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NAPPER TANDY SPARKLES Proves Himself Best of His Age in Taking Columbus Day Handicap. Crowd of 30,000 Sees Colt Score His Third Straight Victory in Feature of the Closing Day Program. SALEM, N. H Oct. 12 Phil Schwartz Napper Tandy left no doubt of the fact that he is the best three-year-old now racing in New England, as he raced to a convincing victory in the mile Columbus Day Handicap, ,500 added feature of the final day at Rockingham Parks final day of 1938 racing. The race was for all ages but five of the six horses were three-year-olds and Napper Tandy took the measure of the best members of his age division that could be mustered against him, including the highly-rated filly, Dolly Val, which could do no better than third behind Napper Tandy and Beach Ensemble. Napper Tandy only won by half a length, but he took a loss of ground and the worst of it all the way and he bore out at the stretch. Charley Dickey put up an excellent ride and a strong finish in the face of difficulties to land him home. He finished out in 1:39, time that is excellent this season at Rockingham. Mid-summer heat and a blazing sun prevailed for todays sport and a crowd of 30,000, one that bet more heavily than any New England crowd in recent weeks, poured through the gates. DOLLY VAL RUSHED. Dolly Val, carrying the silks of Jim Emery, went out in the feature in an attempt to win in front, with Holluschickie after her. Napper Tandy did not leave the gate with the leaders and had to be rushed early in an effort to find a position on the first turn and then had to be taken to the outside. Napper Tandy, seeking racing room, was fourth and fifth as they sped down the back stretch, but midway of that lane he flew past horses to move into second place, and drove into the lead on the stretch turn. Beach Ensemble moved up to chase him as Dolly Val dropped back. It looked as if Napper Tandy, bearing out badly, would lose the lead at the head of the stretch, but Dickey, riding hard on a horse that is his pet, managed to straighten him out in time. He went on doggedly as both Beach Ensemble and Dolly Val made final determined runs in the final sixteenth, ,and he won drawing away, even though he still was veering to the outside. It was a great race from start to finish, and a good, game horse won it. j LOSES GROUND. I Irish Hero took the lead at the head of i the stretch and drove gamely down the final I lane to win the six furlongs opener by a , neck over Story Time. The latter was half a length clear of Willow Wand, and Hasti-, nola was another neck back. Hastinola was I making the pace when she went almost to the outside rail at the head of the stretch, losing many lengths. j Under a lashing whip ride from Mastrianni ifrom the quarter pole home, H. Howards Eblis drove to victory in the three-quarters ; event that was second on the program. At the end the victor was a length and a half clear of Mrs. Gladys Rotellis Blandishment. Franedi Stables Masked Gal took the show two and a half lengths off the runner-up and two lengths in advance of Believer. I Mrs. F. A. Clarks Pyriform drove home in the third event, finishing a length in front J of Mrs. J. J. Dolans Althorp Park. The latter was probably best in the event, but was shuffled back on the back stretch and was i forced wide when making his bid at the ! head of the stretch. Mrs. M. F. Caseys Scouting Girl was third, two and a half lengths jback, and Cordate, poorly handled in the ! stretch by Bierman, finished fourth. They , went in the hack horse time of 1:15. Vas-sar rode the winner. Spring Melody flew up fast in the stretch to win the three-quarters fourth by a length and a half, drawing away from Bryonin. Sil- I ver Trace also closed a world of ground to land third, a length off the runner-up after trailing the field for most of the distance. Quarternary was fourth.
