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Royal Crusader Ready for Crete Bow California Racer Meets Shifty Rivals in Pea body Memorial Stellar Route Fixture and " Memories Handicap on Big Lincoln Fields Program CRETE, 111., May 27. A new addition to the Chicago sector is Royal Crusader, a five-year-old son of Crusader and Talented, who is to make his local debut in Saturdays renewal of- the Francis S. Pea-body Memorial Handicap. This sturdy campaigner, who raced successfully with the best horses in California last year, is eligible for three remaining distance features at Lincoln Fields and is expected to be named for other important events to be run later at Arlington, Washington Park and Hawthorne. Royal Crusader, owned by Walter H. Hoffman, Jr., already has made his presence felt since he arrived in the Middle West, for, at Louisville, during Kentucky Derby week, he captured the Churchill Downs Handicap. Since coming to Lincoln Fields, he has impressed observers with his splendid private training and he is not likely to enter Saturdays ,000 run of "a mile and a sixteenth without strong support. At Santa Anita last year the star of Hoffmans Ranchp Casitas Stable finished fourth to Bay View, Mioland and Boling-broke in the 00,000 Santa Anita Handicap and just before that engagement he was fourth in the San Antonio Handicap. Established Mile Record It was at Del Mar, however, that Royal Crusader enjoyed his greatest success. He won two stakes, finished fourth in another and, in addition, hung up a track record of 1:36 for a mile. The stakes which fell to him were the Del Mar Handicap and the Labor Day Handicap. He was fourth in the Walter Connolly Handicap and later in the year he was fourth in the Kings Mountain Handicap at Tanforan. Just where Royal Crusader rates in the Chicago handicap standings will, in a measure, be determined this week-end, for, in the Peabody Memorial, he will face thoroughbreds who are expected to play important roles on the local -front all the summer. One such horse is Howard Wells Equifox. a triple stakes winner last year and who already has found his way to the winners circle this spring. He won an overnight engagement at Churchill Downs. Last year the Wells runner captured the Lincoln Handicap at this track, the Arlington Handicap and the Equipoise Mile Handicap at Arlington Park. Equifox, a son of Equipoise and Catherine Fox, also finished second in the Stars and Stripes Handicap at Arlington and took a share of the spoils in -three other important engagements, the Sheridan Handicap at Washington Park, the Narragansett Special and the Governors Handicap at Narragansett Park. Like Royal Crusader, Equifox also has been training commendably. He is top weight for Saturdays race with 116 pounds. Other Peabody Candidates Other Peabody candidates who promise to hold their own in top-notch company throughout the season are Herbert M. Woolfs Signator and Technician, Jake Lowensteins Heartman and C. TJ. Yeagers Pumpgun. The Peabody Handicap will share the spotlight on the Decoration Day program with the Memories Handicap and the pres- J entation to War Relief Agencies of 0,000, the gift of the Lincoln Fields Jockey Club. The presentation ceremonies will be conducted by Stuyvesant Peabody, president of the track. The Memories Handicap, a ,500 race at six furlongs, for three-year-olds and older horses, promises, to bring out some of the most accomplished sprinters here. Another race of promise on Saturdays card is a mile test which will appeal to thoroughbreds who do not quite measure up to stake or handicap standards. With such a gala program, Lincoln Fields can hardly fail to have one of the largest crowds in its history. WILLIAM WOODWARD His fleet three-year-old filly, Vagrancy, romped home in the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont yesterday.
