view raw text
STARTER WILLIAM HAMILTON Will Officiate During Entire Lincoln Fields Meeting of 24 Days — "Tote" Test Wednesday. CRETE, 111., May 21.— Starter William Hamilton, known as "Derby Bill," because of his long association with Americas premier horse race, will be on the starting stand directing the first get-aways when Lincoln Fields opens its twenty-four day meeting on Decoration Day. Hamilton has served at the Crete track for many years. This season, despite the conflict of dates on May 30, when both Churchill Downs and Lincoln Fields require his attention, Bill will be at the Chicago course from the very start. Carl Burns, one of his competent ground crew, will serve as starter the final day at the Downs. Hamilton is to arrive at the Lincoln Fields track next Sunday, and during the coming week, such schooling activities as are required at the Crete course will be under the direction of another member of his crew of assistant starters. Larry Bogenschutz, entry clerk and assistant to racing secretary William S. Shelley, is due to check in at Crete on Monday and begin the issuing of badges for the many horsemen who are already there with their thoroughbreds. SERVES AS PLACING JUDGE. Bogenschutz will serve as a placing judge during the meeting, along with Shelley and a third to be named, who will replace Sara McMeekin, now safety director of Louisville. In the stewards stand will be the veteran Charles F. Price, one of Americas oldest and most competent officials, general manager C. Bruce Head and Christopher J. Fitzgerald, who will represent the Illinois racing commission. President Stuyvesant Peabody and managing director Matt Winn have been here for some time supervising the preparations and overlooking nothing to insure a successful four weeks stand. The first official test of the new American totalizator will be made on Wednesday for the benefit of Col. Winn and those members of his staff who are present. Oscar Levi, in charge of installation for the totalizator company, will direct the tests. Lincoln Fields will have 150 selling windows hooked up with the mechanical device.