Evening star., 1958-05-01
WIN, LOSE OR
EDRAW By FRANCIS srApu
One and OnIy-SiIky Sullivan!

chill mornings and in the barn area at Churchill Downs
the life slow and easy and the air pleasant with the
smell of wood-smoke and hot coffee and horses and
leather.
1t was TAO o'clock and Tim Tam and Jewels Reward
had been on the track for galopS Tim Tam nbblng
at the lush grass back of his barn. Jewels Reward al
ready had been cooled out and back in his STALL
But Silky Sullivan who starts day he begins a race
remained in his sack.
Barn 10 is Sllky's living quarters and there is an
outsized porch of heavy wire screen stout wooden
framework in front of his door 1t is and painted
bright red That's the color as Trainer Reggie
Cornels wooen jacket that he when he held court
in his little office few feet way.
Cornell is solidy built young man of 35 a friendly
newcomer to Louisville and to Derby horses office"
contained pieces of tack trunk and electric hot plate
Reggie swished coffee in bucket of water to clean
it out and poured himself cup of java.
I'VE had to put up that screen" Cornell explained
ION account of Silky is pretty popular horse with
visitors"
YOUNG MAN, informally clad walked into Reggies
cubice and helped himself to coffee He was Jock Jocoy
veterinarian who belongs Silkys renue The youth
ful doc painted more ominous picture
We had a screen like that one back in California"
Jocoy said because you'd be surprised how Silky draws
visitors. Shucks get 2, hundred people day who
want to see Silky That horse would get any
without that screen.
But worst is that some bad guys throw pills into
even arsenic outside those pills in order to take out
horse We try to play extra safe"
why isn't Silky on the track?" newspaperman
asked.
"oh, he just likes to sleep late" Cornell replied
Right Doc?"
proval Horses only sleep couple of hours at time
not like we do Horses sleep while and then eat exercise
If they can, sleep again That sort of thing What time
you planning to work him. Reggie?"
Likely about 10 o'clock" Cornell drawled \
IF it's any later Silky might wind UP in today's
first race visitor qupped
CORNELL sLosHED HIS coffee in his cup to cool it,
Wouldn't make any difference" he grinned silky
would run IN any race. He's easy horse to train. I
reckon Willie ShoemakerS about the only Jockey on an
important Derby horse that won't get a word of in
struction."
Would you mind explaining that remark?" man
asked
We'll you Just don't tell colt like Silky how and
when to rum, Cornell said so what's the use of telling
Shoemaker?
Silky, expect will from last" Reggie went on
Hes run IA times for me IA in all his life . and he's
always been last at one time another He's different
morse than you Eastern know, and maybe he didn't
beat much on the Coast All we gotta do is run him
Saturday and find out if there's anything better this side
of the mountains"
DOC JoCOY WAS ASKED if slky's throat trouble was
a matter of concern.
"Thoat trouble?" he repeated
HE gurgles when he's running so I've been told" said
the other
The Doc laughed sits a matter of conditioning he
said Sure, Silky gurgleS. Like bull . when he isn't
in top shape He with his head down for half mile
and makes hell of racket Then he lifts his head and
he doesn't gurgle any more"
Jocoy cand my real first name really is Jock) has
been SyS personal since just after Tom Ross and
Phil Kpstein bought him at the yearng sales at Del Mar
in 1856 for $167O0.
Silky is an unusual colt" the Doc said Hes very
big-l2OO poundS-and most 3-year-ods are 1OOO-
Founders But keeping him in shape is no great problem
See WIN. LOSE OR DRAW Page AGO