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STAND PAT GIVEM TCP WEIGHT Conqueror of Azucar in Great West--era Handicap Honor Post. Seagram Star Likely Starter in Revival - of Famous Old Chicago Stake Saturday at Homewood. . HOMEWOOD, 111., June 5. One of the new "big horses" of 1935 Edward F. Seagrams Stand Pat shaped up today a3 a likely favorite for the revival of the famous old Great Western Handicap, at a mile and a furlong which will draw racegoers young and old to new Washington Park on Saturday. Stand Pat, now at Detroit, came into prominence last Thursday, when he proved the easy winner by two lengths over F. M. Algers Azucar In the Col. Alger Memorial Handicap at the Detroit Fair Grounds. Azucar, it will be recalled, is the horse that surprised the turf world last winter by beating such handicap stars as Equipoise, Twenty Grand, Head Play, Ladysman and Riskulus in the 100,000 Santa Anita Handicap in California. Expected to walk home in last Thursdays race, Azucar proved no match for Stand Pat. Racing secretary Charles McLennan thought so highly of Stand Pats chances in the Great Western that he assigned the four-year-old top weight of 124 pounds. But he has been in communication with Stand Pats trainer, F. A. Gilpin, and is now awaiting definite word as to when the horse will be shipped to Washington Park. He has received no complaint as to the weight assigned the horse, and inasmuch as there is no stake for which Stand Pat is engaged at Detroit, Saturday, the horses starting is considered a distinct possibility. Another of the major contenders in the Great Western A. A. Baronis Top Row proved to the railbirds yesterday that he is near top form by doing a mile in 1:41, breezing. Top Row . holds the worlds record of 1:42 for a mile and a sixteenth. With such stars as Riskulus, Top Row, Roman Soldier, Tearout, Whiskolo and Late Date already at Washington Park, the Great Western Handicap is beginning to shape up as one of the most interesting races of the Chicago season. It must be admitted, however, that a considerable portion of the interest which is being manifested in the face is due to the fact that in the old days of Chicago racing, the Great Western Handicap was considered one of Americas most important stakes for older horses, and that old-time racegoers who have not been seen on a racecourse in many years are planning to attend the revival. The Great Western Handicap was first run in 1884, when the famous old Washington Park race track was located in what is now a densely-populated residential section on Chicagos south side. It was run sixteen times, with such famous horses as Boatman, Yo Tambien, Rudolph, Sabine, and Jolly Roger being returned the winners. Its last renewal came in 1903, when the five-year-old John McGurk beat the renowned McChesney over the mile and a half distance in 2:31. When Washington Park opened its gates in 1904 the meeting lasted only long enough to see the American Derby run, and then racing was absent from Chicago for many seasons. When racing came back to Chicago a few years ago, the famous Americn Derby was revived and has been run each season since, until it has virtually regained its position as one of the most important three-year-old specials on the American turf. But the Great Western, equally ancient, was left gathering dust until president John P. Harding ordered it restored when he and his associates took over and modernized the Washington Park track this season.
