The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-05-02
RECORD CROWD
OF 100000 TO
SEE BIG RACE
Greentree Pair, Alsab and
Requested Hold Most
Public Favor
BY JACK GUNTHER
UNITED Press staff COrrcsDOndentl

NOANsSA n AS9S 1NeNh SVAhNSVVhhO(AASJ
Louisville, KY, May 2 up
The quickest and simplest way to
say 1t Is that 100000 men, women
and children from every state and
every walk of life set cut today to
watch The 68th running OF Amer
ica's favorlte race, the Kentucky
Derby.
AS the annual, four-mile parade
from Louisville down Fourth street
to the rambling lod ramps and
grandstands of Churchill Downs be-
gan shortly after down, the 1912
renewal of the nations heart throb
classic still shaped up as q catch
as-catch-can scramble. You couldn't
cunt any thoroughbred in and you
ouldn't count any out.
The field of II, scheduled to break
from the barrier sharply at $50 p.
m. (CWT), was the largest and the
most bewiledring in a half-dozen
years. AS the first few thousand
fans hustled into the 50-cent
bleachers on the bend of the back
stretch, there was no real favoritc.
The rose on the lips of most of
the early arrivals was the big bay
beauty from Greentree stable -
Devil Diver. All week his name has
been banded about the Downs and
today 1t appeared he would catch
the public fancy with bang.
Devil Diver was coupled with a
stablemate, Shut Out, on the early
.NNNrR1iy,fs 1i1no aV1d 1Nte, oSlric ,x,oro . I
Three Well-Liked
This 68th renewal of the mile and
quarter route first run here in
1875, found the Greentree entry,
Mrs. AL Sabath's Alsab and Texas
Ben Whitakers' diminutive Request
ed more or less even in public favor
Their prices ranged from 81 to
SCI.
From these four fine and fast en-
tries or from second group COM
prisirg Belair studs Apache, T. D.
(Pinky) Grimes With Regards, and
the Valdina farm coupling of Val
dina Orphan and Hollywood-all OF
whom ranged from 81 to 12-1--
the fans expected 10 pick the VIM
her. These were considered the
class of the field.
AS always, there was a substantial
bloc backing the long shots - and
this richest of all Kentucky Deibies
was real boon to the bettOrs who
have a weakness for high, wide and
handsome prices. They had their
choice among Foxcatcher farms
Fairy Manah at SOL, Milky Way
farms Dogpatch at 3O-l or Calu-
NETS doubtful starter, Sun Again,
at lO-l. Or, they could pick the
pari-mutuel field.
The field was composed OF Sly
rag-tag buns, as horses go. IN
cluded were T, d. Bulbs Sweep
SWinger, Mill River stables Fair
Call. e. C. A. Berger's Boot and
Spur, Circle M. ranchs Sir War,
Mrs. Ed MulreEan's First Fiddle,
and Elwood Johnst on's First Prize.
For 2O-l the tyo-dOllar bettor could
buy the lot, and ii any won, they
all won.
Fast Track
The track was fast as the early
thousands spilled into she great
white. and green establishment for
A race that most OF them wouldn't
see. half Of them wouldn't hear
and fair percentage OF them
wouldn't remember, The weather
was warm and pleasant.
In the absence OF q "big horse"
the wagering was expected 10 be
unusually brisk. Th3 aIl.tlme
American betting record, q shade
over e2,0O00O0 for the day, was es.
tablished here some Is years ago
and there was actual danger that II
might be broken. When there Is
no heavy fay0rite there Is always
spirited action along the block l0ng
rows Of ticket windows,
The Derby, like the town III
Louisville, was sold out. Many 0f
the visitors and natives siil sufs
fered q headache - whether they
intended 10 pay 80 cents tor bleaeh-
eF admission on had paid ei25 f0f q
b0y.seat--but Col. Matt VIM was
up early and was jubilant
Ife announced that t0day's crowd
made good his dream Of 4 lifetime
THAT 100000 would zee One OF his
DeFbles. ne thought ne had Feaeas
"a The marx 4 year ago but q anal
tiiaek disclosed that he had missed
l1y some SEQ. Today, however, llae
c0napleie disposal ~ ali FegnFVd
ea~se sussswes w~s~~s eftandewea