Evening star., 1951-05-05

film at 9:45 pm.
rading to the post for the 1A.
mile classic-everything shape.
up into marvellous mass Of tur1
confusion.
The field was reduced to q
horses today when The Gink ane
Bernwood were scratched from
the list. Both had been doubtful
starters.
The skies in Louisville cleared
up this morning and thousands
| of early arrivals poured through
the gates at Churchill Downs
hours before time for the turf
classic was scheduled to be run.
There is no outstanding favor
ite. So your guess is as good as
the next as to which of the g.
year -olds will be made the public
choice. Post time is $50 pm
washington time) and it prob
ably will be just then when every
one knows the favorite.
Right now, opinion is waverine
between Battle Morn. the bay
flyer from the Cain Hoy Stable
of Harry F. Guggenheim, and the
entry of Mameluke and Counter
point, owned by Cornelius Van
derbilt (Sonny) Whitney.
Battle Morn Liked at Al.
Many racing veterans likeC
Battle Morn at around 4 to l
with the Whitney pair at S to 1
However, the track Handicapped
figured Mameluke and Counter
point would be favored at 3 to l
with Battle Morn, Al. 1t seemed
the choice f1uctuates on whether
you think Eddie Arcaro makes the
difference in being Battle Morn's
jockey, or whether the customer
prefers a 2-for-1 chance or
the two Whitney colts.
It might be well to check the
records, however. when. discussing
such come-from- behind horses
as Battle Morn, Mameluke ano
Timely Reward. In the eight
Derbies containing 18 or more
horses, none ever came from be-
hind to win.
Zev, Clyde Van Dusen and Wal
Admiral led all the way. Black
Gold, Flying Ebony, Reign Count
Burgoo King and Omaha were
we'll up front and remained clear
of the jamming which develops on
the final turn when the horses
are making their moves. The
fading horses which are leading
early are near the rail and it's
lucky if a late conner can get clear
without swinging wide and losing
valuable ground.
Repertoire Has Backers.
Yet many others in the man.
moth near-record field are cap
able of throwing a lot of people
in the predicted crowd of 100000
for a loss.
How about Repetoire?" say
some of the Fasteners who
watched him win four straight
stakes, his only starts this year
The people who have seen Ruhe,
the Arkansas Derby champ and
victor in the Blue Grass Stakes
second division, like his chances.
Ruhe, owned by Mrs. Emil
Denemark, is one of four geldings
in the race. The others are colts
In addition, the Brown Hotel
Stables Snuzzle is a gelding, as is
Hall of Fame, one of the two
Greentree Stable horses. Big
Stretch makes up the other halt
of the Greentree threat.
Joe Puckett, the Brown Hotel
trainer, who scratched The Gink
this morning, says Snuzzle goes
only on a fast track.
Others which left some doubt
whether the owners would care
to risk throwing the $1,000 start
ing fee down the drain are Mrs.
Fred Sharpe's Kings Hope and
Murlogg FARMS Fighting Back
Another report had it that Train
er E. C. Dobson might scratch
w. M. Peavey's Sir Bee Bum and
go with the other Peavey horse
Anyoldtime.
Record Purse Expected.
In any event, if 10 go it will
produce a record purse. It would
gross a fat $125,1OO, with $97.05O
to the winner.
For every extra starter, add an
other $1,000. The present record
was set in Assaults Derby in 1916
when the pot contained $124,45C
and the King Ranch star won
$97 ,45O. The biggest Derby field
was % when Reigh Count won
in 1928.
Listed as probable third choice
were the Greentree entry of Big
Stretch and Hall of Fame, anc
the Calumet Farm threat. Fan
fare, both at 6 to /. Sonic, the
King Ranch challenger this time
was 8 to l along with Ruhe. Repe-
|toire, owned by Mrs. Nora Mikell
was 10-1. So many entered thai
seven horses were placed in thu
field for betting purposes, since
the tote board accommodates only
IL betting selections.
i Stanley Mikell, husband o1
Repetoire's owner, didn't hurt thu
Whitney pair when he drew tn,
entries. placing Counterpart il
the No. 3 post position ane
Mameluke in No. 9. He fished ou
No. 81 for his own horse-far OF
the outside.
Battle Morn got No. 13, ant
the Greentrees are way out, with
Big Stretch II and Hall of Fame
10. Fanfare is in a good spot with
No. Z. Sonic. 6.
Ted Atkinson, who has beer
riding Big Stretch in his races
. has switched to Hall of Fame
l.