Would Run Special Race at Arlington: Proceeds from Program on Which Event is Run Would Go to War Effort, Daily Racing Form, 1942-05-18

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Would Run Special Race at Arlington Proceeds From Program On Which Event Is Run Would Go to War Effort John D. Allen, president of Arlington Park, Saturday announced the possibility of an invitational race patterned after Pimlicos Special on a war benefit program during the mid-summer meeting at the palatial North Side course. Allen said that this possibility presented itself when Warren Wright offered to pit his handicap champion, Whirlaway, against any and all horses challenging his titleholder. Wright told Arlington Park officials that the only stipulations for such a race are that it must fit in with Whirlaways training and racing schedule and that it be staged as part of a program whose proceeds will go into some phase of the nations war effort. The contest, if it is staged, will be on a handicap basis. Alien and his associates will work out further details of the special event later. It will be staged at some distance greater than a mile and it will be endowed with a purse fitting its importance. Ben F. Lindheimer, a director of Arlington Park, left Chicago Saturday for New York, where he plans to discuss the proposed race with owners of other outstanding horses. Some of those he hoped to interest were the owners of Shut Out, winner of the Kentucky Derby; Alsab, last years juvenile champion and victor in the Preak-ness Stakes; Market Wise, Challedon, War Relic, Mioland, Requested, Our Boots, Boysy, Bolingbroke and "Attention. Favor Open Event Both Allen and Lindheimer stressed that they are entertaining no plans for a match race in that they feel an open event engaging more than two horses would hold greater appeal to the public and contribute more to racing. It is Allens hope that if the race can be arranged that it will be staged on a Saturday when a greater number of turf fans could enjoy it and, at the same time, raise a larger sum for the war effort than would be possible on a week-day. Whirlaway, last seasons three-year-old champion and also the horse of the year, is at the top of the handicap division, and horsemen and track operators regard him as the outstanding attraction of this time. Many, too, look for him to remain as the No. 1 thoroughbred and confidently expect to see him pass Seabiscuits worlds record money earnings of 37,730 before his four-year-old campaign comes to a close. Last year Whirlaway took down the Ken- Continued on Page Eight Wright Offers to Send Whirlaway Against All Proceeds of Program When Race Is Run Would Aid War Effort Continued from Page One tucky Derby, the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes, the Dwyer Stakes, the Saranac Handicap, the Travers Stakes, the American Derby, the Lawrence Realization, the Special Event Purse and finished second in the Blue Grass Stakes, Derby Trial, !lassic Stakes, Narragansett Special and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. As a two-year-old, he won the Saratoga Special, the Hopeful Stakes, the Breeders Futurity and the Walden Stakes. During the same campaign he won several overnight races and was placed in several other stakes. This year he has won the Clark Handicap and the Dixie Handicap. To date his earnings are 71,811, just 5,919 less than Seabiscuits record accumulation. Wrights challenge in behalf of Whirl-away, a colt he bred at his Calumet Farm in Kentucky, is a very commendable move in connection with racings part in raising money for service- men and war relief agencies. A goal of ,000,000 has been set by the Turf Committee of America consisting of Herbert Bayard Swope, Maj. Louie A. Beard, AVilliam Woodward, John C. Clark and Harry A. Parr TU., and the special event built around Whirlaway no doubt would yield much for that fund. Allens Statement Allens announcement in connection with the proposed race follows: "During the past several weeks, Arlington Park has been giving consideration to an all-out effort in behalf of the war program of the nation. The day will be in keeping with the standards always set by Arlington Park, and the traditions of the sport which we are so interested in pre-, serving. In planning the program for the day, we feel that we can obtain the cooperation of the leading sportsmen of the turf, who have always done so much and are so vitally interested to play their part. " "Mr. Warren Wright, owner of Calumet Farm and the breeder and owner of the great colt Whirlaway, stated to me and Mr. Lindheimer, chairman of the operating committee, some time ago that he would race Whirlaway at Arlington Park against any horse or horses in the country, the conditions of the race to be on a handicap basis, fair to all participants. "I spoke with Mr. Wright today, and he will confer with his trainer, Benjamin A. Jones, to determine a date which would fit into Whirlaways future racing plans. Arlington Park stands ready to hold the running of this race on any day of its meeting that fits in best with the plans of the participating owners. We will immediately discuss the arrangements with the owners of other great thoroughbreds. Final details will be announced as soon as the date and conditions of the special race are determined, but I desire to state now that Arlington Parks minimum contribution to the effort will be the proceeds of the day."


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1940s/drf1942051801/drf1942051801_1_2
Local Identifier: drf1942051801_1_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800