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BLACK SERVANT BACK i - i E. R. Bradleys Star Makes Triumphant Return to the Races. • i Cloudy and Chilly Weather Fails to Hurt Attendance — Betting Volume Is Heavy. , ♦ LEXINGTON, Ky., May 4.— L. R. Brad- , leys Black Servant made an auspicious comeback this afternoon and unless he meets with a mishap seems destined to figure with the leaders if he does not attain premier . honors in the all-aged division of racers for this year. | It was his first start since the autumn of 1921. That year as a three-year-old he had I] undergone a strenuous campaign and among i his achievements was a second in the Ken- | tucky Derby to his stable companion Behave Yourself, a second in me l.atonia Champion- | ship Stakes and also failure by inches to j master Grey lg in a special race at Devon- , shire Park near Windsor. Black Servants i ailment, an injury" to his foreleg, manifested itself immediately after his defeat by Grey lag and it was the cause for his defeat by the Hildreth-Sinclair crack. In the Latonia Championship Stakes Black Servant reversed the decision decisively with Grey Lag, but it has always been the Bradley connections contention that Black Servant was not a fit horse to go a mile and a half on that occasion and as a result he struck himself and it resulted in his retirement and absence from racing last year. Todays race was at three-quarters and it brought to the barrier some of the best that could be mustered, including Braedalbane. Marvin May, John Finn and others. Black Servant has been showing some fast training gallops, but so has Braedalbane, resulting in added interest in the meeting of the pair and extensive support being accorded both. Braedalbane moved into the lead, but Ponce, on Black Servant, followed the Breck-enridge representative closely and in the stretch, when urged hard. Black Servant showed all his old-time courage and held Braedalbane safe to win by a half length. Following closely in the wake of the pair came Marvin May. The time of the race, 1 :12Vs. was the fastest of the meeting. Black Servant was worked out to the mile under restraint, which he covered in 1:10%. LAY-OFF BENEFICIAL. Black Servants return to weigh in was eagerly awaited and a big throng of critical observers took note of his condition. lie Bhowed no symptoms of soreness and promises to continue training in good style. Many express belief that his absence from racing last year will have a beneficial effect. The sprint handicap that engaged Black Servant and his opponents was the outstanding feature of todays racing card, but the other six dashes were also productive of close and interesting racing. Cloudy weather, with a sharp tinge in the atmosphere, did not cause any reduction in . the former big attendance and the betting volume was also of greater amount than on any former day at this meeting. Some highly regarded three-year-old fillies started the racing with victory going to T. C. McDowells Awtiy. which triumphed over Miss Meise and Kitty Williams. Away led 1 her opponents from the start, but was forced at the end to do her best. A. 15. Hancocks Volt proved much the best in the second and won in runaway style from 1 lluon Pine, with the first-timer and well-thought-of King ONeill II. in third place. Blue Bird won her second purse of the meeting when she led home the others in 1 the closing dash. She also established a 1 new track record when she went the mile ; and three-sixteenths in 2 :00%. The former mark was an old one and had been made - by High Flight, which ran the distance in 1 2 :01 t. •
