Evening star., 1948-03-13
List Marked by Glass
lis Smallest for Race
In Recent Years
By Barney BoIIord
Asseeioted Press Sports Writer

LOUISVILLE, KY, Mar. 13.-Calu-
met Farms Citation and Bewitch
head a list of 100 Kentucky Derby
eligibles announced today by
Churchill Downs.
The eligible list is one of the
smallest in recent years, but judges
OF horse1esh in the Bluegrass
country say it is one Of the classiest.
Last year, 1875 colts, geldings and
lllies were nominated.
Most of last years leading 2-year-
olds were made eligible for the 74th
annual running of the Derby on
Saturday, May l. The Derby, one
Of Americas most colorful sports
events, is open to 3-year-olds and
| will be run at distance Of one and
one-fourth miles. It carries $l00, 900
in added money.
Jet Pilot, nominated by Mrs.
Elizabeth Arden Graham's Maine
Chance Farm, won the 1947 running
of the Derby before a crowd esti-
mated at more than 100000.
Calumet Nominated Six.
Although Citation and Bewitch,
the latter a filly, head sterling
field, Calumet Farm nominated four
others, they included Coaltown,
Beau Dandy, Free America and
Whirl Blast.
The latter is son of Calumet'S
great Whirlaway, who tackled up a
new time record in winning the 1941
classic at Churchill Downs in 2
minutes 12s seconds.
Citation, beaten only once in nine
starts as juvenile, earned $155, $50
for Warren Wright's Calumet Stable.
The bay son of Bull Lea lost only to
his stablemate, Bewitch. The fllly
earned $213,675 as 2-year-old, but
there is a strong precedent against
a filly winning the Derby.
Kentucky's Hal Price Headley of
Lexington, producer of many top
flight runners, was this years heav-
lest nominator. He listed seven
eligibles. They are Catsmeow, Dole,
Humdinger, Padnag, Pennon, Pine
bloom and Ringneck.
William Woodward's Belair Stud,
owner of three Derby winners,
named three of his best for the 1948
running. They are Whirling Fox,
another one of Whirlaways colts;
Hypnos and The Dervish.
Four eligibles each were nomi-
mated by Maine Chance Farm and
Greentree Stable. Greentree and
Maine Chance both have won pre-
vious Derbies.
Greentree's 1948 hopefuls are Kill
roy, Olio, Star Bout and Up Beat.
Maine Chance offered Ace Admiral,
Royal Blood, Succession and Striker
Pilot. The last named is another
Whirlaway colt.
William Helis, the New Orleans
sportsman, will be trying again for
Derby winner. This time he nomi-
mated five colts: Bucephalus, Grand
Isle, Mr.. Ace. Salmagundi and Wind
swept.
Earle Sande, better known in the
old days as the country's outstand-
ing rider and veteran of many
Kentucky Derbies, nominated two
eligibles. They are Best Hand and
Big Stage, both sons of Stagehand
Among the other leading hopefuls
on the 1948 list are Piet, nominated
by Bomar Stable and winner of
$93 800 last year; My Request, owned
by Texas Ben Whitaker and winner
of $90,575 as a 2-year-old, and
Grandpere, owned by Mrs. John
Payson Adams, California sports
woman. Grandpere was the first
nomination.
Col. Matt j. VIM, Churchill
Downs president, said the caliber ol
this years field appears higher than
any list in recent years.
More than 81 per cent of the
eligibles either won an added-money
race last year or ran second or
third in one he said.