view raw text
NEW YORK RACING SEASON Jamaica Plays Host for the Inaugural Meeting of 1938. Paumonok Handicap and Youthful Stakes Principal Attractions of Todays Fine Opening Program. NEW YORK, N. Y., April 15. Jamaica has been modernized considerably within the past two years and now is fully capable of comfortably handling such crowds as attend its initial program and the week-end offerings. Most important of these latter, of course, will be the date of the running of the Wood Memorial, chief fixture of the meeting, on April 30. It has 0,000 added and is expected to bring together many of the Easts chief candidates for the Kentucky Derby one week later. That is the highlight of the meeting. Nedayr -and Fighting Fox, . the two chief probables for the Wood, are to make their three-year-old debuts during the week just ahead. Local racing associations are not inclined to spend heavily in improving and enlarging their plants at present because of the legislation on mutuel machines. They realize that to install the machines and make provision for the kind of gatherings they would attract would mean practically rebuilding several plants hereabouts and are awaiting decision in the matter at Albany. TWO STAKES. The opening day card at Jamaica not only is a double stake one, but also promises an interesting contest in the decision of the Restigouche, a three-quarters allowance purse of ,200; for three-year-olds, that has drawn such, well known youngsters as Stormscud, Thanksgiving and Family Friend. Thanksgiving has been training well and may be the public choice. He is a Kentucky Derby nominee. Stormscud also has been going well at Aqueduct, but is not in the Derby. Moon Side, in the mile and seventy yards i sixth, styled the Dunboyne, promises to prove the shortest priced favorite of the afternoon. His opposition is weak, on paper, and is headed by the faint-hearted Teufel. Incidentally, the latter has worked fast, as is his custom. Moon Side was second to Sun Egret in his latest appearance and has done well at Belmont since then. The Paumonok, with its estimated value of ,300, promises a horse race all the way, although it is doubtful if the winner will have to run in 1:11, as did Pompoon to win the 37 renewal as a three-year-old. Snark, winner of the Metropolitan and two other stakes last year, hardly will need the race off morning trials and will have the services of Johnny Longden, Wheatleys contract rider. Hell have to be at the peak to take 132 and whip seasoned performers under the handicap, even though he seems to hold a class edge. UNKNOWN QUANTITIES. The Youthful Stakes will bring out several brisk-working youngsters but is placed too early in the eastern season to draw much play for the books. Few of the probables are "known quantities" to John Public. Chief of these is Jack Horner, which must carry top weight of 119 and give five pounds to the remaining seven entered. He finished second to Taut in his last at Tropical and is better educated than a majority of those he meets here. Jamaicas condition book promises competition among high class horses right through the meeting. It is pitched rather high and affords numerous opportunities for the better grade of perfomrers which are now stabled among Millionaires Row at the yarious local courses. . All that is needed to make the meeting -an unqualified success from every standpoint is a continuation of warm, spring weather.
