Evening Star Newspaper, May 9, 1937, Page 24

G v ANy » he Swunday St SPORTS SECTION WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 9, 19317. * War Admiral Easily Wins Derby : Nats Rout Tigers, Advance Notch POMPOON TRAILS BY TWO LENGTHS 63,000 Thrilled by Event, Run in Second Fastest Time in History. fContmuefirW!‘rthF_lrsv:fflgVe e the remarkably fast time of 2:03 1-5. Only Twenty Grand's record smashing 2:014-5, made in 1931, surpasses War Admiral's performance in all Derby history, dating away back to 1875. Kurtsinger also rode Twenty Grand so that the “Flying Dutchman” of the turf carried off a full share of the plaudits as he achieves his sec- ond Derby victory. New Chapter To Tradition. Not far from the blue grass farm where his famous sire, now 20 years of age, is spending his “old age,” War Admiral wrote a brilliant new chap- ter to the Man O' War tradition. Second of the famous line to capture the rich Derby, thereby duplicating Clvde Van Dusen’s feat in the thun- derstorm of 1929, War Admiral raced to triumph on a lightning fast track in a manner removed any lingering doubt about the little colt's greatness. Despite such bad behavior at the post that he was largely responsible for a delay of more than eight minutes in the getaway, War Admiral broke on t0p, soon took command and made every post & winning one. The colt not only showed his flying heels to the sprinters, such as Fairy Hill and Heel- fly, which followed the early pace, but had plenty of finishing power to stand off the surprising stretch challenge of Pompoon as well as the ace of Mrs. Ethel V. Mars' stable, Reaping Re- ward, and the “ugly duckling” of the big fleld of 20 starters, Melodist. Riddle Is Not Present. Illness, which confined him to his Philadelphia home, deprived Owner Samuel D. Riddle of the satisfaction of seeing his first Derby entry race so brilliantly to victory. The Riddle superhorse, Man o’ War, did not list the Kentucky Derby prize among his | trophies, but he has finally had the family’s thoroughbred honor embel- lished in a fashion rarely accom= plished in any big horse race. War Admiral’s dam was Brushup and his | trainer, 64-year-old George Conway, | likewise getting his first taste of sad- | dling & Derby winner. Heavily backed all day by a crowd that overflowed the historic Downs, War Admiral, in the favorite's role, paid off for each $2 mutuel ticket on the basis of $5.20 to win, $4.20 to Place and $3.40 to show. Pompoon, third choice in the bet- ting behind the Mars’ entry of Reaping Reward and Military, paid $9.40 to | place and $6 to show. Reaping Re- | ward's show price was $3.80. | The victory's net money value to Owner Riddle was $52,050. This was | the biggest “cut” in four years as the gross value of the race amounted to $62,575. Pompoon’s good showing was worth $6,000 to Jerome H. Louchheim, | Philadelphia contractor, as Quaker | City color-bearers ran one-two for the | first time in Derby history. Mrs. Mars had only the consolation of $3,000 for third money, while $1,000 went to the Wheatley Stable as Melodist, one of the outsiders, ran fourth. Best Weather in Decade. ‘The best Derby weather in more than a decade, with a hot sun beaming down upon America's fore- most horse racing carnival, contributed to a gala occasion. Vice President John N. Garner, Postmaster General James A. Farley and Alf M Lan-} don, defeated Republican presidential | candidate of 1936, headed a host of notables who mingled with celebrities of the Hollywood scene, stars of the Broadway stage, old warriors of the #ports arena such as Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey, the aristocracy of turfdom and the hardboots of “Old Kaintuck.” Estimates placed the aggregate at- tendance slightly below last year's record outpouring of 65,000, but the difference, if any, was difficult to de- tect. Spectators not only packed every inch of the sprawling stands, from top to bottom, but jammed all inclosures and stood 10 deep along the infield rail. Thousands were at the Downs | all day, waiting from sun-up to see little more than two minutes of con- densed horse racing excitement. Hun- dreds of women, some even with their children, camped for hours at vantage points where they could get no more than a fleeting glimpse of the Derby pack as it whirled through a dust- cloud in the grand climax. In sharp contrast to the rodeo getaway last year that marked the Derby, today’s race was f[ree from anything more serious than the factious behavior of War Admiral, as well as several other colts, at the post. ‘The shift in starting arrangements, calculated to avoid crowding at the bend leading to the stretch, achieved the purpose of providing one of the cleanest getaways in Derby history. Takes Lead at Start. It was figured beforehand that only a “bad break” could jeopardize the chances of War Admiral and the swift little colt, springing clear from the No. 1 or rail position wasted no time dispelling this hazard. The field had covered scarcely a dozen strides before Kurtsinger had the favorite Just where he wanted him—out in front and snugly established on the rail. There was a brief moment of crowd- ing on the first turn, as War Admiral led Fairy Hill and Heelfly on the way to the back stretch. Reaping Reward and Sceneshifter, one of the two horses trained for the Derby by Earl Sande, famous ex-jockey, got into tight quarters at this juncture, but nothing that occurred at this time or elsewhere had any effect on the out- come. In the long run down the back stretch, War Admiral was not threat- ened. Heelfly and Fairy Hill, fighting for second place, soon began to fade. Going into the last turn, Pompoon responded to Harry Richard’s urging and made the one and only move and appeared to threaten the flying leader, < Son of Man O'War was safely ahead as the stretch was reached with Pompoon and Heelfly next in line at this stage. BY ORLO ROBERTSON, Associated Press Sports ‘writer. OUISVILLE, Ky, May 8— George Conway saddled War Admiral to win the Kentucky Derby, but you'd never guess he was America’s most famous trainer tonight. He was found after the race. attired in an old sweater, pitching straw in| his great star's stall, doing work usually assigned to a stable boy, but the veteran trainer insisted on taking | personal charge of arranging War Admiral's bed this time. Occasionally he stopped to shake hands with well wishers, then went on about his pitching, apparently un- disturbed over the fact that a few minutes before the colt he trained had won the country’s most famous horse race in the second fastest time in history. He treated the hay almost | with a loving touch as he gave it a pat here, smoothed out & bump there, | while War Admiral walked about the stable cooling out. | Abstains From Profanity. AMONG horsemen, Conway is known as a kindly old gentleman with a fine knowledge of horses. Seldom does one hear a swear word around his stable—not that the 64-year-old trainer doesn’'t approve of it—but it just isn’t done. “Darn” is a strong word for him to use. He'’s been around horses since 1887, the last 15 years with Samuel Riddle’s Glen Riddle Farm. He won his first important $585,606 Wagered In Derby Mutuel By the Associated Press. LOUISVXLLE, Ky., May 8.—The mutuel machines at Churchill Downs today handled more betting money than on any Derby day since 1930. The eight-race program drew $1,575,000 in wagers. The last time this was topped, in 1930, a total of $1,641,949 was bet. The record total of $2,098,701 was registered in 1926. On the Derby alone the aggregate amount wagered was placed at $585,606. This was the biggest on the main event, since $676,106 went through the machines for the 1929 Derby and was only about $100,000 Pompoon, Trainer U ndismayéd,‘ Gets Another Fling Against Derby Conqueror at Pimlico | thinks “Old Red” is the fastest thing | could go the distance. short of the Derby record. victory with Proctor Knott in the 1888 Belmont futurity. Before the race he rated another! son of Man o' War, Crusader, as the | best horse he ever trained. Now he's not so sure but that War Admiral is | a little better. It's a bad breach of etiquette, however, to ask him to compare Man o' War with another horse, including War Admiral. He ever seen on four legs. Conway had nothing but praise for War Admiral and Charley Kurtsinger, the “flying Dutchman” who was in the saddle. He cast aside congratula- tions for himself with a smile and & “thank you,” giving all the credit to the horse and rider. Kurtsinger was told to take the colt to the front and keep on going. That's what Kurt- singer did. Big Duel for Pimlico. ALTHOUGH Pompoon finished sec- ond, his trainer, C. F. (Danny) Clark, took consolation in the fact that the son of Pompey proved he “Happy Dan” isn't s0 sure that War Admiral can beat his colt the next time, so he is shipping Pompoon to Pimlico to take another crack at the Derby winner next Saturday in the Preakness. ‘Willie Shea, patt owner and trainer of Merry Maker, also wants another chance at the little Riddle colt. Wal- ter Carter and George Odom, who had arranged to ship Clodion and Sir Damion to Pimlico, backed out, how- ever. Clodion received a slight cut on one leg. Sir Damion was jumped on, entering the back stretch, and probably will not race for some time. Earl Sande, trainer of Sceneshifter, which finished fifth, was another that said he wanted no more of War Admiral. —_— SUTTER RETAINS CROWN Defeats Boulware in Southern College Tennis Final. NEW ORLEANS, May 8 (#).—Ernie Sutter of Tulane successfully defended his Southern intercollegiate tennis title today with & convincing 6—1, 6—1, 6—1 victory over Burtz Boulware of Georgia Tech. Sutter teamed with Joe Abrams to score an equally convincing straight win over Boulware and Bill Moore of Georgia Tech, 6—1, 6—4, 6—0. It was just a one-horse over the rest of the field. It Was Futile Chase War Admiral’s Rivals Made in Classic Turf Event <> NEWSOM WINS, 8-, DESPITE WILDNESS Buck Helps His Cause With Homer—Big Fifth Inning Off Rowe Decides. BY FRANCIS E. STAN, 8tafl Correspondent of The Btar. ETROIT, May 8.—The Griffs used a new system today to break another losing streak. Unable to win on well- pitched ball games, they defeated the Tigers, 8 to 3, as some benign guardian angel looked down upon the most erratic throwing of our Mr. Buck Newsom. The whole thing amounted to an even break for the Washington firm in Detroit and moved it up to sixth place. The Tigers, however, despite their loss, gained undisputed possession of first place in the American League standing. The scramble is that funny. Newsom's trouble was not in giving up too many base hits. He limited | the Bengals to seven of these, but he made it hard for himself by walking 8ix batters and pinking Gerald Walker |on the shoulder with a fast ball. A | couple double plays, plus some re- markable outfielding by Ben Chap- man, joined with Newsom's angel in the darker moments. Meanwhile, some of the pent-up | thunder in the Nationals' bats began to rumble, for a change, and reached an unwelcome climax for 24,000 cus- {tomers in the fifth inning, whea | Schoolboy Rowe's ears were neatly pinned back with safety clips. In this round the Griffs changed a 3-2 deficit |into & 6-to-3 lead, which never was | lost. | Nats Wade Into Wade. THE Detroits pitched Jake Wade | and hoped for the best. After {two innings they only hoped for best. Ganging up on young Mr d in the first two innings, Washington ran up a 2-0 lead and, incidentally, scored both times after two men 5 Sports Program for Washington Fans TODAY. Base Ball. Washington at St. Louis, 4. Horse Show. ‘Meadowbrook Saddle Club, East- West Highway, 1. TOMORROW. Base Ball. ‘Washington at St. Louis, 4. Georgetown vs. Temple, Tilltop, 3 "Eastern vs. Georgetown Prep,” Garrett Park, Md., 3:30. Tech vs. Washington-Lee High, Ballston, Va., 3:30. Bethesda-Chevy Chase vs. Mary- land Frosh, College Park, Md., 4. Woodrow Wilson vs. Landon, Landon field, 3:30. Boxing. Marty Gallagher vs. Jorge Bres- cia, feature bout, 10 rounds, Tur- ner’s Arena, 8:30. Tennis. Lynchburg College vs. American University, Nebraska and Massa- chusetts avenues, 3:15. TUESDAY. Base Ball. ‘Washington at St. Louis, 4. By the Associated Press. OUISVILLE, Ky., May 8.— “We won in a gallop,” said | blond Charley Kurtsinger, who rode War Admiral to easy victory in the Kentucky Derby. It was the second Derby victory for the 30-year-old “Flying Dutch- man,” & native of Louisville. He was up on Twenty Grand in 1931 when Mrs. Payne Whitney's colt blazed the mile and a quarter in record time. “Now to tie the record,” shouted the smiling little Kurtsinger as he entered the jockey’s quarters. He referred to riding his third Derby winner, thus tying the record of the immortal Earl Sende and Isaac Murphy. ‘With & combination of speed and cour- (8ee DERBY, Fage B-11) There have been several other Jockeys to ride t‘ Derby victors. . “ Describing the race, Kurtsinger said: “We bounded in front at the start after getting a good break at the post and stayed in front. After we reached the last eighth pole I knew then we would win. It was a cinch.” “The Flying Dutchman” said he touched his mount lightly with the whip once in the back-stretch and once agzin in the home stretch when Pompoon moved up & bit. Kurtsinger said he ‘“wanted” the No. 1 post position and attrib= uted that spot to siding him in getting away to a good start. Reaping Reward, which finished third, was the horse Kurtsinger - feared most before the race. ‘Winning his second Derby wasn't as big a thrill to Charley as cope ping his first blue-arass classic, he sid, < ' D;arby Triumph a Cinch, Says Kurtsinger Two-Time Winner of Classic Feels 13th Year as Jockey Will Be His Best. Asked if the Man O’ War colt was better than Twenty Grand, Kurtsinger said, “I won't say he is any better, but he’s a real good fast horse. ” Kurtsinger, who has been riding 13 years and now is one of the leading riders in America, said he wasn't “superstitious” about.13 as & “bad-luck” number. It's going to be my greatest year,” Kurtsinger said as he pulled off his boots. He stopped a moment and his eyes took on & far-away look as if he was looking forward to pilot- ing War Admiral to victories in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes and possibly the American Derby. Kurtsinger is a good predicter. Asked Friday about the Derby, he sid oonfidently, “I'm going to win. Maryland vs. Temple, College Park, Md,, 4. Catholic University vs. Mount St. Mary’s, Emmittsburg, Md., Devitt vs. Georgetown Frosh, Hilltop, 3:30. Track. Maryland Frosh, Baltimore City College and Baltimore Poly, College Park, 4. WEDNESDAY. Base Ball. ‘Washington at Chicago. 3 George Washington vs. Delaware, ‘Wilmington, Del. Washington-Lee High vs. Mont- gomery-Blair, Silver Spring, Md., 3:30. Landon vs. St. Albans, 8t. Albans fleld, 3:15. ‘Tennis. Maryland vs. Georgetown, Hilltop ocourts, 3. Tech vs. Roosevelt, Rock Creek courts (public high title series), 4. THURSDAY. Base Ball. ‘Washington at Chicago, 3. Georgetown vs. New York Uni- versity, New York. Maryland Frosh vs. Georgetown Frosh, Hilltop, 3. Landon vs. Montgomery-Blair, Silver Spring, Md., 3:30. Tennis. Georgetown vs. Temple, Phila- delphia, Pa. Washington-Lee vs. American University, Nebraska and Massa- chusetts avenues, 3:15. FRIDAY. Base Ball Maryland vs. Richmond, College Park, Md,, 4. Georgetown vs. Fordham, New York. Tech vs. Central, Central Sta- dium (public high series), 3:30. Wilson vs. Bastern, Eastern Sta- dium (public high title series), 3:30. George Washington vs. Mount St. Mary's, East Ellipee, 2:30. Augusta Military Academy vs. Maryland Frosh, College Park, Md., £ . ' Washington-Lee High va. Epis- oopal, Alexandria, Va., 3:30. Rockville -High vs. Bethesda~ C- vy Chase, Garrett Park, Md., <:30. ’l Lacrosse. Johns Hopkins Frosh vs. Mary- land Frosh, College Park, Md., 4. Tennis. Georgetown vs. New York Uni- versity, New York Golf. Georgetown Vs, Philadelphia, Pa. SATURDAY. Base Ball. Boston vs. Washington, Griffith Stadium, 3. North Carolina vs. College Park, Md., 2:30. Loyola of Baltimore vs. George- town Frosh, Hilltop, 3 Roosevelt High vs. Naval Train- ing Station, Norfolk, Va. Woodberry Forest vs. St. Albans, Bt. Albans fleld, 10:30. Track. Central High School “C” Club meet, Central Stadium, 1:30. Maryland in Southern Confer- ence meet, Durham, N. C. Maryland Frosh vs. Gallaudet, Kendall Green, 2:30. Pennsylvania, Maryland, Lacrosse. Maryland vs. Navy, Annapolis, Md, 3. Tennis. Tech High vs Friends, Friends courts, 2. American University vs. Rutgers, New Brunswick, N. J. Golf. Georgetown va. Princeton, Phil- adelphia, Pa. FISCHER AGAIN NAT Carl Pischer, former Washington southpaw, will return to the Nationals to augment & slab staff which feels an acute need of left-handers, it was announced last night by Clark Grifith, Washington ball club prexy. Fischer has been obtained from Cleveland by waivers and will report to Manager Bucky Harris immediately in St. Louis. He lost his only start for the Indians this year. Griffith, however, feels confident Pischer will buoy Washington’s curv- ing corps, pointing to his record last pear in the International League, when he recorded 12 victories against 2 defeatsr for Buffalo. OLINGETS CRAGK {Light Heavy Champ Signed to Defend His Title at St. Louis June 3. Ey the Associated Press. EW YORK. May 8—John Henry Lewis will defend his American light heavyweight title against former Champion Bob Olin in St. Louis June 3. will be held either in Sportsman’'s Park, home of the Browns and Card- inals, or indoors at the St. Louis Arena. Larry Atkins, Mound City promoter, who came here today to sign articles with Lewis’ manager, Gus Greenlee, said he is guaranteeing the champion $15,000. Olin will work on a per- centage basis. Olin, from whom the Negro won the championship in St. Louls, Oc- tober 31, 1935, will begin training next week at Madam Bey's Health Farm at Summit, N. J. Lewis fights Patsy Perroni of Cleveland in Madison Square Gar- den next Friday night, but will go to St. Louis immediately afterward to establish headquarters. Farley Fizzles As Turf Picker By the Associated Press. LOUIBVn.E‘., Ky, May 8— Postmaster General Farley, s Kentucky Derby onlooker today, halied the evidence of returning “good times” in the gathering of horse following clans, but he didn’t have as much luck picking the winner as he did in forecasting the margin of President Roosevelt's race for voters in the electoral col- lege last year. Farley wagered on Reaping Re- { ward, which ran third. ATLEWIS' GROWN ‘The bout, scheduled for 15 rounds, | were out. In the opening ir | f'rinstance, Joe Kuhel looped a fit | double to right field after Chapm-n |and Buddy Lewis went out Wade | then walked Johnny Stone and pitched |8 long single to Al Simmons, who | scored Kuhel. In the second inning the Washi | tons score came from a most pecul scurce. Two were out when News | hisself, walked to the plate and drove | into the upper right-field stands. It | was & most surprising home run and, | to Manager Mickey Cochrane, it fur- | nished conelusive evidence that today wasn't Wade's day Thus it was that in the Tigers' sec= {ond attacking sessicn a pinch-hitter appeared in Wade's place at bat. New- | some had opened this inning by hitting | Walker with a pitched ball and he | walked Pete Fox. He made Bill Rogell force Fox, but Marv Owén tagged | Buck for a double and Walker tallied. “So. Goose Goslin battled for Wade. This Time. Walker Hits Buck. GOSLIN never had a chance. He couldn't reach anything Newsom | threw and so he walked, filling the bases with one out. It looked as if | 2-1 margin which Buck held at th | time was going to be wiped out quickly. But Buck got out of it Jo-Jo , White rammed a drive to the box on one hop and Newsom threw home, forcing Rogell. Walter Millies then whipped to Kuhel to double up White. In the third frame, Walker hit New- som. In fact. with Charley Gehr on base by virtue of a walk. Walker hit one of Newsom's pitches out of th: lot and Detroit went ahead, 3-2 Rowe took up the Detroit pitchin after Wade was removed and he was a howling success—for two innings | In the fifth, however, our side went 10 work on the Schoolboy. Kuhel started it with a single after Lewis went out. Stone also grounded out, but Simmons double against the right-field screen, scoring Kuhel. Tak- ing the cue, Buddy Myer also doublec scoring Simmons and putting the Griffs ahead again, 4-3 Still the Nats weren’s finished. Oid Oss Bluege inserted a single at this point to send Myer across and littl® | Millles, who hits doubles or nothir | lined out a two-bagger to chase over | Bluege Chapman Shows His Speed. WITH a 6-3 lead, Newsom's pen- chant for getting into hot water became more tolerable. He kep walking tigers and giving up hits now and then, but if it wasn't a doubl~ play that helped him to escape | was Chapman leaping against th~ scoreboard for an important catch In fact, for a guy who collected on! one hit all day, Chapman was a mos conspicuous figure. In the sixth in- ning he gave a preview of War Admiral and probably ruined the hopes of the its getting the Tigers to back Gerald ‘Walker against him in a foot race | Ben singled to start the round and | after Lewis took a third strike he sei | sail for second. Chappie was safe by | the proverbial mile but, not satisfied. | he took off and stole third as well. By this time a rookie, Pat McLaughlin | was pitching for the Detroits. So | flustered became Pat that he then walked Kuhel and Stone in succession As Simmons forced Stone the fleet- footed Chapman scored with the run that made it 7-3. The final score was added in the ninth inning. Again it was a case of | rallying with two out. Bluege started | this uprising with a triple to center Then “Double-Or-Nothing” Millies doubled to score him. That's all. There wasn't any more. PHILS SIGN MASTERS Ex-Penn Hurler Had Brief Trial ‘With Nats in 1831. PHILADELPHIA, May 8 (#).—Man- ager Jimmy Wilson of the Phillies an- nounced today he had signed Walter Masters, who starred for the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania six years ago. Masters had a brief trial with Wash= ington in 1931 and later pitched for Ottawa of the Canadian-American League Last year he was with the Bush- 4 wicks, s Brooklyn semi-pro team.