Evening star., 1941-10-17

That is exactly the SITUATION In
which I found myself.
The Lions Club of this city staged
a turtle derby to raise funds for its
sight conservation program for the
underprivileged. From all over the
country the Lions brought IN the
fastest, best-bred racing turtles.
From the famed blue grass farms
of old Kentucky came turtles whose
blood lines go back to that mighty
runner. Man O. Peace, the turtle
who licked the hare in the never-to-
be forgotten race From Maryland,
from California, from Florida-from
.verywhere-came thoroughbred tur-
ties ready TO match their stamina
and speed.
Chattanooga was pretty excited
about the derby. 1t is renindful OF
louisville before the Kentucky Derby
or Baltimore before the Preakness.
The streets and hotels were packed
with lovers of what someone once
so aptly described as "the sport Of
queens" Tips on good things" and
sure winners" and "sleepers' were
thick Touts drew you aside TO give
you inside information" straight
from the stables.
The derby was run in the city
auditorium over the historic old tur-
tie course Everyone of the 5000
odd seats were sold days before, and
at the last minute there we're reports
that scalpers were asking and get
ting as high as so cents for pair
of pasteboards on the finish lines.
I visited the track for the final
workouts of the turtles. Picturesque
characters in turtleneck sweaters,
and speaking a language all their
own, galloped the turtles on the
track. Checkers, using sun dials and
calendars, timed the thoroughbreds
as they broke from the top of the
stretch and inched along toward
the judges stand, their chestnut.
bay and dapple gray shells glintirg
In the first shafts Of the morning
sun.
There are few sights more beauti-
full than that Of racing turtle in
full stride. I have seen Seabiscuit
take the lead at the turn for home,
I have seen Whirlaway come charg-
ing from behind and I have seen
Man O. War running through the
pastures, but none of them WAS as
| eye-f1lling, as heartwarming as a
thoroughbred turtle going all out.
Hf&&
The thoroughbred turtle In full
stride has the rhythm of a grand
fathers clock, the grace of a run
ming hen. His patrician neck is
arched forward His deep, under
standing eyes are completely opened.
He carries his streamlined shell
as lightly as If it were a mere
feather OF bank safe, and his
feet pound at the incredible pace
Of two or three times an hour.
I didn't tell the Lions Club, but
I had no idea of the duties OF a
presiding steward at a turtle derby.
Was supposed to take the turtles
aside and give them a heart-to-
heart talk on the importance of
running true and honest race and
outline to them the penalties that
go with rough riding and other
illegal tactics? If so, how was I to
address them-open my remarks
with stern mo, men" or use a
simpler and more familiar form OF
address such as Turtles, old boys,
the eyes of a Nation are upon
you7~
There are other details I was not
quite sure about at the time.
Do turtles racing derby carry
any special weight? Are the rules
like those of the Kentucky Derby,
where the colts carry 126 pounds
and the fillies a few pounds less?
If they are, just how do you tell
colt turtles from filly turtles?
Is there any age limit on turtles
IN derbyP Must they be 3, 4, S, 6 or
7 years old? If so, how do you
determine a turtles arep OY co,,rso
I could saw off their legs and
count the rings, but there Is always
a chance that such a measure would
cripple them in later life.
And what does the presiding
steward cry when the races beeinp
Perhaps, after all. this was right:
They are off and not running at
Chattanooga"