view raw text
KENTUCKY RACING SEASON OF 1938 BEGINS TODAY . Eleven-Day Meeting at Keeneland Inaugurates Blue Grass Sport Phoenix Handicap Feature of Excellent Opening Day Program Large Crowd Expected if Good Weather Prevails LEXINGTON, Ky., April 13. This center of the thoroughbred breeding industry is pulsating with excitement over the opening tomorrow of Keenelands second annual spring meeting which, during its term of eleven days, promises contests for some of the besthorses in the country, including several outstanding candidates for the Kentucky Derby. Not since the halcyon days of the old Kentucky Association track here has this horse-minded community manifested so much interest in the sport, particularly due to the presence of an ample abundance of thoroughbreds ready to run. A splendid program has been arranged for opening day with a revival of the Phoenix Handicap as the stellar attraction. Eight of the fastest horses in the Middle West have been named overnight for this dash , of six. furlongs, carrying ,,500 added, including Preeminent, which had been assigned top weight of 132 pounds. SHOWERS PREDICTED. Scattered showers are predicted before tomorrow afternoon but if the weather is reasonably decent, the opening is expected to be attended by a crowd comparable to the largest noted during the three previous meetings at Keeneland. The plant, picturesque as it is located amid broad, green pasture lands, was put in complete readiness today. With the lawns and shrubbery reflecting the forwardness of the current spring season, Keeneland is more pleasing to the eye than ever before. With a continuance of the fast track available today the inaugural program of eight races promises to remain almost intact, especially the field for the Phoenix. Second top weight in the feature is Dusty Dawn, the capable sprinter owned by Louise J. Hickman. He must shoulder 122 pounds, whereas his stablemate Arabs Arrow is the low weight of the field with 108 pounds. Preeminent competed with the best sprinters in Florida this winter and has trained steadily since his return here. His principal opposition may come from Main Man, good four-year-old owned by Jerome B. Respess, and Calumet Farms Talked About, both of which are well seasoned. Main Man scintillated at Hot Springs and Talked About proved a good winner at Hialeah Park. TORCHY ENTERED. Others in the Phoenix line-up are Dixianas Torchy; A. L. Ferguson and Mrs. H. C. Hern-dons Josh, each with 112 pounds, and Green-tree Stables Drowsy, the lone filly in the field, which has been assigned 116 pounds. With all starting the stalce will gross ,775, of which the winners net share will be ,800. Supporting the Phoenix are the Crestwood and Allendale Purses, the former being for three-year-olds at one mile and a sixteenth and the latter for juveniles over the short four furlongs course. Of the four horses in the Crestwood, Bourbon King and Lassa-tor are Kentucky Derby eligibles, while Silver Sarah was a strong-finishing second to Continued on eighteenth page. KENTUCKY RACING SEASON OF 1938 BEGINS TODAY Continued fiom first page. Tiger in the Arkansas Derby. Bourbon King, second to Lawrin in the Flamingo Stakes, is the top weight with 117 pounds, four more than Birthday and Lassator and nine above Silver Sarah. In the Allendale are Likly Lad, which forced Galley Slave to a new worlds record for three furlongs at Santa Anita this win- ter, and Oddesa Beulah, winner of all her . .five starts, as well as several good prospects. DERBY HOPEFULS. The principal Kentucky Derby hopefuls expected to begin their three-year-old competition at Keeneland are Hal Price Head-leys Menow, winner of the Belmont Futurity, and Warren Wrights Bull Lea. Menow i received his preliminary training in Florida but has worked regularly since - his ! return here a week ago. He is scheduled to 1 start in the Trial Handicap at six furlongs ! Friday. Bull Lea wintered and is training at nearby Calumet Farm, and his appear-1 ance under silks is expected during" the i coming week. ...... Other Derby prospects at Keeneland in- i elude Headleys Copy Cat and Dah He, Parkviews Stables Congressman, Live Oak I Stables Ball-O-Fire, Shandon Farms Dickerville, Mrs. A. M. Creechs Sir Ally, J. C. I Brady, Jr.s War Magic and the Tall Trees Stables Last Message. Kings Heir is training at Dixiana Farm. Many of these three-year-olds are eligible to the Blue Grass Stakes ,000 added test of a mile and one furlong, featuring the close of the meeting on April 28. Maxwell Howards The Chief, stablemate of Stagehand, is expected here from Louisville for that engagement. NO CANCELLATIONS. President Headley, of the Keeneland Association, stated today that none of the regularly scheduled events for three-year-olds would be called off if they attracted as ; many as two prospective Kentucky Derby Starters. In addition to the Phoenix Handicap and Blue Grass Stakes, other added money features are the Ben Ali Handicap and Lafayette Stakes, each of which is endowed with ,500. The Ben Ali, at a mile and one-sixteenth, for older horses, is set for the second Saturday, and the Lafayette, for juveniles, over the Headley course, will be run Wednesday, April 27. No racing will be held on the two Mondays during the I meeting. Post time for the first race daily will be 2 p. m., Central Standard Time.
