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Dog Race. In warming up his audience with a description of a horse, Finney speaks slowly and distinctly, well aware that'many of the older members of the audience may be deaf and that the younger bloods, like as not, have just had four or five Martinis. Often when the bids hang after a quick runup, Finney interrupts the proceedings with a little spice. "Come on, gentlemen," he will say, "you're surely not going to let this fine horse go for only $7,500. Why, this filly is worth twice as much as the bid, just to breed, even if she never raced." (During the Depression Announcer Finney was equally reluctant to "let this fine horse go for $30.")
British-born Finney, who came from a long line of Anglican parsons, learned about horses as a groom and stable boy. He is known for his ability to produce furlongs of equine statistics at the drop of a crop. But his technique is not all smooth talk. At one auction, a heckler who was scornful of the horses up for sale asked Finney: "When are you going to start the dog race?" Snapped Finney: "Just as soon as you can get in shape to run."
* In a $200,000 deal, Virginia's Gilpin family, which has controlled the company since 1943, agreed to sell most of its stock to a group including Mrs. E. C. ("Liz" Whitney) Person, Banker John W. Hanes and Financier Whitney Stone.