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AUSPICIOUS OPENING OF FLORIDA RACING SEASON i t Crowd of 10,000 Present at Tropical Park for First Days Sport Galapas Defeats Bobs Boys and Wise Prince in Inaugural Handicap Histrionic Captures Secondary-Attraction Under Arcaros Fine Riding CORAL GABLES, Ma., Dec. 19. History repeated itself at Tropical Park this afternoon when Galapas, colorbearer of Townsend B. Martin, gave the Long Island sportsman his second consecutive triumph in the Inaugural Handicap, the six furlongs dash which was the headline attraction as the long winter season in greater Miami swung under way at the Coral Gables course. Before a record opening crowd, one estimated at 10,000, the three-year-old son of Sir Gallahad III. and Tenting, swept past the judges slightly more than a length in advance of the Canadian-owned Bobs Boys, with the latter just outlasting Wise Prince, the Philadelphian which ruled the public choice. The score duplicated the victory of Stubbs, another sonof Sir Gallahad III. in the Martin barn, in the 1937 Inaugural the younger horse turning in a cracking race when he travelled the distance in 1:12 under stout handling from "Robby" Robertson. Keen training trials caused a considerable demand for Galapas, though he had a less formidable seasons record than several other hopefuls and he went to the post second choice at slightiy less than 7 to 2. As the race was run, ,the winner was best, though Mythical King was eliminated from contention when he walked away from the post. PERFECT WEATHER CONDITIONS. The opening of the 1938-39 turf season in this resort was conducted under perfect weather conditions with a slight breeze blowing, as a warm sun beat down on the Gables ground. Then, too, sport was of a formful nature, with favorites being right there in the majority of events. Galapas, a two-time winner in the overnight events up the line, raced to trial promise in the Inaugural. Robertson had him off swiftly and he forced the pace of Gay Balko as he raced along closely lapped on that four-year-old. Making the turn, the Long Islander shook off the "Maryland-bred sprinter and drew away to a two-length lead curving for home. Through the short final straightaway, his leadership was not threatened and he appeared to have something up his sleeve at the end. Bobs Boys, rated best at a mile or farther, turned in a race which said he might be close to brackets when he nosed Wise Prince out of the place prize. The Cos-grave Stable gelding cut scant figure in the early running, but came swiftly in the final quarter, with his six-pound weight advantage enabling him to save secondary honors from Wise Prince. FINISHES WITH RUSH. Felix Spatolas ebony sprinter, whose mark of 1:10 for six furlongs never has been bettered at Tropical Park, was away slowly and badly outpaced for the first half of the trip. He finished steadily under hard pressure through the last furlong and should appreciate the race. Rissa went into contention on the turn but was hanging through the stretch. Gay Balko had plenty of early foot but was done aftj!r three furlongs. Mythical King put in a dull race, never gaining a forward position after leaving the post sluggishly. Learner, a daughter of Bud Lerner and Orissa, which originally raced in New Continued on nineteenth page. AUSPICIOUS OPENING OF FLORIDA RACING SEASON Continued from first page. York for the Howe stable, proved a surprise in the six furlongs Douglas Road Purse when she drove to a length victory over the highly regarded favorite, Johns Heir, the days only odds-on choice. One length behind the second horse, Catechism finished well to pick up third money. FIRST FOR FRED HOPKINS. Fred Hopkins sent forth the first winner of the Florida season when he saddled Wrenace for the Larch Hill Stable, the gelded son of Grandace coming from behind to win going away from Melody Maid, with Espinaca a close third. The last named was a slight choice over the runner-up, with the successful plater being a 0.20 to chance. He travelled the mile andan eighth in 1:54 in what was a decisive triumph. "Moose" Peters did not hurry Wrenace in the early stages while Exhort was setting the pace, with Life Guard his closest attendant. He brought his charge around the leaders swiftly swinging for home and the five-year-old responded with his wonted willingness, to be clear of the runner-up at the final pole and drawing away. Chimney Top struck the initial blow of the season for form followers by driving to a length victory oyer plater opposition in the six furlongs of the second. At the winning post Wayne Wright had the elderly son of Dominant a convincing winner over What a Pal, which closed with a belated stretch rush to snatch third honors from the tiring Jessie V. L. The winner turned in a fair effort for one of this calibre when he finished out in 1:13. CLEAN CUT VICTORY. Ronnie Nash, crack apprentice from the New England sector, rode a steady race atop the New York-owned Miss Happy to have the A. L. Aste colorbearer a clean-cut winner in the six furlongs dash for filly non-winners of the juvenile division. He rated the daughter of Happy Argo and My Dear perfectly for the first five furlongs and then drove her smoothly with hand and heel to turn back the bid of Carla, gaining the award by three parts of a length. The winner, a .10 to chance, was supported only moderately. Fred Hopkins, a newcomer to Florida racing, gathered training honors for the afternoon with a double, saddling Histrionic to take the mile and sixtyyards Cocoanut Grove Purse for the Larch Hill Stable, after annexing the opener for that establishment with Wrenace. Eddie Arcaro had Histrionic two lengths in advance of the swiftly closing Harp Weaver with the feather-weighted Short Distance another pair of lengths away. The son of Masked Marvel II. and Billie Burke turned in a sharp effort under 120 pounds to complete the distance in 1:42 with something in reserve. Eddie Arcaro, riding star in this territory last winter, .made no mistakes with Histrionic. He had him away quickly and let him step to the first turn to gain a clear lead. Then he steadied the gelded three-year-old along to the top of the stretch, cracking down with whip, once straightened away for business.
