Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-04
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS srAAA
The Odds Against 1t

LOUISVILLE MAY T. = The odds against winning the
Kentucky Derby the first try astronoicaly high.
These not the odds that shown lights the tote
board but those which begin when stallion and mare are
mated, when a man buys yearlng at SALE
Fred W. Hooper, tall, drawing Alabaman, found sue
the first time he entered horse This morning he
talking about his breakfast and coffee Hooper is
merely spectator this year but back in 945 he big
because his bay colt Hoop Jr flung mud back at IS rivals
to win by six lengths
1.-THE look back Hoop, Jr, he saying "the
realize how really good he Maybe he wasn't any
Swaps but he wasn't far from it,
1.-THE Derby easy that year that hard to
realize the odds against you he said nce that time I've
only been able to enter only other Olympia in 1s49 and
by the time he'd quarter of mile knew he wasn't
going to get any part of it."
FELLOW BREAD-BREAKER lodged protest. But
Olympia he said won the Derby Trial and at the end OF
mile in the big race he out in 'front.'"
Olympia no Hoop Jr," Hooper cautioned. "He was
speed horse The track called fast but it Deep and
Olympia digs hard especially coming out of the gate He
didn't flow like some horses like Swaps
IT knew dead when Olympia began bobbing his
head going past the clubhouse the first time nudged Ivan
Parke, my trainer, and said
"Were not going to get anything today, IVAN"
Ivan didn't reply. But after a mile, when Capot and
PaleSnian and Ponder who of course the and
Old Rockport Halt passed my sprinter looked at
Parke and he was crying"
Hooper signaled for coffee refill and said
You talk about Odds Olympia never the horse that
Jrp paid $9.4O to ST."
EVERETT CLAY OF HIALEAH and couple of Miami
coumns who at the table, solid Needles The
two who the Fordabred Needles Jack Dudley and
Bonnie Heath who have been in racing only for approx
matey four years
These two young men are running horse the Derby
time They green greener than Hooper
back in AS Heath from Fort Lauderdale Fla, and
Dudley from Saltwater Okla Needles the only horse who
varsity sports letter his blanket the University of
Oklahoma'S 90"
Hooper musngy conceded that Needles and his green
pea had good chance any, including c. "
Whitney, who has Derby but trying with the
entry of Head Man and Career Boy For price kind Of
like Count Chic" he said land here again you've got an
with frst-time Derby horse What's the fellows
name?"
IT think its Lozz Dino Lozz" reporter said, thumb
ing Pubicist Brownie Leachs invaluable book owns
taurant in Seattle tends bar and waits tables His wife
the coowner She helps prepare the meals They closed
the Joint to come here and watch the horse run"
Hooper sighed 'We" he said they could be lucky like
me- maybe that Needles outfit The odds terrific yet
to easy the first time and 1t to get tougher
ODDLY, HOOPER LIKES to talk about Olympia, the one
that let him down in 40 Specifically it match race
between Olympia thoroughbred sprnter and tough quarter
horse whose name is unremembered by Hooper.
1T never felt that quarter-horse one of them non
thoroughbreds could with thoroughbred but DANCED
this toughe didn't out Of the box lots better than
Olympia.
was SlILnS dJ unlSL llne, IlSHL HeAL W
Wright Of Calumet when the Mr.. Wright
turned to and said Fred you won by length and half
Congratulations
"I thought Olympia had won good. too. although he
almost fell his face coming out Of the gate But the judges
said it was Olympia by and made up my mind that
II ever got stuck in another informal I'd insist
camera on the finish line.
THAT pretty good betting One Of them
boys walked after the and said just lost the equ
valent Of 1000 steers, backing that quarter-horse'
What are you going to do2'" asked.
"oh he sad i've got 5000 steers. I'll Just 60 home and
81 1000 more Of them