view raw text
I " — -n wmmmm m—mmm-m—mmmmmmmmmmm—mmmmmmmmmmmm—mm * 7 WHIRLAWAY _____ Whirlaway Whirlaway Closes Closes Fast Fast for for Dixie Dixie Win; Win; Shut Shut Out, Out, Devil Devil Diver Diver in in Good Good Trials Trials Draws Away at End To Beat Attention Characteristic Stretch Rush Brings Three-Quarter Length Score in Near-Record Time BALTIMORE, Md., May 6.— Whirlaway pronounced himself the king of the 1942 handicap division at historic old Pimlico this afternoon as he spotted a "million dollar field" pounds and lengths in capturing the 38th renewal of the 0,TJoo . Dixie. Burdened with the top weight of 128 pounds, Calumets plain "Whirly" circled half a dozen horses in making his characteristic, irresistible stretch charge and completed the mile and three -sixteenths in 1:57, only two-fifths of a second behind the Hilltop Course standard. Jockey Eddie Arcaro, who piloted the Dixie favorite to his "triple-crown" victories in 1941, drove him to the close of this coveted Maryland spring handicap with three parts of a length advantage over Mrs. Parker Comings Attention, the runner-up. Half a length behind this New Yorker, C. S. Howards Mioland finished in third place, a head in advance of Challe-don. The leading quartet at the close of this memorable and dramatic Dixie collectively have amassed approximately ,000,000; Challedon and Whirlaway each having won more than 00,000 and Mioland in excess of 00,000. The stretch-running Whirlys 9,275 end of this afternoons fixture boosted his total earnings to 71,811. "Ball of Fire" on Heartbreak Road The thousands who backed Blenheim II.s long-tailed son were rewarded at the rate of .30 for , not to mention the thrill of their lives. For Whirlaway was nowhere, as usual, on the back stretch, then was simply a ball of fire through that last furlong of Heartbreak Road. Dixie Day ever has been the occasion for celebrating among Maryland racegoers and "Uncle Matt" Daiger of the Pimlico organization estimated that the gathering which witnessed Whirlaways latest — and in many respects greatest— triumph, numbered 20,000. The little red horse was wildly acclaimed on his return to the charmed circle and Harry Parr presented the Dixie trophy to plain Ben Jones, while Eddie Arcaro autographed scores of programs before he could break away. Arcaro, upon returning to the jockeys quarters, remarked, "When we came to the head of the stretch, I thought Whirlaway would win off. But he couldnt because he started to bear out and I had to take hold of him." Don Meade, who handled Attention, Continued on Page Forty-Three. Whirlaway Displays Best Form in Dixie Triumph Closes With His Characteristic Stretch Rush to Win Going Away; Continued from Page One said: "My horse had no excuses — the best horse won it." Buddy Haas, Miolands pilot observed: "Mioland had more early speed than usual. There was no excuse for him. Whirlaway was the best horse out there today." This was a very fast Dixie from start to finish. Air Master, Best Seller and Attention took turns fashioning the pace, in the order named, and the fractions were :23%, :47%. 1:11%, 1:37 and 1:57. The swiftest Dixie is Pompoons 1:56, in 1938. To the strains of "Dixie," the eight in the mid-week paraded slowly to starter Miltons gate. Several of the group, including Whirlaway, recent winner of the Clark, were accompanied by their stable ponies. Whirlaway broke from number 3 in an even start and promptly fell a dozen lengths out of it as the field roared past the bedlam in the stands and into the clubhouse turn. Nearing the five -furlong mark on the far lane, Whirlaway was fully 15 lengths out of it, and he still was last, though a bit closer at the end of the back stretch. There Challedon was just in front of him, and Woolf was moving with Whirlaway but taking the inside and saving ground, while the favorite circled nearly every horse in the field. Thrilling Stretch Battle Midway the stretch, Attention, Best Seller, Challedon and Mioland were lapped, with whips slapping and battling along for the narrowest advantage, as Whirlaway boiled down outside them. The famed team of plain "Whirly" and "Hard-Riding Eddie" were more than matching the speed of this flying quartet through the last sixteenth mile, the little chestnut horse forging inexorably to the fore in the last yards while drifting out slightly. He would have won by daylight in two more jumps. Attention wore blinkers, broke smartly and was rated along with dead aim on the leaders, as Best Seller disposed of Air Master going down the far side. He took command on the bend and was outrunning Best Seller slightly straightening for home. Best Seller gave way the final eighth mile, and Attention hung on well under his 124 pounds impost to be second after remaining closer to the pace tlln any of the first four early. Mioland broke fastest, but was speedily shuffled back, as Haas took rating hold of him, and Air Master and Best Seller went at one another hammer and tongs the first furlongs. He went a little wide making his run the last quarter, but could never come closer than a length to the top. Challedon had no excuses. Woolf watched Whirlaway all the way, moved with him at a considerable saving of ground, and the Marylander finished stoutly, but couldnt match that withering eighth mile of the winners. Impound had good speed for about seven furlongs. Air Master, Sir Alfred and Best Seller were outclassed. Louis Mayers classy fencer, Ossabaw, won the Forest Lore Steeplechase of two miles in what was his second start of the season. The eight-year-old Grandace gelding, well handled by Penrod, carried 152 pounds and forced the pace of Circus a turn of the field and then went by leisurely to win by nine lengths in 3:53. Circus faded fast when headed. Good Chance finished second and Caddie third. Ossabaw paid .50 for . After saddling a beaten favorite in the opener, Jack Healey experienced better fortune with Christianas Half Crown in the mile and Seventy yards of the fourth, Eddie Arcaro kicking that Irish Son of Hyperion to the judges in advance of Copy. The last named was a disappointing choice, being beaten a length after encountering some trouble under Berg. Little Monarch was a thoroughly beaten third. The race was run in 1:44%, and Half Crown, twice second at Havre, paid .70. J. W. Y. Martins Road Scraper, a four-year-old son of High Quest and the Maryland sportsmans former good race mare Con Amore, sped over six furlongs in 1:12 to capture the fifth event, which brought together a quintet of evenly matched high grade platers. Gonzalez sent Road Scraper away fast, opened up a good lead and then was fast running out of speed as he just lasted to beat Miss Goshen. High Command was third. The winner paid 0.60.
