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LADFIELD PROVES BEST Resumes 1934 Duel With Rock X. in Detroits Inaugural. : 1 . Twelye Thousand; Watch. Opening Day Program at Motor City Clear, Cold Weather. DETROIT, Mich., May 23. The duel between Mrs. C. R. Cranes Ladfield and the Tranquility Farms Rock X., which was halted at the close of the Detroit 1934 season, was resumed here this afternoon, and again Ladfield proved best. This pair of capable sprinters met over six furlongs in the Detroit Inaugural Handicap and at the end Ladfield, under his top impost of 117 pounds, was slightly more than a length before his younger opponent. G. T. Williams California -owned Slapped was third, two and a half lengths back of Rock X. and the same distance before the Odessa Farms Eddie J., the only three-year-old to start for the ,000 prize that went to the winner. Bahamas and Hecla, the other starters, completed the sprint in the order named. Cold and fair weather prevailed for the opening of the thirty-nine days of spring racing. A crowd estimated at 12,000 braved the biting north wind to aid in welcoming the return of racing to the Motor City. With the Junior League handling the clubhouse, this selected enclosure was packed with leading civic, business and social leaders of Detroit. The league handled the sale of tickets and a special section in the grandstand was set aside for The overflow. GOOD MUTUEL HANDLE. The short season appeared more to the fancy of the thoroughbred-inclined than the long" meeting last year, for the mutuel handle far exceeded that of opening day last year. Despite he performers coming from all parts of the country, the public enjoyed a successful afternoon. Where those held in highest esteem were not returned the winners, those well regarded usually carried off the major awards. There vas a short delay at the start of the feature, but once aligned Eddie Thomas had the small field of six away in fine style. Although Ladfield was the first to begin, Lee Hardy elected to reserve him when Rock X. and Hecla were rushed up. The former drew out under good urging, but near the final quarter Hardy drove Ladfield into second place and he was only a head back of Rock X. approaching the final furlong. Taking command soon afterwards, Ladfield drew away steadily to be in hand at the finish. After reaching the lead Ladfield came over sharply and the stewards suspended Hardy for ten days for not holding his position during the stretch running. Under good urging while forcing the pace, Hecla quit badly in the final furlong. During the first three-eighths Bahamas held a contending position but tired fast in the drive. The Tranquility Stable of H. H. Cross made its 1935 Detroit debut in auspicious fashion when C. W. Hay and Sun. X. carried off first and second honors in the five furlongs dash that opened the program. Third, went to Wedge Lad, which got up to head San Rafael at the close. The winner named for the Kentucky sportsman, who is general manager of the Hawthorne race track and a product of his Scotland Farm breeding establishment, had the services of Hilton Dab-son, and after overhauling the pacemaking Sun X. leaving the back stretch, the son of Judge Hay and Utopia reached, the finish well in hand, a length before his stablemate. The latter was some five lengths before Wedge Lad. With the exception of San Rafael, which weakened in the last stages, and Bon Shot, which stopped badly after three-eighths, the others were never factors. The entry was a 9 to. 10 choice. ONEILL A SURPRISE. A mild surprise came in the second race when OneilL led Anna V. L., Justice B. and eight other medicore platers to the finish of the six furlongs. Well handled by the maiden apprentice, J. Dunbar, when outrun in the early stages and lucky to find room at the stretch turn the winner, which carried H. Waldrops silks, took command in Continued on thirty-third page. LADF1ELD PROVES BEST Continued from first page. the final furlong to be two and a half lengths before the heavily supported Anna V. L. at the end. The latter, Justice B. and Celiba were heads apart at the finish. Charles Irby saddled another winner for the Tranquility Farm Stable, and Hilton Dabson completed a double when Ana X. provided a mild surprise by winning the third race, also over six furlongs. The finish found Briny Deep a neck back of the winner and half a length before Proven, which was clear of the eight others at the end. Lucky to find room while racing close up and benefited when Briny Deep raced wide from the start, the winner took command near the final furlong but was under strong urging to withstand Briny Deep at the end. Saving ground throughout, Proven, which enjoyed favoritism, held on well after reaching a contending position. The talent selected its second winner when G. LaFleshs Knights Hope triumphed over Owen Martinez, a fielder, Oderic, and nine others that met at three-quarters for the fourth event. Ridden by J. Bryson, a Detroit lad, the winner took command shortly after the break and, after drawing away into a long lead, he was under strong urging in withstanding Owen Martinez, which was three parts of a length in his wake and three lengths before Oderic at the close. With the exception of Gracious Gift and Bonagai, which quit badly in the drive, the others were never factors. James" P. Headley saddled the winner of the sixth race when G. T. Williams Mari-tion was much the best of Eblis, Suncircle Blaze and six others. D. Summers, western rider, rode the son of San-Utar. Never far back of the pace-making Vote Boy and Chinese Indian, Mari-tion took command shortly after entering the stretch to be a length and a half before Eblis at the end. The latter began tardily, but he saved ground throughout, and after closing with a rush pulled up very sore.
