Evening star., 1941-05-02
Shower Threat
Gives Swain 5
Backers Hope
Races First 100, 900
Cote Looms as Fans
Pack Louisville
BY ORLO ROBERTSON,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

LOUISVILLE. May ELEVEN
ariStocrats of the turf idled away
the time in their closely guarded
stalls today as politicians, society
folk, businessmen, movie actors and
actresses and just plain Mr. and
Mrs. turned this usually tranquil
city into a bedlam for tomorrow's
renewal of the $4,000 Kentucky
Derby.
Following brief speed tests soon
after dawn this morning the stars
of the American turf'S most colorful
spectacle returned to their quarters,
ready for the word that will send
them away in quest of the pot of
gold and garland of roses awaiting
the winner at the end of Churchill
Downs classic mile and quarter.
Post time is scheduled for 5:45 pm.
Washington time.
Trainers of the razor sharp thor
oughbreds filed into the racing Sec
retary's office at an early hour to
drop the names of their charges
into the entry box All of the ex-
pected entries were in before the
deadline, but the box was kept open
in event another decided at the last
minute to plank down the $500 start
ing fee.
First 100000 Gate Looms.
Elsewhere, however, things weren't
so quiet. Thousands poured into
and airplane last night and still
they came-from every section of
the Nation, from every walk of life.
The railroads reported an increase
of 25 to so per cent in number of
passengers as they took care of the
first of As special trains due before
tomorrow morning. Airplane traffic
also was up. Automobiles arrived so
rapidly that garages were pressed
for room and parking space on the
downtown streets was at premium.
Matt Winn, promoter of the ex-
travanganza. predicted the first
100000 Derby crowd and mutuel
handle of S2,0O0,00O for the day,
mark exceeded only in 1926 when
Bubbling Over won. There were few
who cared to differ with the genial
head of the Downs. who has seen
every Derby since the little red
horse, Aristides, scampered home in
1875.
Local Showers Predicted.
Even the weather mans prediction
of local showers tomorrow failed to
put a daniper on the pre-Derby ar
rangements. For the most part, the
trainers sat back with an "I-don't-
give-a-damn" attitude as to the
weather. Their charges were ready
to 60. wet or dry. However, jess
Durnell. handling Cleaveland Put
MANS Swain in the absence OF his
brother Boots" cast longing eye
toward the heavens, hoping they
would open up and pour. for the
chief hope of the son OF Ladysman
lies in mud.
Our Boots, offspring of Bull Dog
from Royce G. Martins Toledo
owned Woodvale Farm, remained
the favorite at to to become the
first Belmont Futurity winner ever
to go on to Derby honors, but there
was indication he might have to
share the spot with Charles s
Howards Porter Cap before post
time.
The Cap was quoted at 2 to l to-
day, but his support mounted as
new arrivals recalled his victories
in the Santa Anita Derby and Ches-
apeake Stakes and his sizzling work.
out over the Derby route last Sum-
day.
Whirlaway Has All Guessing.
Whirlaway from Warren Wright's
Calumet Farm was the horse that
really had everybody guessing and
getting nowhere. He was the top
winning juvenile of 1910 and
after showing poor form in Florida
came back under the aStute ham
ding of Ben Parnell Jones, who won
in 1888 with Lawrin, to forge into
third position at to /.
It's hard to forget how the son of
Blenheim turned on the steam to
come from far back in Tuesdays
Derby trial only to lose ground when
he was unable to take the stretch
turn under full speed. Eddie Arcaro,
a great money rider. may be able to
(See DERBY, Page CA