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fTUALEAH PARK TURFN0TES f 3 Charles Van Schoick, accompanied by his wife, got in from Hot Springs, Ark., where he spent several weeks. Mr. Van Schoick, a prominent citizen of Albany, N. Y., formerly owned Prepare. The latter won a couple of races at Tropical Park, and his former owner was much disappointed to learn that the colt had been claimed. Bill Bernie, fresh from California, was on hand for Hialeahs opening. A few years ago Bernie raced a pretty shifty string and he plans to come back into racing after an absence from the turf of several years. News reached here of the death in San Rafael, California, of Tommy McBride, the old-time steeplechase rider. In more recent years McBride did the starting on a circuit of small tracks in Montana. James Healy, who has eleven horses at Hialeah for Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Whitney, reports that the nineteen horses he left over at Benning are wintering in fine shape. There are some grand looking two-year-olds among the Benning division and some of them showed speed enough in their trials before being put into winter quarters to warrant the belief that they have in them the making of high class racers. Edward R. Bradley came down from Palm Beach for the opening and John F. Sanford made the trip from Amsterdam, N. Y. Both were impressed with the grandeur of the Hialeah course. Starter Cassidy placed on the schooling list the following: Panetian, Don Leon, Prepare, Black Belt, Skyway and Bozo. Frank Riggs, treasurer of the Maryland Jockey Club and a member of the board of directors of that organization, is here looking over the operation of the "tote." Larry Waterbury and Adolph Pons are among the New Yorkers here. Thomas McCreery entered negotiations looking toward the purchase of the contract on H. Mills. This clever apprentice has the five pounds allowance until July 1. A. Hullcoat, trainer of A. C. Bostwicks Mate, got in from Aiken, S. C, for a short vacation. Hullcoat reports that the Bost-wick horse is wintering in excellent shape. Since being thrown out of training the colt has taken on weight. John J. Brady, who looks after the shipment of thoroughbreds, is here from Queens, Long Island. He plans to remain until the conclusion of the Hialeah meeting. Mortimer M. Mahoney, director of mutuels at Hialeah Park, announced that the mutuel handle opening day was 23,300. The largest total pool was that wagered on the Inaugural Handicap, which was slightly over 3,000. George Ellis, who rode A. C. Bostwicks Mate in most of that three-year-olds engagements last summer, has arrived and will be seen under silks during the Hialeah meeting. Melvin Lewis, sensational apprentice, came in from New Orleans and will ride here for J. R. Keene. His book is being handled by George Pass. George Fields, Paul McGinnis and Floyd Smock have handed their books over to Bob Steele. Post for the first race at Hialeah Park, which was set at 2:15 on opening day, will remain unchanged. Bill Eckert, who is in charge of the jockeys room on all New York tracks, has received a leave of absence from the Pinker-ton office in order to fill the same position at Hialeah Park. C. Vreeland, of the Brooklyn Eagle, was the latest arrival to swell the battery of newspaper writers at Hialeah Park. Mortimer Mahoney received word that Roger H. Pippen, sports editor of the Baltimore News and American, would be here within a few days. H. C. Hatchs Sam Pass, which pulled up lame after a recent race at Tropical Park, will not start for some time, reports trainer Lloyd Gentry.