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PREAKNESS STARTERS Complexion of Field Depends Largely ! on Weather and Track Conditions. All Prospective Contestants Ready to -Try for Rich Prize — Preparations Completed for Record Crowd. BALTIMORE, Md., May 11.— The six expected starters in the Preakness Stakes Saturday marked time today, their heavy-duty training being safely behind them. Only short trials tomorrow for the purpose of "blowing out" remain. Meanwhile the handlers of these six candidates for the countrys richest three-year-old attraction anxiously viewed the skies and scanned the weather reports because a downpour between now and post time late Saturday afternoon may mean a muddy track and that conceivably would alter the complexion of the Preakness although only slightly affecting the size of the field. The official weather report was for cooler •weather and clearing skies tomorrow, although rain was threatened here today. "Even with showers during the night, the track probably would be fast by Preakness time. NOT WORRIED ABOUT TRACK. James Fitzsimmons doesnt care so much about the condition of the course insofar as the Wheatley Stables Gilded Knight is concerned but he is anxious for the going to be jdry and fast for Johnstown although the William Woodward star has not had the opportunity of publicly demonstrating whether or not he is partial to mud. The veteran Aqueduct trainer, however, must have drawn an idea of Johnstowns, mudding ability from workouts. All doubt as to Ciencias Preakness status was removed yesterday afternoon after she had undergone a mile and one furlong trial between races. The daughter of Cohort and Science tired in that effort but it was only natural that she should have done so considering that her training program had been interrupted by the ankle injury received the previous week in being unloaded from a van and trainer William J. Hirsch was satisfied with the move in which she did the distance in 1:55% after doing the mile in the creditable time of 1:40. Challedon, Marylands Preakness hope, likewise worked out between races, being hard held in going a mile in 1:41%, while Johnstown, Volitant and Challenge had their trials in the morning. Impound completed his heavy training Tuesday morning and •Gilded Knight that afternoon in cleverly winning the Survivor Stakes. As all was tranquil in the camps of the Preakness candidates, activity under the Continued on thirty-ninth page. PREAKNESSSTARTERS Continued from first page. direction of general manager Matt L. Daiger increased as preparations went forward to handle a capacity crowd Saturday. To care for the overflow crowd in the center field, mutuel manager Mort Mahony has arranged for fourteen sellers and nine cashiers to be on duty there. Vastly improved facilities are available as the result of the construction of the new tote board in the center field. Daiger reports that all boxes and reserved seats for Saturday have been sold for some time and luncheon reservations in the club house further indicate one of the largest crowds in Pimlico history, the weather being favorable.
