Derby Glory in the Sunflower State

Last week, I was chatting with a friend of mine, James "Bundy" Jenkins who is a local historian and retired school teacher. We normally shoot the breeze by talking Jayhawk basketball, Chiefs football or Royals baseball depending on the season, but that day he asked who I liked for the Kentucky Derby. I responded with some of the usual suspects-Union Rags, I’ll Have Another, El Padrino and sleeper, Welter Weight. His next question threw me off guard a little, “Have you ever heard of Lawrin?” Being familiar with most, if not all Derby contenders, I was surprised that Lawrin was not on my radar. I explained that I’d never heard of him & asked for more information, but I got the answer usual Bundy answer-“Look it up.” His advice never steers me wrong, so I did exactly that. 

 Turns out that Lawrin was not only the winner of the 1938 Kentucky Derby but, he’s the only Kansas-bred to ever win the run for the roses. Lawrin was raised at Woolford Farm, which is now the quaint, Kansas City suburb, Prairie Village. Owned and bred by local clothier, Herbert M. Woolf, Lawrin was sired by stakes-winner Insco, whom Woolf purchased for $500 at auction. He was able to get such a deal on Insco, due to a freak thunderstorm which forced most bidders inside, while Woolf braved the thunder and lightning to submit the winning bid. When Woolf paired Insco with, Woolford Farm’s blue-hen dam, Margaret Lawrence, a classic winner was born.