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»»»-------------------------.t Here and There on the Turf Dixie Has Choice Field Despite Bull Leas Absence : Fighting Fox Tops Toboggan Line-up Ciencia May Not Run Saturday Unfortunate as it is that Bull Lea went wrong on the eve of his engagement for the Dixie Handicap, Pimlicos great spring test for older horses still promises to have a keen renewal this afternoon. Warren Wrights good son of Bull Dog and Rose Leaves has been threatening to go wrong for a couple of weeks or trainer Frank J. Kearns would not have been preparing him so carefully for the Dixie, but now that the feared but unwanted injury has occurred, Bull Lea has gone back to Calumet Farm for an extended layoff and very possibly hell never return to the races. Being a half brother to Espino and just about Bull Dogs best son, he has a bright future in the stud and Warren Wright may be expected to give him every chance with his extensive group of fine brood mares. With or without Bull Lea, this years running of the Dixie may prove to be just as thrilling as any of its predecessors, what with such outstanding candidates as Cravat, Thanksgiving, Burning Star, Pompoon, Jacola and Heelfly, as well as the others which at the weights must be considered dangerous. Pompoon, last years winner in perhaps the greatest performance of his career, in which he established a new Pimlico record for the mile and three-sixteenths, disappointed in his first appearance of the season, but trainer John Loftus hopes for improvement, particularly under Harry Richards, who has ridden the fast son of Pompey and Oonagh so many times in the past. Except for his dismal effort last week, Jerome Louchheims veteran has done everything asked of him in training. Thanksgiving appears certain to be the favorite and he will come by that position naturally, due to the fine ability displayed in capturing the Philadelphia Handicap at Havre de Grace and the Excelsior Handicap at Jamaica. The son of Bud Lerner and Inchcape Belle has had no previous experience with the Pimlico course, but its going • should just suit him. All of his principal opponents have shown well at Pimlico, Cravat having been a fast finishing- second in the Preakness a year ago in the slop, while Jacola was second in the Pimlico Futurity as a two-year-old and Heelfly and Burning Star both have demonstrated no particular aversion to the course. Given fair weather, the Dixie should attract an unusually large mid-week crowd, including from distant points many persons who appreciate good horses in a good race. Jamaicas highly successful spring meeting comes to an end today, the New York scene •moving over to Belmont Park, where many of the countrys best horses will be seen under silks during the meeting extending through June 7. Traditional opening feature is the Toboggan Handicap over the Continued on thirty-sixth page. HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. unpopular straight course, but even if the public isnt able to enjoy the events out of the chute, the horses which run out of it usually are able to do a good job of it. With Sir Damion starting in the Dixie, Fighting Fox, which had been assigned equal top weight with the Marshall Field five-year-old, will head the field at 126 pounds. The Toboggan field may not prove as keen as some of its predecessors, but with Fighting Fox opposed by such as He Did, The Chief, Old Rosebush, Preeminent, Early Delivery, En-tracte and Our Mat, plenty of speed should be forthcoming. William J. Hirsch, who prepared Ciencia for her winning engagement in the Santa Anita Derby, isnt certain as yet about starting the King Ranch filly in the Preakness Saturday, but with one workout likely to take place today, .the capable young horseman should know whether to pit the daughter of Cohort and Science against Johnstown and the good colts. But for the injury suffered when being unloaded from a van at Pimlico last week, the Texas-owned miss likely would have started in the Oaks Saturday and have been considered a certain starter in the Preakness, but her training program was interrupted and this, coupled with the sensational form displayed by Johnstown, has given Hirsch and owner Robert J. Kleberg cause for further deliberation. They realize that too many other good opportunities will be available later in the season when she is more apt to be herself to put her on the spot now.
