view raw text
! Renewing Rich Derby at Arlington I " Eleven Named to Start in 5,000 Added Race Reaping Reward an Absentee, Military and Mars Shield Being Entered as Milky Way Entry. ARLINGTON, Texas, April 16. The long-awaited Texas Derby Is at hand. Eleven three-year-olds, two of which are fillies, were named for the fifth running of the 5,000 added event which will be decided over nine furlongs as the feature of Arlington Downs Saturday program. Reaping Reward, Milky Way Farms winter book favorite for the Kentucky Derby, is one of the absentees of the twenty-four eligi-bles, but although he would have been a great drawing card, without him, the field is larger. Several of the names of the ellgi-bles did not go through the entry box until information leaked out that trainer Robert McGarvy would rely on Mars Shield and Military to repeat the feat of The Fighter, which won the 1936 renewal in the Mars colors. Military is considered a doubtful starter, if a fast track prevails. With three weeks remaining before the running of the Kentucky Derby, the Milky Way stable decided to await that famed classic, or a preliminary race before its running, before putting Reaping Reward under colors. His absence probably will mean Heelfly, Paul and Guy Waggoners sterling colt, will be in- Continued on twenty-sixth page. RENEWING RICH DERBY AT ARLINGTON DOWNS Continued from first page. stalled a strongly supported choice. Although he was defeated by Robert L. and Mars Shield in the Trial Purse last Saturday, he has since worked a brilliant nine furlongs in 1:51, and with blinkers removed from his equipment he is expected to perform more kindly at the starting gate. SKYROCKETS TO FAME. From early mediocre racing the homebred son of Royal Ford and Canfli skyrocketed into fame when he ran six and one-half furlongs in the record time of 1:17 here last fall. He wintered in fine style and trainer John R. Pryce had him as fit as a proverbial fiddle when he made his 1937 debut After displaying a rodeo performance, he won the race and then made his next start In the Trial Purse. After unruly tactics and a slow beginning, ho was rushed to the front, but the misbehavior took too much out of him and he was unable to withstand Mars Shield and Robert L... when they charged on him during the final quarter of the mile and seventy yards journey. With the rogues badge removed, he worked a brilliant nine furlongs, and then it was decided to leave them off tomorrow. Heelfly will have the services of George Woolf, one of the best money riders in the country, who came from California to direct the colt Mars Shield won at her first asking as a juvenile, but after showing little thereafter she was sent to the farm and after a good rest joined the division trainer McGarvey took to California. She won her last two races out of four starts at Santa Anita, and first came into prominence here when she worked a sparkling nine furlongs with Reaping Reward. The same day she was named for the trial purse and many believe if jockey Alfred Robertson had not rushed her into contention during a quarter of a mile she would have been the winner. McGarvey has done nothing with her this week until she was given a good blow-out this morning. Militarys claim to fame is his second to Fairy Hill in the Santa Anita Derby. The son of St Germans is said to prefer a soft track and for that reason he is considered a doubtful starter. Robertson was named for both eligibles. ROBERT L. IMPROVES. After a poor campaign in California, Robert L., which races for George McCameys locally-owned Bedford Stock Farm, turned in a splendid effort in winning the trial. He was a useful two-year-old and always has favored the local strip. Dead Calm, Mrs. Cecil Gregorys hope, is the dark horse. He finished second to Grey Count in the Louisiana Derby and many say, if favored with racing luck, he would have been the winner. A splendid nine furlongs last Tuesday caused his stock to soar, and trainer J. R. Gregory does not hesitate to say the colt will bring home the pot of gold and the beautiful trophy. In the event Mars Shield or Military is successful, Robertson will have a chance to even scores with Lester Balaski, who rode Plight and Roman Soldier. With the largest number of reservations in the clubhouse since the sport was revived in this state and box seats all sold, a crowd greater than that of 1934, when it was estimated 35,000 attended, is expected. The Derby will fill the fifth place on the program and, to care for the large crowd, post time for the first race is set for 2 oclock. Supporting the classic is the Fighter Handicap, which will occupy the sixth place. Reaping, winner of the Blue Bonnet Handicap last Saturday, will carry the top weight of 118 pounds. Bacon is next in line of weights under 115 pounds, and Gallaclay and Quasimodo, both of which won their last starts, will carry 110 pounds each. The first race honors Bob Sled, the third Roman Soldier, and the fourth, a two-year-old number, Plight In addition to the eight races, racing secretary W. H. Shelley has carded a substitute, to be used in the event it is necessary to discard an original one. Eastport is the only Derby winner in the field. The Mrs V. Wyse Houston-owned eligible, which won the Arkansas Derby, will have. Gallant Eagle as a companion if trainer J. G. Brown is not successful in getting the Arkansas Racing Commission to approve of Raymond Hightshoe, Tommy Luther will ride Eastport and Gallant Eagle will be entrusted to Oren Laidley. Gallant Eagle finished fourth in the Hot Springs classic. TWO OUTSIDERS. Palan and Brown Prodigy were named by Mrs. Tom Marshall. Both are given little consideration, and Brown Prodigy will fill his engagement only in the event of a muddy track. Although his credentials do not give him Derby consideration, W. C. Stroubes Sun Pilot, too, turned in a splendid preparation race and while he does not favor an adverse track, trainer Mickey Harrison believes he will give a good account of himself on a dry course. Tryanhurry is the other filly in the race. She won five races this year but all were against inferior company and her best efforts were over a muddy track. Apprentice Billy Neal will ride her and another apprentice. Warren Cornay, will handle Robert L. Of the eleven named, Military, Heelfly, and Dead Calm are the only Kentucky Derby eligibles. Mars Shield and Tryanhurry. with their sex allowance, will carry 115 pounds and the others 120 pounds each. In the event eleven start, the race will gross 8,250, with the winners net share 1,575. Second money is ,000; third, ,000: fourth, ,000, and fifth, 00. The Fighter earned 1,575 last year and Roman Soldier picked up 1,175 for his owner. When Plight won the 1934 renewal, the race carried 0,000 in added money and Bobsled won only ,430 in the fall of 1933.
