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Valuable Preakness Stakes Today 6a i Field Small Numerically But Scintillating in Quality — Twenty Grand Favored if Track Is Fast; Equipoise, Should Muddy Going Prevail—Mate Highly Regarded — Surf Boards Chances Good — Forecast Greatest Race in History of Marylands Famous "Classic" ♦ BALTIMORE, Md., May 8. — The Preakness, one of Marylands old turf fixtures, which ranks in point of importance with other of the big three-year-old "classics" in this country, is scheduled for renewal at the famous old Pimlico course of the Maryland Jockey Club tomorrow. Away back in 1873, J. F. Chamberlains Survivor won the first running of this stake. He was ridden by jockey George Barbee, who will be a guest of the club tomorrow to witness the running of this years fixture. The names of some of Americas greatest thoroughbreds are on the scroll of winners of this noted old "classic." Preakness Day at Pimlico is a racing day of much importance on the American turf. It marks the running of the first 0,000 added prize of the year for the three-year-olds, and it invariably brings together most of the best of that age. The running of the old fixture of the Maryland Jockey Club tomorrow afternoon will prove no exception to the rule. A notable absentee is George D. Wideners Jamestown, which was not nominated for either the Preakness or Kentucky Derby. Practically all of the other stars are among the eligibles. Unfortunately, some of them failed to stand up under the strenuous preparation for the mile and three-sixteenths test, but the natural rivals for the crown have come through magnificently and while there have been larger fields contending for the fame and dollars there has never been more interest in a running. The form of each in the notable field has been well established already, while the various public trials have pronounced each one fit for the struggle. SENTIMENTAL LOYALTY. Each will have a loyal following when they parade to the post, and it will be a following that is not alone influenced by the possibility of winning a bet. There is still a sentimental loyalty to the good horse that counts for so much in any sport, and it counts for more than anything else for the health of racing. The love of the horse and the loyalty to the horse is the biggest thing in racing and without that sentimental regard the sport would not exist. On the eve of the big race the prospects are that not more than eight will start. They include Equipoise, Twenty Grand, Surf Board, Mate, Soil Gills, Aegis, Clock Tower, Anchors Aweigh and Ladder. The Whitney family hold a strong hand. The colors of Mrs. Payne Whitney will be carried by Twenty Grand, Surf Board and Anchors Aweigh, while Cornelius Vander-bilt Whitney will be represented in the race by Equipoise. Harry Payne Whitney furnished the winner of the Preakness in 1921, 1927 and 1928 when Broomspun, Bostonian and Victorian won, and this year his son will make an effort with Equipoise. POPULAR FAVORITE. Until he met with a mishap at Havre de Grace, Equipoise was a strong favorite with Marylanders for the Preakness. They could not forget his wonderful race in the Pimlico Futurity last fall when he won after being left at the post, and on that occasion he defeated among others Twenty Grand, which will probably be the favorite in this years running. Equipoise may have been hurried a bit to tighten him for tomorrows race, and this may have taken some of the edge off him. That is only gurmise, however, for his people appeared well satisfied with his trial here on Wednesday last when he covered a mile and a furlong in 1:52%, and a mile and a quarter in 2:07 eased up. When one considers that the colt is not a workhorse his move was the more impressive. In the event of the track being heavy, Equipoises chance will be improved as he is a high class mud runner. Mrs. Payne Whitneys Greentree Stable will furnish powerful opposition for all contestants in Twenty Grand, Surf Board and Anchors Aweigh. All have been stake winners this spring and all three have shown brilliant trials. It is seldom that one stable has so many good three-year-olds. All can go a route and Surf Board and Anchors Aweigh can run equally as well over a heavy track as a fast one. Some claim that Twenty Grand is also a good mud runner, but the writer figures him at his best when he finds the footing fast and smooth. It is possible that Anchors Aweigh may not go to the post if the track is fast. Continued on second page. PREAKNESS STAKES TODAY Continued from first page. The sensational trial of Twenty Grand Wednesday morning when the colt covered a mile and a quarter in 2:05%, going the mile in 1:38% and the mile and an eighth in 1:51%, still has turf experts gasping with astonishment. Such marvelous speed is seldom witnessed in a training gallop. That remarkable performance only serves to strengthen the belief that the colt is possessed of an extraordinary turn of speed, which he convincingly demonstrated last year when he won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and ran a mile in 1:36, the fastest ever to the credit of a two-year-old. A. C. Bostwicks Mate is not without friends and there are many who are counting on the son of Prince Pal to provide the most stubborn opposition for the more favored contestants. Mate has proved himself a high class racer, fast and able to carry his speed over a distance of ground. He is equally good over a fast or muddy track. The Seagram Stable is starting a sturdy looking colt in Soil Gills. His races here this spring have been good ones and he has shown a disposition to run as far as horses are asked to go. Frank Coltiletti has been engaged to ride him and the Canadian contingent make no secret of the fact that they look for Soil Gills to run a smashing race. Aegis, which will carry the Walter M. Jeffords colors; Clock Tower, which will race for Mortimer L. Schwartz, and Ladder, for Walter J. Salmon, are the others programmed. Ladder is no mud runner and will remain in the stable in the event of any more rain. Clock Tower ran a great race in the Woods Memorial at Jamaica when Twenty Grand beat him by a head. Max Hirsch claims that he is sending a better colt to the post tomorrow than he did that day, which, if true, means that Clock Tower is not out of it by any means. To sum up the situation in the event of more showers falling during the night and the track being heavy, Equipoise will be a tough nut to crack; if the track remains fast, Twenty Grand looks like the winner. The Preakness is scheduled to be run as the fifth race and the horses will be called to the post around five oclock.
