Dunn, the movie
star, has come home after all these
years to sing the first verse from the
Governors box and give the horse
players the proper pitch.
The weather is very unpleasant
cold and rainy-and gives promise
of getting worse before it improves.
TomorroW's crowd, as sensible
result, may not be record one.
This is painful to the manage
men, including the Downs boss, Col.
Matt Winn, because they have made
extensive additions to the clubhouse
since last year. The great, RAM
bling wooden structure now can ac-
commodate almost as many persons
as it has been popularity reported to
house in past years.
The price that Bimelech will pay
providing, of course, that the Brad
ley thoroughbred wins on schedule
likely will be the legal minimum in
this State, which is 10 cents on the
dollar. That is, the man who buys
a 81 ticket on the big hoss" is sure
OF getting back 1920, providing he
wins. And don't forget, this goes,
too, for place and show bets. This
can be financially painful to the
management.
Col. E. R. Bradley, who owns the
super-favorite, hasn't been in such
good health down at Lexington.
Nevertheless, there is report 60
ing the rounds that he intends to
defy his physicians and come up for
the race. The colonel has seen four
of his horses win the Derby. and
they say he is determined to watch
Blmelech make it five.
The only thing that might pull
the management out of the hole on
Blmelech is plenty of rain. Should
1t come down tonight, steadily. and
the track becomes really muddy to-
morrow, lot of patrons will shop
around for horse that might beat
him. For some reason there always
is doubt that favorite can run in
the mud. though Bimelech has won
two OF his races in fairly heavy 60
ing.
Some Few Favor Midland.
A scattered few expressed the
opinion that Midland, the West
Coast horse, might spring surprise
and run right away from Bimelech
down the stretch. Midland undoubt-
edly is the dark horse" and there
might be a good bit of money bet
on him.
Some are going to take a chance
on Dit, the gelding that won the
Wood Memorial in New York last
week, and few will take long
shot on w. L. Branns Pictor.
But, mostly, the crowd will stamp
its feet to regain circulation, blow
on its hands and pour the money
into the windows on Bimelech.
Gallahadion, Roman and Royal
Man, the other three considered
certain starters in the big race,
mostly will come in for place and
show bets.
The owner of the winner will re-
ceive more than 100000, which is
nice money.