Americ
a's
Richest
Race
GOLF CHAM PI ON, SAYS :
J
r
1
A
cry of "They're
off!" will send a crowd
of 100,000 surging to their
feet next Saturday to
watch the - 83rd running
of America's horse-racing
classic, the fabulous
Kentucky Derby.
The Derby is the oldest
consecutively run race in
America.started at Louis
ville's Churchill Downs
in 1875. Through wars,
depressions, and assorted
squabbles, the Run for
the Roses has gone on.
The late Col. Matt Winn worked
hard to maintain the Derby as
the oldest annual race in U.S.
Much of the credit for this enviable record goes to the late
Col. Matt Winn. He first saved the race in 1902 by trans
mitting his enthusiasm to a group which invested $40,000 to
lease the grounds and buy the grandstand.
The track was built on land owned by a pioneer Louisville
family, the Churchills, and was known as the Louisville
Jockey Club for 'its first 11 years. Then an enterprising
sportswriter dubbed it Churchill Downs, and the name stuck.
That first race in 1875 was won by Aristides in a little
more than 2,, minutes over a l',fe-mile track. The horse won
$2,850. Last year Needles covered the 114 -mile distance (it
was shortened in 1896) in slightly more than two minutes to
bring home $123,450. That makes the Derby the richest single
race in the U. 15.
Nearly every great horse in American turf history has his
name painted on one of the panels along the top of the
stands, signifying a Derby winner. A notable exception was
Man O' War he never raced in Kentucky. Citation, the
first horse to win a million dollars in prize money, captured
the Derby in 1948, adding a handsome $83,000 to his take
home pay for the year.
Although World War II delayed it a month in 1945, the
Derby is traditionally held the first Saturday in May. Spec
tators pay anywhere from $3 for standing room in the infield
to $300 for private boxes. They figure it's well worth the
price to see the' year's greatest three-year-olds compete in
the year's greatest race.
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2 W&S&&f&? aOVl
enjoys a Viceroy with another golfing great, f Ct I
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ll
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CEftOV
Or. .
Family Weekly, April 2S. 1957 IS