The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-09
FIVE FAVORED TO SETTLE THE
 DERBY TODAY
By LEO H. PETERSEN (IJnted Press Sports EditOr)

Louisville, Ky, June 9.-(UP)- Derby day dawned in this Kentucky horse racing home today with un- certain track conditions and the wartime ban on racing combining to make the 71st annual running of Americas premier turf event a wide open affair.
 Although five horses were accord ed slight edge in the field of 16, owners and trainers were won- dering as much as the 8 bettor what their horses could do on 8 track which at it's best will only be good But favored group was Jeep, Hoop Jr.. Pot OLuck, Alexis and Darby Dieppe.
 The forecast of thundershowers for the run for the roses, scheduled for 5:15 D. m, CWT, threatened to cut down the field. Two of the entrants, Burning Dream and Kenil- worth Lad, probably will not go if the going is heavy, while Jacobe also was a doubtful starter because of leg injury in shipping from New York.
 Should they all go, the money to the winner will be the highest in Derby history - $64 $50 net. Each withdrawal owners can scratch their thoroughbreds within 45 min utes of post time will decrease that purse $500.
 "Of" Track
 pl,t vxrifl fho open affair, it was probable that all the horses entered will face the barrier before an estimated crowd of 75,0O0 The rainy weather of the past two days, with the forecast of more rain, appeared sure to keep the prediction of Col. Matt Winn, father of the Derby, from being fulfilled. Early in the week he thought the crowd for this third wartime street-car Derby would ex- ceed the previous high attendance for the Blue Grass Classic - 95,000 (estimated) in 1941 when Whirlaway won.
 A crew of 28 worked through the night on the Churchill Downs track and turf men said that unless more rain fell the racing strip may be in good shape by post time for the big race. But there was no chance it would be lightning fast, as many owners had hoped The owners, along with their trainers, know pretty we'll what their horses can do on a fast track. But they are not sure of what they can do in mud for the ban set them back in train ing and the horses have been brought along faster than they would have been under normal cir cumstances
 There were few, however, which stood out as mud runners, including Darby Dieppe, winner of the Blue Grass stakes on heavy track last Saturday, Foreign Agent, Fighting Step and Tiger Rebel
 Jeep and Hoop Jr., which won the two sections of the Wood at Ja- maica on Memorial Day, were fav- ored in the overnight line at three to one. Pot OLuck was listed at four to one, Darby Dieppe at five to one, Alexis at six to one and Burning Dream at 12 to one.
 Air Sailor was quoted at 12 to one With Foreign Agent and Fighting Step at 20 to one
 "Field' 30-1
 The large number of entrants re- suited in a field of seven and it was listed at 30 to one. The field in- cluded Misweet, the only Filly in the race; Sea Swallow, Tiger Rebel, Buymeabond, Jacobe and the Gra- ham entry of Bert G., and Kenil- worth Lad Indications were that the price on the group would be cut at least in half before they're off.
 Although tickets sales were re- stricted to residents living within the Louisville Metropolitan area, there was nothing to indicate that | Ofhce of Defense Transportation | curbs would affect the size of the crowd. People were pouring in by automobile, train and bus. Weather kept airplanes grounded in the area.