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LARGEST OPENING DAY CROWD IN BOWIE HISTORY Mucho Gusto Takes Rowe Memorial in OHara Colors Five-Year-Old Drives to Head Victory Over Zoic After Thrilling Stretch Duel ,125 Winners Portion of Stakes Weather Perfect for Opening BOWIE, Md., April 1. Mucho Gusto, purchased at Miami last winter by Mrs. Walter OHara, scored his f irat victory under the Araho Stable banner as he drove to a head triumph in this afternoons renewal of the Rowe Memorial Handicap, the six furlongs dash which featured the Inaugural of the eastern racing season at the local course. Before the largest opening day crowd in the history of spring racing at the Prince Georges County park, the New Englander came from behind the pace to snatch major honors from Zoic, after a bitter final furlong duel. In that battle Jackie Westrope put forth a powerful finish astride the five-year-old son of Marvin May and Sweetheart Time to earn the ,125 which was the winners portion of the ,000 added purse. He also earned a silver trophy for his owner, offered by Joseph Boyle, general manager of the Southern Maryland Association. Two lengths behind the leading pair. New Deal, stable-mate of the winner, finished with a sharp burst of speed to take third money by slightly more than a length. Speed to Spare, best backed of the seven contestants, was a badly beaten fifth at the end, and the fourth straight choice to go down to defeat Mucho Gustos time of 1:13 was three full seconds off the track record for the distance. MUTUEL TOOLS HEAVY. Perfect weather prevailed for the sport and this, to no small degree, was responsible for the great turnout of enthusiasts from nearby Washington and Baltimore and as far north as New York. Speculation in the i "iron men" also ran high, being above the : 00,000 mark. Westrope had Mucho Gusto away well from his outer station at the post and drove him hard in the firmest footing to be in close attendance to the. pace of Speed to Spare as he galloped along in third place during the back stretch run. He had to continue a hard drive as the Vanderbilt colt Zoic and the New Englander made the turn head and head. As the leaders swung for home Zoic went through on the inside to take a brief lead, but in the final furlong battle the son of Prince of Wales lacked the stamina needed to turn back the challenge of his older opponent- ZOIC SHOWS EARLY SPEED. Zoic, a much improved gelding, had the early speed to be in front, took command from Speed to Spare about two furlongs from the finish and then hung on tenaciously under punishment. Weston went along evenly on the inside for the full distance and was five lengths in advance of the weary Speed to Spare at the final post Continued on twenty-sixth page. LARGEST OPENING DAY CROWD IN BOWIE HISTORY Continued from first page. The latter had his early speed, but tired badly after setting the pace for a half mile. Mary Keen came out of winter quarters at Pimlico to start her 1937 campaign with a victory, as she took the measure of five rival fillies in the five and a half furlongs dash, which was the days secondary attraction. The half sister to Grand Slam had to overcome a bit of early trouble to drive home a length in advance of My Elsie, finishing stoutly on the outside. Three" lengths away Miss Epe took a photograph decision for third money from Careful Miss. It was not much of a race from a time standpoint when the Bomar Stable miss completed her journey in 1:08. Real Jam, conditioned by winter racing in Miami, started the day well for form followers as he took the measure of eleven platers opposing him in the six furlongs dash which opened the eastern turf season. Driven to the front at the turn out of the back stretch by Johnny Barba, he was under punishment throughout the final three-sixteenths to be half a length in front of Clean Sport at the final post, with the latter saving the place from the steadily closing Felwyn by a like margin. LITTLE ARGO BEST.. Little Argo, a five-year-old son of the Irish stallion, Happy Argo, after a winter of rest at Bowie, came forth in the six furlongs claimer which was second on the card to outdistance several horses that had been well seasoned in winter competition as he drove home a head in advance of Zebulo, with Koterito a length and a half farther away. There was no great demand for Mrs. W. H. Denhams representative, and -he paid .80 to .
