The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-05-31
JEEP, HOOP JR. WIN WOOD AS
 DERBY WEARS
By LEO H. PETERSEN United Press Sports Editor


 New York, May 3l-(UP)-T1lc cast pinned it's Kentucky Derby hopes on Jeep and Hoop Jr. today after the two speedy colts demon strated their fitness for running in that kind of company before the largest officially recorded crowd in American turf history, throng which set new racing marks for bet ting.
 They won the two sections of the $25 ,0O0 added Wood Memorial at Jamaica yesterday and were shipped along with another eastern hopeful, Alexis, to Louisville last night. Some of the other eastern horses nom- mated for the run for the roses al- so may go in the big race, but if they do they will rank as outsiders. A total of Is Derby nominees ran in the Wood.
 This annual eastern preview of the Derby winners of the Wood have gone on to capture the classic four times-brought out a Memor- ial day throng of 64,537. While that figure does not approach the 90,000 once estimated at Churchill Downs or the 7O,0OO-odd which have been estimated at Santa Anita, it was the largest crowd ever officially counted at a race track in the United States.
 Here is what the crowd did in the way of setting new betting records:
 One Race Record
 A new mark for the largest amount of money ever bet on a sin gle race-$596,6 ,679 on the second sec- tic.l of the Wood. The former mark was $593,708 set at Belmont Nov. 4 last year.
 A new Worlds record for the to- tai amount wagered on seven card racing program-s2,541,1 ,167.
 A new worlds record daily dou- ble handle of $202,216 was taken in, surpassing the old mark of $189, 9,1l6 also set at Belmont last Nov. 4.
 Had thousands who damned the little Jamaica track-its seating ca pacity is 15,000-not been shut out from the betting windows there is no doubt but what the total wager ing would have exceeded $4 900 900. Thousands were left waiting in line when the windows, under the New York rule closed at the scheduled post time rather than the actual post time. The track turned over its receipts of the day, estimated at $l30,0OO, to charity.
 Hoop Jr., bay colt which F. w. Hooper. Florida contractor bought as a two year old for SlO,2OO, won the section which set the new bet ting for single race. Jeep had taken the first section, which fell Se,O00 short of the former record betting total for one race.
 And although Hoop Jr.'s time for the one mile and sixteenth test was 4-5 of second better than Jeep's, Col. c. V. Whitney's star appeared likely to win most of the casts sup port. For Jeep came from behind to win and won going away with Gallorette, a lilly not entered in the Derby. second, and Dockstader, who came up fast, third.
 All the Way
 Hoop Jr. ran different type of race. He led from the start and all though his time was a flat 1:45 against the 1:45 4-5 turned in by Jeep, he didn't seem to have much left at the finish. Hoop Jr. was slow ing up while Jeep was bearing away. The Derby is three -sixteenths of a mile longer than the wood. Both carried the Derby weight, 126 pounds, in their triunphs.
 Alexis, the favorite, was second to Hoop Jr. with Sir Francis, not a Derby eligible, third. The winners purse in each section was $l9O25. Jeep was the facorite in his section and returned s5.20 to win while Hoop Jr., fourth choice in his sec- ton, paid $l5.10 on a $2 win ticket.