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BELOW ZERO BY NOSE ♦ Gains a Hard Earned Decision Over Indiantown in Aurora Feature. » Delay at Post Caused by Lady Thatcher Falling and Stepping on Jockey J. Dias. AURORA, 111.. May 11.— Sprinters topped the program at the Fox Valley Jockey Clubs course this afternoon, and the Yorkville, an allowance affair, resulted in one of the best finishes of the current session. Below Zero, racing in the interests of Hardy and Ger, earned a nose decision over Indiantown, with Southern Way a length and a half farther back in third place when the three-quarters of a mile was completed. Southern Way exhibited a good turn of early speed and set the pace until straightening out in the stretch, then Below Zero moved up stoutly on the rail and assumed command as Southern Way swung wide into the lane. Though Below Zero forged to the front, the four-year-old daughter of Tryster — Low Degree had all she could do to withstand the challenge of Indiantown, which lost some ground through racing wide for the entire way, but was slowly wearing down the winner, which rewarded her backers with odds of .20 for each straight investment. There was a delay of ten minutes at the starting gate, as Lady Thatcher reared and fell, then stepped on apprentice J. Dias foot, causing a change in riders. Dias was removed to the hospital from the emergency hospital at the track for X-ray pictures to be made to ascertain the extent of the injury. RAPID IMPROVEMENT. Rains of Saturday night and Sunday put the track in an off condition, but with a warm sun shining and a good breeze there was rapid improvement in the conditions by the time that the opening race was summoned to the post. The Yorkville, an allowance event for three-year-olds and over, at a distance of six furlongs, topped the eight-race card, occupying sixth position on the card. There were eight of the twelve named in the overnight entries that accepted the issue, comprising a well balanced field. Six claiming races and an event for maiden two-year-olds made up the card, and there was a good week-day crowd of lovers of the thoroughbred sport in attendance. Nellie Mc, making the initial start of her career, proved too much for the seven other juveniles in the four and a half furlongs dash that opened the program. Four lengths behind the bay filly came Old Fondo, which held a like margin over Sir Midas at the conclusion of the sprint. Nellie Mc did not lose any time in assuming a big lead and was never in any danger of being overtaken, coasting across the finish line well in hand. The winner was the favorite in the betting, rewarding her backers with .60 for straight tickets. The second straight favorite ran to its Continued on thirtieth page. BELOW ZERO BY NOSE Continued from first page. backing when Transfun, from the Blue Ridge Stock Farm, easily took down the honors in the second race, a five and a half furlongs sprint for maiden three-year-olds. Hazel Eye finished second and My Gem was the other to share in the purse distribution. The chestnut daughter of Transmute— Fun was hustled into a big lead after the first quarter and never caused her backers the slightest worry thereafter, reaching the finish five lengths in advance of her nearest competitor. The winner returned .40 for straight tickets. The success of the choices was temporarily checked in the third race, at six furlongs, for three-year-olds which had not annexed a purse sincev November, when Koley Bey registered by a length and a half over Minthera, with Calawee taking down third place. Under clever handling from the veteran W. Boganowski, Koley Bey disposed of Little Coquina after the first quarter and drew into a safe lead, but displayed signs of distress from the results of his efforts in setting the pace for the major part of the race. Displaying a good band of speed, Double Nugget made it two victories in succession when the bay gelding took the fourth race at six furlongs by a length over Sun Erin. Third went to Old Nick. The bay son of Flittergold showed the most early speed and opened up a good lead after the first quarter and, though heading into the lane Double Nugget appeared to have a safe margin, apprentice Frank Chojnacki worked with might and main to keep him going long enough to be adjudged the victor. Double Nugget ruled the choice and was the third of the day to run to its backing. An outsider in the betting received the decision in the fifth, which was over a distance of a mile and a sixteenth, as Buddy Apolis showed the way to seven others, winning by the margin of one length over Ted Conard, with High Man nosing out Para Four for third place. Buddy Apolis dominated the running from the break, but Ted Conard managed to head the pacemaker momentarily during the last furlong.
