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MISSTEPS GREAT TRIUMPH t w Captures Washington Park Handicap, Big Inaugural Feature * Defeats Cof froth Handicap Winner, Golden Prince, and Other Stars — Spectacular Finish in Olympia Fields Purse * "Boots and Saddles" echoed over the Homewood plains Monday for the first time since 1927, accompanied by a spontaneous outburst of cheering from the throats of thousands who had gathered at the new Washington Park, to usher in a new era in American racing, one which witnesses the permanent restoration to the turf firmament of a track which, bearing such an illustrious name, promises to live up to and carry on the traditions of the original Washington Park of days long gone. These thousands had been assembling at the track since the noon hour, many having gone by the early suburban trains and by automobile, to be the first to pass through the turnstiles in order that they might inspect the plant and get their e WASHINGTON. PARK. May 27.— Washington Parks first stake, known as the Washington Park Handicap, featuring opening day at the rebuilt Homewood track, brought with its decision the successful 1929 debut of the celebrated "native son," Misstep, and the defeat of the largest money winner of the year, the equally famous Golden Prince, winner of the Coffroth Handicap. The two most widely famed horses in the field of cosmopolitan character which faced the barrier for the ,000 contest finished first and second, with Cayuga, representing the Shady Brooks Farm, third. Among the unplaced was another stake-winner, Mowlee, of the Rancocas Stable, the leading eastern candidate for the ,100, which was the winners share, and the distinction of winning the first handicap of the large list of rich events to be decided during the summer of racing in the Chicago district. The handicap was at a distance of only three-quarters of a mile, and it made good the possibilities foreseen for it by providing a strenuous struggle between two of the best sprinters that could be brought together in such a race — Misstep, the colt that was second to Reigh Count in last years Kentucky Derby, and later winner of the Fairmount Derby, and Golden Prince, whose speed performances were among the features of last winters racing. ASSERTS HIS QUALITY. Misstep demonstrated that he was as capable as he had been rated by the handi-capper for he took up the top weight of 124 pounds, seven more than had been assigned to the winner of the Coffroth Handicap, and carried it on to an easy victory. Mowlee, the other which had been so respected by the handicapper as to be asked to carry 123 pounds, made a strong finish after being outpaced and closed in fourth place. Misstep, which had prevailed as favorite, raced in his best form. Ridden by C. Mc-Crossen, he took command almost at will, before reaching the stretch turn. Crofton and Cayuga had taken the lead at the rise of the barrier, but they were completely overwhelmed by Misstep as the field rounded into the home stretch. The first days racing was remarkably formful and interesting. First blood of the Chicago season was drawn by a Kentuckian, C. H. Knekelkamp, who won the first race with his well played favorite. Captain J. S. The East scored with the winning of W. R. Coes two-year-old colt in the Inaugural Purse. The La Brae Stable of Hamilton Cotton, a westerner, won the third race with Listo. The first upset of the day came with the running of the race of interest secondarily only to that of the Washington Park Handicap when Montanaro, an extreme outsider, representing the stable of M. Deatherage, won the Olympia Fields Purse, defeating a strong band, which included F. M. Grabners celebrated handicap racer, Chicago, which was unplaced. EXCITING AND THRILLING. This finish was as close and as thrilling as one could be. Montanaro, after fighting it out all the way with another noted horse, King Nadi, managed to hold on to win from the fast-finishing Crossco. King Nadi, running his first race in a year and contesting the issue in surprising manner for one that had been out of competition so long, stuck it out to finish third. The three were only noses apart and thousands were uncertain as to the result until the numbers were hung up. A majority of those that had entered the speculation on the result were not as much concerned as to which of the leading trio was the winner as they were about the fate of Chicago, which had been favorite throughout the wagering. Chicago met with no mishaps. Continued on twenty-fourth page.. bearings in the new surroundings before settling down to participation in the days activities. This inspection, when properly done, is not a matter of a moment or two, for there is much to see and much to enthuse over. Descriptions of the rebuilt plant have been printed in volume in advance of the opening and need no repetition here. Suffice it to say that the picture, as already drawn by the newspaper writers, can hardly compare with the scene as it became enlivened by the presence of so many thousands of men and women, in spring attire and giving expression to a properly befitting gay and festive mood. Even Old Sol tried hard to smile out from behind the ever threatening clouds and several times he succeeded well. EARLY SPECIALS CARRY HUNDREDS. The first special electric trains to the course were well filled, mostly conveying attaches of the track, for the sport of racing requires a small army in itself, but many also were the proverbial early birds who were seeking to avoid the rush, only to find that they themselves were contributors to an early rush. Some of these tried to seek out CoL M. J. Winn and Judge C. W. Hay to be among the first to offer their congratulations on the marvels that had been wrought. But Colonel Winn, manager Hay and their corps of assistants were among the busiest and the least accessible. Their task of getting the plant 100 per cent ready for the opening has been a stupendous one, a fact that can only be appreciated by those few that have observed the progress of the work in the last few weeks. The early arrivals found this work still going on, but at parts where there would be no interference with the days sport. Day and night crews, working even through Sunday, had achieved readiness and completeness to all practical intents and purposes. BHINGING THE TRACK TO CHICAGO. The only evidences of incompleteness may have been taken in at a glance by those arriving on the first Illinois Central trains, which came in at a point where there remain a few finishing touches to be put on, the finishing crews having been concentrated on the interior of the plant proper. Once through the main entrance and within the enclosure itself, the visitor found all things done to a queens taste, few if any details overlooked or postponed, the polish on and. on schedule time almost to the moment, the mutual crews at their stands ready for business and everything in perfect order. It had seemed to those arriving by the electrified suburban trains, direct to the course from Randolph Street and the intermediate stopping points that the track, once so remote and inaccessible, had been brought right into Chicago, so swift had been the transportation, so soon the journeys end. CLUB HOUSE EVOKES ENTHUSIASM. While the trains were pouring their thousands into the park many more thousands were arriving by automobile, making their entrance from the main highway through large gates at another corner of the spacious grounds. These found new driveways and ample parking spaces, bcth paved and graveled. Holders of club house tickets left their automobiles within a few paces of the entrance to the club house itself. The exclamations of surprise and delight from those who have been accustomed to the most modern accommodations and comforts were eloquent testimonials to the painstaking and sparingless efforts that had been made to make societys department one of the finest in the country. Inviting lawns, both in front of the club house stand and in the rear of it, adjacent Continued on twenty-fourth page. and . ® Missteps Great Triumph 3 _ . Continued from first page. He simply was not good enough to cope with the early speed of the lightly-weighted Mon-tanaro and Crossco, which was second choice in the betting. He improved his position in the stretch, but was four lengths out of the money at ihe finish. This was the first race ever run at Washington Park over the mile and seventy yards distance, and Montanaros time of 1 :-13% establishes the track record. The sport was ushered in with a dash of three-quarters, bringing together under claiming conditions ten high priced platers, and the distinction of winning the first purse of the meeting fell to C. H. Knebel-kamp, when Captain J. S., trained by C. E. Gross and ridden by apprentice L. Jones, carried his silks to victory. The race terminated in a hair-line finish, in which the winner just lasted after leading throughout, to earn the verdict by a nose. Dr. Fred raced in nearest pursuit of Captain J. S., and, catching him tiring badly, almost succeeded in getting up. Kentucky Babe landed a safe third, holding on well in the late stages. Captain J. S. ruled a heavy favorite. The presence of the eastern aggregation of racers was soon made apparent, when the silks of W. R. Coe flashed to their first victory in these parts since the outstanding victory of Mr. Coes famous filly Black Maria in the first running of the Illinois Oaks at the inaugural meeting of new Washington Park. It was Caruso which placed the Inaugural Purse to the credit of W. R. Coe, decisively defeating the small band of juveniles which started in a dash of five-eighths Ridden by E. Shropshire, Caruso took command soon after the start, moving past Lila Stirmell into the lead on the far turn and then racing as if much the best, drew away into a long lead to win in a canter. Foxy Seth outfinished the tiring Lila Stirmell for second place. Caruso was an overwhelming favorite, making the second straight victory for the favorites. The first upset came with the running of the Promenade Purse, over three-quarters, a condition affair for three-year-olds. The La Brae Stable furnished the winner in Listo, which raced coupled with Theorist Jane. Listo was an easy winner over Cheers, landing three lengths in advance of the Coe colt while Cheers led Djinn by the same margin. Cheers set a fast pace to the stretch but tired and swerved badly in the final sixteenth and was unable to witstand Listos rush. Listo gradually moved up to the leader in the run home, and then drew away easily. L. McDermott was astride Listo. Donnay, from the Rancocas Stable, a prohibitive favorite, was outrun virtually from the start and seemed to labor badly. Jockey F. Ca-trone made his Chicago debut astride Donnay. a ___ 9 Continued from first page. to the open paddock, with their rustic chairs and benches, beckoned those that wanted first to inhale the atmosphere of the place. Within the club house, the exterior of which is patterned after Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, sun parlors with tinted walls and hardwood floors partially covered with summer rugs, proved especially attractive to the ladies who found, at every part of the club house, a beautiful background for their new spring sports costumes. Here prevailed the proverbial riot of color. Here, in the club house mutuel room, itself open to the lawns in the rear, were all the accessories and conveniences of the modern bank. One purchased his mutuel certificates through mahoganized fixtures, windows of bronzed grillwork. "I was never in a place like this," remarked one of the most experienced of .mutuel clerks as he took his place behind the window assigned to him. Preliminary activities having to do with the paddock and mutuel rooms conpleted, the spectator giving his first attention to the racing oval itself found that he should have reserved some of his enthusiasm for another picture that still lay before him — the landscaping of the infield, its greenery and ridges, its lake with miniature launches as typical of Chicago and the Great Lakes, as gondolas of the streets of Venice. Such were the sensations the new Washington Park afforded the opening day visitor before he was to experience the greater thrill provided by the running of the Washington Park Handicap and the days other races. ♦
