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CONROY NOT SUPERSTITIOUS Walking Under Ladders and Friday the 13 th Hold No Terrors for Young Apprentice Rider. SHREVEPORT, La., Oct. .13. Walking under ladders, shying at black cats that cross your path and Friday the 13, hold no terror for apprentice Johnny Conroy, who arrived in Shreveport this morning with the stable of C O. Grieves, to do the bulk of the stable riding during the forthcoming twenty-five day meeting of the State Jockey Club. Conroy, a typical Celtic lad who hails from Chicago, piloted the first winner of his riding career at Beulah Park on September, the 13, and therefore is a memorable day in his life and, naturally, he considers it his lucky day, while most" folks shudder at the thought of that calendar day. Since his graduation from the ranks of non-winners, the Windy City lad has rode a total of twenty-six on the front end. After the closing of Beulah Park, Conroy transferred his activities to Wheeling Downs and will be in action at the Fair Grounds here when the curtain is lifted on October 22. Competition for the riding title promises to prove keener than in any previous season, and one of the youngsters in addition to Conroy, who is expected to enter a strong bid, is the Cuban prospect, George Alfonso. Like his successful predecessors from the Cuban isle, Alfonso achieved considerable experience in jockeying in his native land. Alfonso was developed and is under contract to Louis Sierra, also a native of Havana, who has a stable of racers quartered here for campaigning. Alfonso, a mite of sixteen years, has ridden a total of nineteen winners to date. Ray Conner, who has a trifle more success and some little more experience than the above-mentioned rivals, is here to do the booting on Johnny Olivers charges.
