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WITHERS ATTRACTS BIG FIELD • Twelve Expected to Go to Post at Belmont Saturday. » Number of Contestants in Marked Contrast to Other Years — Sun Meadow the Dark Horse. ♦ NEW YORK, N. Y., May 27.— The fifty-sixth running of the Withers Stakes, richest event on the triple stake program offered turf patrons next Saturday. Decoration Day, at Belmont Park, and which will be worth well over 1,000, gives promise of attracting the largest field of three-year-olds that have ever started in the rich race in recent years. A field of more than a dozen is practically assured. This is in marked contrast to recent annual renewals of the Withers. Only six faced the barrier in last seasons renewal when Whichone won. Blue Larkspur defeated eight others in 1929, while half a dozen opposed Victorian in 1928. The previous year there were only four starters, with J. E. Wideners great horse Chance Shot, inscribing his name on the long list of famous thoroughbreds that have won the rich prize. The presence of Jamestown, second only to Equipoise as the largest money winning two-year-old, and winner of six of his seven starts as a juvenile in the Withers, has not acted as a deferent to owners of other high class three-year-olds. G. D. Wideners fleet son of St. James has come up to the race in great condition under the guidance of trainer Andrew J. Joyner, one of the greatest of modern day trainers of a thoroughbred, and his charge is a certain starter. Of the half dozen candidates in the Green-tree Stable, three will be in the Withers. Anchors Aweigh and Surf Board will start, while trainer James Rowe may elect to start the fleet Checkerberry to set the early pace. Walter Salmons Ladder has been showing more early speed than usual in training trials since fulfilling his early engagements this season. Admiral Cary T. Graysons Happy Scot, which raced with others, only to be beaten by a narrow margin in the Toboggan Handicap on the opening day. is showing all his speed in trials since then. In addition to these E. R. Bradley will have a formidable pair in the stake in Blind Bowboy and Baba Kenny, one of the best at her age and sex last season to sport his silks. Halcyon and Magnifico, which have been doing all that was asked of them in training, will be the C. V. Whitney colorbearers. Poly-dorus is a sure starter, Rocky News, which has been training over the Aqueduct track, H. T. Archibalds Dark Hero, which was shipped from Pimlico for the race, Glastonbury, which had a public trial for the Withers last week, the Dorwood Stables High Day, Glen Riddle Farms Great Gun and Daniel Sands My Broom, winner at the meeting in impressive fashion, will probably be started in the race. Last but not least, and the reputed dark horse of the field, is Sun Meadow, from the K. E. Hitt stable. This son of Sun Briar and Red Clover is a real racer and was highly regarded in the Preakness and Kentucky Derby. He was withdrawn from these races due to an attack of coughing prior to the running of those stakes.
