People

Now It Can Be Told:

The Sung Hero of the $150,000 Laurel International a couple of weeks ago was Jockey Jorge Velasquez, who booted Fort Marcy to victory, upholding U.S. racing prestige and collecting $10,000 in pay.

But the Unsung Hero was Baltimore Cabbie Daniel Watchinsky, 45, who picked up Jockeys Velasquez and Ron Turcotte at Friendship International Airport when their plane was 90 minutes late from New York. Watchinsky booted his 5-year-old taxi 15 miles to the track in about 15 minutes, on the rail all the way, and got them there one minute under deadline for entering the race. A friend met them and paid off the taxi while the jockeys dashed inside.

After the victory, Velasquez agreed that Watchinsky had saved the day and said, "I geeve heem nice teep if he steel there."

Well, this is to remind Velasquez that Watchinsky is still there—right at the old international cabstand at Friendship—and he still ain't got that nice teep.

Down in Campbellsville, Ky. Sheriff Junior Sprowles refused to take a Breathalyzer test when he was stopped for suspected drunken and reckless driving and his license was suspended. So how can a man be expected to do any sheriffing when he can't drive a car? Well, that's lawman Sprowles chasing down crime over there now. On his horse.

I've Got a Secret: I
"My deah," Gloria Swanson confided to an interviewer, "I was never—never, ever—a Mack Sennett bathing beauty. Never, never, ever. I can't, and never could, swim." Sorry, Gloria, but it won't do. Swimming is not now, and never was, a prerequisite for being a bathing beauty. Never, never, ever.

I've Got a Secret: II

Bailey Howell has hammertoes. Philadelphia Trainer Al Domenico confided that Howell has four on each foot, which he figures could be a league record. Same rule as above: straight toes have never ever been a prerequisite for playing basketball. Or being a bathing beauty, for that matter.

Scene: The American Shoals off Florida. The second annual Duck Key Sailfish Tournament is under way. So far, this is not exactly the most exciting event in the world.