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Chicago and Detroit Racing Enthusiasts Out in Great Force on Saturofl HAWTHORNE INAUGURAL More Than 15,000 Racing Fans at Popular West Side Course. See Rock X. Scamper to Victory Over Whiskolo and Ariel Cross in Opening Feature. More than 15,000 frenzied Chicago racing fans watched the Tranquility Farms five-year-old bay gelding, Rock X.f scamper to a well earned triumph in the Hawthorne Inaugural Handicap this afternoon, garnering ,120 for the one length score over the Milky Way Farms Stables Whiskolo, while H. C. Hatchs Ariel Cross was a length and a half farther back in third place, and T. C. Wordens Billy Jones took down fourth money. After a delay of four minutes at the starting gate, due to the fractiousness of Trans-mutable and Ding Bin, the sixteen contestants were dispatched in good alignment, with Transmutable first to show in front after the break. The Old Gold Stables colorbearer displayed a nice turn of early speed and showed the way to Ding Bin and Slim Rosie, while Rock X. was racing in seventh place on the extreme outside of the large field. When a half mile of the six furlongs journey was traversed Transmutable continued to show the way with Ding Bing three lengths away, but Whiskolo and Rock X. moved up stoutly as Slim Rosie faded out of the picture following her spurt. As the field headed into the stretch Transmutable began to show signs of distress, and Rock X. and Whiskolo began closing in on the pacemaker. Though jockey Fermin worked frantically on Transmutable in an effort to retain his advantage, the challengers charged on. TRANSMUTABLE TIRES. It was apparent that Transmutable had spent himself at the furlong pole, and it was with comparative ease that Rock X., then Whiskolo, Ariel Cross and Billy Jones whizzed past the tiring brown gelding. Once in front, Rock X. did not experience much difficulty holding off the challenge of Whiskolo, crossing the finish mark with a clean length advantage. Apprentice B. James made up the 110 pounds that was the impost shouldered by the five-year-old son of Rock Man Choice and handled his mount in perfect manner. Getting away from the gate with the leaders, Rock X. was kept clear of interference throughout and the young rider made his bid at the proper time. Rock X. was somewhat overlooked in the betting and as a result rewarded his backers with 6 for wagers. Ideal conditions prevailed for the inauguration of the 1936 racing season in the Chicago area and with a splendid program offering eight races, Illinois turf enthusiasts turned out in large numbers, packing the Cicero course to its capacity, thereby providing for a gala opening. The historic Hawthorne course was in spick and span shape and offered innovations, foremost of which was the photographic arrangement to be used in the deciding of all close finishes during the current meeting, and to the Chicago Business Mens Racing Association goes the distinction of being the first to install the new device in Illinois. CHANGE "DAILY DOUBLE." A change in the "Daily Double" races was effected. Unlike in the past, the first and third races on the card constitute the "Daily Double." In previous seasons the "Double" was conducted on the second and third races. Uppermost in the minds of the thousands of patrons of the thoroughbred sport, however, was the ,000 added Hawthorne Inaugural Handicap, at six furlongs, and occupying sixth position on the program. Practically all of the star sprinters that will be seen in action during the Illinois season were included among the starters. Twelve maiden two-year-olds made up the 1 field in the opening race, which was a dash of five furlongs, and Par gradutaed from the ranks of non-winning juveniles. Over- Continucd on third page. HAWTHORNE INAUGURAL Continued from first page. play finished second, and Privileged was third. Moving around his field after entering the stretch, the chestnut colt rapidly wore down the leaders and drew away to a decisive length triumph. Lady Thatcher annexed the prize in the second, a six furlongs dash for three-year-olds and over, when the bay filly defeated Drombo by a length, with March Step finishing in third. Overtaken after going a quarter of a mile, Lady Thatcher remained in striking distance of the pacemaker until well straightenedaway in the stretch, where she responded well to hard urging and regained the forward position. The camera was put into action for the first time in Illinois when it was used to decide the winner of the third race, a six furlongs dash, in which Die Hard was adjudged the victor over Stop Scout. Foxiana, the heavily backed choice, landed in third place. Racing down to the wire head and head. Die Hard and Stop Scout went across the line as a team and there was a delay of several minutes while the picture was developed and transported on the trolley to the judges stand. The decision was well accepted by the spectators. Watercure proved best of the seven contestants that met over the mile and a sixteenth in the fourth race, and the brown colt was in front from start to finish, scoring by three lengths over Burnt Trail, which came from a long way out of it to take second place. Wee Emma was a tiring third. Displaying a powerful performance, Car-vola came from far out of it in the final quarter to capture first money in the Paul Jones claiming event, which was fifth on the card. Southern Belle was a length behind the winner at the finish, while Below Zero was just a head farther back, in third place, and the photographic apparatus was put into service for the second time during the afternoon. Carvola broke slowly and appeared hopelessly out of it as the field raced up the back stretch, but the bay filly worked her way between horses entering the stretch and drew into command in the final sixteenth of the sprint event. Carvola was an outsider in the betting and paid 3.40 for each straight. Mister Ganders success in the seventh contest, which was over a distance of a mile and a sixteenth, made it a. double for E. K. Bryson, whose Carvola accounted for the fifth. The four-year-old gelding held a margin of two lengths over Dark Woman at the finish, with Exponent next in line.
