AT CHURCHILL DOWNS, THEY WONDER . . . : Where’s George? : Steinbrenner Ducks the Limelight While Awaiting Run for the Roses

The Courier-Journal, Louisville’s morning newspaper, led its sports section Wednesday with a story about a controversy at Churchill Downs.

George Steinbrenner’s name was in the second paragraph.

Why not? Steinbrenner is controversy’s traveling companion.

So whom did the Boss fire this time?

Much to the relief of the hired hands in Barn 25, the answer is no one.

The mention of the shipbuilding New York Yankees owner amounted to name-dropping. This was one controversy that didn’t have Boss Steinbrenner in the middle.

In fact, the Boss was nowhere to be found by most reporters Wednesday at Churchill Downs, where Eternal Prince, the horse Steinbrenner shares with a syndicate, will run Saturday in the Kentucky Derby.

One of the horse’s other owners, Brian Hurst, said that Steinbrenner would be at Barn 25, Eternal Prince’s headquarters here, at mid-morning. When he didn’t show, Hurst said that Steinbrenner probably would appear later in the day at a press conference to elaborate on the article in the morning newspaper.

Moving from the barn to the site of the press conference, the reporters resumed their vigil.

But when the press conference began, there was still no Steinbrenner.

Wearing a Yankee warm-up jacket, Hurst said that Steinbrenner was at the barn. It must have been the end-around he learned as a student manager for the football team at Purdue.

“He didn’t want this to be a George Steinbrenner roast,” Hurst said. “He wanted the press conference to be about horse racing, not baseball.”

At the press conference, Hurst confirmed reports that he and Steinbrenner, who each own 37 1/2% of Eternal Prince, have sold the remaining 25% to Brownell Combs of Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky., and a young couple from Dallas, Paul and Pauletta Post.

If appearances mean anything, the Posts will be able to buy plenty of oats. Pauletta was wearing a diamond wedding ring the size of Southfork.

As for the controversy, it was minor. That’s probably the reason Steinbrenner didn’t want to be involved. Why involve yourself in a minor controversy when you can start a major one at the drop of a manager?

Because Combs has an interest in another Derby contender, Rhoman Rule, the state’s chief steward said this week that Eternal Prince and Rhoman Rule probably will be coupled as a betting entry Saturday.

Whereas they probably would have gone off at between 5-1 and 10-1 if entered separately, the odds are likely to be lower if they are teamed.

Combs disagrees with the steward, contending that the horses shouldn’t be coupled. He doesn’t have a controlling interest in either, he said, and they don’t have the same trainer.

Nevertheless, Combs probably won’t take his case to the top because, as chairman of the Kentucky State Racing Commission, he is the top. He recognizes the conflict of interest.

If he was hoping for Steinbrenner to join the debate, he was disappointed. Steinbrenner apparently is a silent partner.

Steinbrenner is the only member of the syndicate who was there from the beginning, having bred Eternal Prince, a son of 1969 Derby and Preakness winner Majestic Prince, at his Kinsman Stud Farm in Florida.

Steinbrenner sold the horse last year to Hurst for $17,500. But when Eternal Prince won the Gotham Stakes last month in near Secretariat-fast time, Steinbrenner wanted him back. Hurst sold him a 37 1/2% interest for $750,000.

The Boss admitted at the time that he didn’t deserve high marks for his business acumen.

That changed Wednesday, when Eternal Prince was syndicated for a reported $7 million.

Hurst said he couldn’t have done it without the Boss.

“I was ready to take $2 million after the Gotham, but George said, ‘Wait until the Wood,’ ” Hurst said.

Eternal Prince won the Wood Memorial three weeks ago at Aqueduct, beating Derby contenders Proud Truth and Rhoman Rule.

“George made us $5 million,” Hurst said.

Even with the promise of riches to come, Hurst had to coax Steinbrenner into the winner’s circle after the Wood. Steinbrenner was camera-shy, which may come as a surprise to readers of the New York City tabloids but not to those close to Steinbrenner.

Friends say he bought the Yankees because he thought it would be fun to own a major league team, especially that one, but soon discovered there were as many frustrations in the baseball business as in his others.

Still seeking an outlet, he entered horse racing. He would like to keep this reserve as private as possible.

“He said he’s here to relax,” Hurst said.

But can anyone else relax when Boss Steinbrenner is around?

“He’s been great,” Hurst said. “He’s probably the best partner you could have. He’s done everything right. He lets the people who have experience handling horses handle the horse.

“There aren’t as many variables as in owning a baseball team. I sometimes wonder how any of us would react if we were in his situation. It’s hard to realize the magnitude of George’s business interests.

“If someone asked me how I would run the New York Yankees, I would say, ‘I wouldn’t.’

“If you asked Billy Martin how he would run Eternal Prince, I’m sure he would say he wouldn’t.”

Don’t bet on that, someone said.

Hurst laughed.

“Billy might be good for the sport,” he said.

Eternal Prince’s trainer, John (Butch) Lenzini, said he also has enjoyed his relationship with Steinbrenner.

“He’s been perfect,” Lenzini said. “He said I’ve been doing a good job so far and to stick with it.”

So he’s not worried about being fired?

“Not yet,” Lenzini said. “Besides, George doesn’t own enough of the horse to fire me.”

Who would have thought it possible? In the sport of kings, Boss Steinbrenner is a prince.

Whether that is eternal remains to be seen.