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BRILLIANT INAUGURAL AT KEENELAND PARK 9 t Crowd of 10,000 Fills Beautiful New-Racing Plant at Lexington Preeminent Triumphant in Phoenix Handicap Over Marica and Capt. Cal Dickerville Equals Worlds Record for Half Mile LEXINGTON, Ky., April 17. No race course ever enjoyed a more brilliant opening that Keeneland here this afternoon, when a crowd of 10,000 jammed the beautiful little park, which only a year ago had been part of a famous thoroughbred nursery. Bright skies and warm weather brought out one of the largest gatherings ever to view the sport in central Kentucky, while the track was in tip-top condition. Furnishing the winner of the featured Phoenix Handicap, H. P. Headley, president of the Keeneland Association, supplied Preeminent, which outran nine other good sprinters over the six furlongs route. In running the six furlongs in 1:11, three-fifths slower than the track record, the five-vear-old 8chestnut son of Supremus and Star Class triumphed by three-fourths of a length over Marica, sporting the banner of the French Licks Springs Stable, and the favorite, while Tranquillity Farms Capt. Cal and Wha Hae were third and fourth. Marica finished two lengths ahead of Capt Cal, while Wha Hae wa3 another three lengths away. DERBY ELIGD3LES WIN. Other winners on the program of eight races were C. V. Whitneys Black Look and Manhasset Stables White Tie, both of which are candidates for the Kentucky Derby. Their victories likewise were attained over the six furlongs route in fast time. Adding to the brilliance of the opening was the feat of Dickerville in equaling the world record of :46 for four furlongs around the turn. The Shandon Farm colt won by himself in matching the mark first set in 1909 by Donau at the old Santa Anita course and equaled two years later by Amon at Juarez. It was the first race ever staged over the Keeneland "baby" course, a chute extending almost at right angles into the upper turn and termed the Headley course in honor of the Keeneland president. THREE FOR DABSON. Preeminent added ,325 to the Headley treasury in winning the Phoenix and he also carried Hilton Dabson to his third win of the afternoon. The triumph came shortly after the Headley silks had been borne to victory by Whopper in the Philadelphia Handicap at Havre de Grace. Practically all of central Kentuckys leaders in business, sport, farming and social life were out for the opening, as were numerous distinguished personages from Louisville, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, New York and other large cities. White Tie, the Kentucky Derby candidate of the Manhasset Stable of Mrs. Charles Shipman Payson and Mrs. Thomas Laughlin made a strong impression in his seasons debut by the easy fashion in which he accounted for the Faraway Purse. Runnin" the six furlongs in 1:11, three-fifths off Myrtlewoods track record, the bay son of High Time Highland Dell conquered James Continued on thirtieth page. BRILLIANT INAUGURAL AT KEENELAND PARK Continued from first page. W. Parrishs Proph by five lengths. A. C. Ernsts Albubble was another two lengths back and a length before Chigre. The latter two also are Derby eligibles, as are Kermay and Valted, others among the seven starters. The Manhasset colt was installed the favorite, and his triumph was. well received. He had the services of Hilton Dabson, giving the Maryland rider a double, as he previously had won with Night Bandit. White Tie broke well, but had to be hustled along in the run down the back stretch to hold the lead over Albubble, while Chigre was right behind them. Both of the latter had to do their running in the back stretch while in rather close quarters. TAKES GOOD LEAD. Upon reaching the turn White Tie opened up a clear lead, but at this point Proph moved up on the outside and followed the High Time colt closely around the turn. Upon reaching the stretch Dabson shook up his mount and he drew away in handy fashion to have considerable left at the end. Proph. .easily- held Albubble at bay, while Chigre outfinished the others to be fourth. Black Look, one of C. V. Whitneys trio of Kentucky Derby candidates, scored a convincing triumph in his first start as a three-year-old by defeating nine others of his age in the Elmhurst Purse. Running the six furlongs in 1:11, four-fifths off the track record, the brown son of Whichone and Beaming was strongly ridden by Raymond Workman to win by three-fourths of a length over Sweepalot. Dashwood was five lengths away in third place and a length before Gosum, another of the prominent Derby hopefuls training here. Black Look was an even money favorite. EARLY SPEED. Sweepalot had the most early speed, but Workman had Black Look away well and nursed his mount along close by until the field left the back stretch. Around the turn, Black Look advanced gradually on the outside of the Dixiana gelding, to be well lapped on him coming into the stretch. Resorting only to hand riding, Workman slowly brought Black Look to Sweepalot, and then in the final furlong, the Whitney colt forged away slowy, to win In handy fashion. Sweepalot was not endangered for the place, as Dashwood outfinished the others. Dickerville, brown gelding, by Sun Flag Spices, from the Shandon Farm, proved the winner of the opening race, in which he defeated eleven rivals from among the maiden two-year-old colts and geldings. Ridden by Earl Steffen, Dickerville raced My Lawyer into defeat in the opening furlong and then drew away into a long lead, scoring as he pleased by eight lengths over James W. Parrishs Backintime. My Lawyer, coupled with Wicked Time as the Dixiana entry, finished third, two lengths farther back. Sweep Brook was fourth. The Dixiana entry was made a strong favorite. Dickerville was "making his first start, but he was well supported on the basis of good training reports. The time for the four furlongs, the first event run out of the chute, which has been named the Headley course, was :46. NIGHT BANDIT BEST. Of the dozen maiden three-year-olds clashing at six furlongs. Night Bandit made good after a hard drive by three-quarters of a length over The Mayor. Nogalo was another two lengths back, and Vertner was fourth. The Mayor set a steady pace and Night Bandit had difficulty getting to him, but under Hilton Dabsons strong riding the bay son of Nocturnal Bendita took the lead in- side the sixteenth post, to draw out gradually thereafter. The Mayor had no trouble saving second place for Nogalo. Valdina Farms and Raymond Workman both completed a double with the running of the fourth race, in which ten juveniles met at four furlongs, the time of which was :46. Lassator, coupled with Teddys Comet as the Valdina entry, won by a length and a half over the Millsdale Stables Green Bottle, the favorite, as the other Valdina colt was a neck away in third place. Genevra M. was fourth. Night Bandit was the other Valdina" winner, both being saddled by J. J. Flanigan, while Workmans previous victor was Black Look. The three placed horses practically dominated the running throughout. . - j .
