Evening star., 1960-05-23
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW B, FRANCIS s1Auu
The Angry and Despondent


big and beefySepped from the elevator into the
Baltimore Hotel lobby The hour late nearly midnight
Saturday and the lobby lacked its milling prePreaknesS
crowds.
The little nodded toward an empty red couch
walking slowly, dejectedy, isaac Blumberg, owner of
venetian Way and Vic SovnSki the trainer who looks
like house dick, moved across the marble floor.
Blumberg, 73 year old retired Chicago machinery
manufacturer was like man in trance Sovnsk burly
exarmy sergeant, looked angry Seated they began to
talk earnestly possibly argumentatve Both had been
stunned nearly six hours earlier by Venetian Ways next
to-last finish.
Four sports writer's returning from late dinner sped
the pair and ntruded their privacy One, hardly the
diplomatic Sort looked at the two seated and sked
Whats this, wake? Where's Hartack?"
Sovinsk growled at the mention of Bill Hartacks
name. 1t known that the trainer unhappy with
the rider during the week of the Kentucky Derby and
suspected that he wanted to make change
But after the colt with Hartack there alterna
tive but to ahead with the rider again in the Preaknes
NOW THAT YOU'VE SAID that Hartack never viii
ride for again. who's your next ockey?" an intruder
asked Sovinsk You what you said about Hartack
didn't you?"
Maybe him." Vic growled jerking thumb at his
boss II don't know. Yeah, meant what said about
Hartack"
Bumberg seemed not to have heard Instead he looked
up at the four reporters. Tell me, horse get
that he can't run? My horse how he sweat
ing"
Sovinsk scowled These guys newspapermen,
boSS he snapped I'm the trainer. Besides wasn't every
horse and every person sweating? 1t hell of muggy
day"
Again the Lthuania born Blumberg paid atten-
ton "I wanted to pull him out Friday" he said in
flat tone.
You wanted to scratch Venetian Way after he'd won
the Derby big?" of the unrequested nervewers
asked in aStoniShment "a colt that looked like he
on his way to the Triple Crown?"
1.-The Triple Crown means nothing to me-" Blumberg
said his small dark face impassive "Te money means
nothing to me keep the horses-they don't keep me-"
Sovinsk maintained silence, possibly sulen one.
II embarrassed about finishing II lengths behind
that horse" Bumberg lamented in monotone BY that
horse" he referring to Baly Ache although the gap
wasn't quite II lengths
"vIc," MAN ASKED THE TRAINER "was your
horse in good shape before during and after the race?
Not anythng?"
"of course he was sore" sovinski replied with deep
sarcasm Didn't you know the little Hartack) said
so? He knows everything about everything"
The sarcasm became biting as he added
"I frequently send out horses Venetian Way was
that Hartack yanked him over the finish ne
or didn't anybody notice? Stood him right his TAIL
almost was lucky to get the horse back in one piece
would YOU say that Hartack should stick to just
riding, which at least he do we?"
He does?" Sovinski asked. "You guys ever pay at
tention to fractional times? Up to the Preakness there
rider like Hartack shouldn't realize that the first
quarter done in 241 and the half in 1875?
Look, in the first race on the program 3-year-old
madens beat that time In the next two races two 500
chalmers did better than the Preakness horses"
I'm OTHER WORDS Hartack should have made an
earlier to Baly Ache up of his speed
in the early going?"
You said it, didn't" Sovinski said "We-everybody
Baly Aches He out in front and taking it
easy because nobody went after him. leaving him with
lots of run for the stretch"
After the Derby there some yelled references
to the use of drug Venetian Way substance that is
legal in Kentucky but not in Maryland, among other
States 1t is not considered stmulant but rather "as
ranquilzer pain killer" Sovnski asked if he
had used it. If could have made the difference be-
tween Venetian Ways 3ength victory Bally Ache
in Kentucky and Baly Aches tremendous margin in
Maryland?
Vic shook his head in vigorous negative. 81 know
where that story started he said "a guy in Detroit-a
sports writer who amt dry behind his
used the stuff"
ONE OF THE INTERVIEWERS looking at some ran
dom notes, said Il got it spelled butazoidin which is
See WIN, LOSE DRAW Pare Al