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; . i , i 1 t t t i . • t . ; , . . , j 2 1 r s r McLaren cicero star • Scores With Three of His Mounts ati Sportsmans Park. ♦ Big Crowd Welcomes Return of* , Thoroughbreds to Popular West Side Course — Track Heavy. ■ CICERO, 111., May 1.— The thoroughbreds, after a six months absence, were given a noisy and enthusiastic welcome upon their return to Sportsmans Park today. A crowd officially given out at 8,500 journeyed to the West Side course of the National Jockey Club to view the sport. The weather was anything but propitious for an opening day. The day started out balmy and springlike, but by post time clouds gathered and as the afternoon wore on light sprinkles of rain fell during the later races. Increasing cloudiness toward the latter part of the day made for poor visibility. The track, which was put in perfect condition by superintendent Bill Meyers, was in a heavy con-, dition by post time, due to the late rains Sunday, and very slow time marked the performances of the winners. The half-mile rider Jimmy McLaren was the star of the afternoon, with three winning mounts. The work of beautifying the infield of the park was retarded considerably by the prolonged winter, but a large force of landscape gardeners are rapidly whipping it into scenic beauty with shubbery and sunken gardens and they are lining the outer edges of the artificial lake with white stone and midget evergreens. Grass seed is being scattered in the few bare spots and by the time the fall meeting rolls around, the fans will be greeted with a picture of artistic beauty. INAUGURAL TO HOOPS. The start in the Inaugural Handicap, which was won by Hoops, racing in the colors of S. Gorbet, was a good one. Hoops was ridden by J. McLaren, who showed his usual fine horsemanship in getting his mount into a contending position by working his way through the others to be winner by a length. Barashkova was the one to set the early pace, but soon tired and relinquished the lead to Scream, but he too gave way in the heavy going, but managed to last for the short end of the purse. The veteran gelding Martie Flynn, racing in the colors of Stuyvesant Peabody, popular Chicago -"* sportsman, was the real star of the race, when, after being knocked back badly going to the first turn, he gradually worked his way up to be second and was going very strongly at the finish and is anything but aged and infirm. Sun Memor" was the short priced favorite in the race, but suffered ill luck when he stumbled on the first turn and lost so much ground that he could not gain a contending position thereafter. The dual betting system, known as the Quinella, was inaugurated in the Chicago section for the first time today. The bettor picks two horses in a race and they must finish one-two or two-one. The Quinella plan of betting will be on the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth races at Sportsmans Park daily. TEMPLE DANCER BEST. Mrs. W. K. Perry sent a fit horse to the post in the first race when Temple Dancer was victorious. She had to be much the best to overcome the adverse racing luck she encountered immediately after the rise of the barrier. Racing after the leaders, she went wide and, passing Blighter on the last turn, won well in hand by four lengths. Blighter raced into a short lead on the last turn but could not withstand the winners determined rush in the stretch but managed to outstay Miss Hutch eson. Semester was the favorite, but apparently disliked the going. The second race went to Sam Gorbets Marsala, which was ridden by the star half- miler, Jimmy McLaren. From a slow begin- ning the Gorbet mare worked her way into contention and passed the tiring Wolverine, which enjoyed a short lead up to the stretch turn. McLaren immediately went to the inside and, saving ground in the stretch, man- aged to keep his mount in front in a driving finish. Wolverine might have kept his nar- row margin under a more vigorous ride on the turns. Jack Biener was the offending favorite and had no excuses to offer for his poor showing. The red and blue colors of S. Gorbet scored a double when his good filly Shoot raced to victory in the third. The ever-alert McLaren got the best of the start, and his mount was in a commanding lead before the _ m Continued on twenty-second page.. McLaren cicero star Continued from first page. other riders could recover their wits. Under good horsemanship, Shoot was well rated on the turns and made a runaway affair of the race. The veteran gelding Mutual Friend made a feeble effort to catch the flying Gor-bet filly, but to no avail, and managed to take the second part of the purse. Vagabond gave a good exhibition to last for third. F. E. Moore won the fourth with Closing Event, ridden by E. T. Moore. The victor was lucky to score and with a better ride Altena would have been more dangerous. As it was she raced well on the straightaway, but her rider could not keep her close to the rail on the turns. The race was marked by much crowding shortly after the start when Star Ballot came rver sharply, impeding Farmer Bob, Nawab and Copain. The alertness of Arcaro in keeping his mount Farmer Bob on his feet when pinned in next to the rail, caused much favorable comment on that riders horsemanship.
