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Pimlico Gets Ready to Display Its Annual Open for Business Sign I I I ; i • ! • • e £ ? i e - a i e n - e - • i i 1 2 • t f - - ■ - 3 j. e y e e s -* a a " 1 0 Cooperative Meeting Begins* Next Wednesday; Secretary McLennan Arrives at Track BALTIMORE. Md.. April 4.— The "open for business sign could literally be displayed at old Pimlico. In fact, preliminary matters conducive to operation of a race meeting have been completed to such a degree that racing could begin tomorrow. Racing secretary Charles J. McLennan is ready, anyway. He arrived today from Miami and came upon a scene of much activity. Things are really humming out at this plant where on April 12 will begin a 28-day joint undertaking on the part of the states four major tracks, Pimlico, Laurel, Bowie and Havre de Grace. The combined meeting resulted from travel dif- ficulties prohibiting functioning of other courses. During the past few days horses have converged on this course from various points and it is now becoming quite a prob-l lem to quarter arrivals. The grounds have accommodations for 1,100 and already most of that space has been utilized. In addi- tion, over 500 head have been stabled at Laurel Park. This desire to patronize the co-operative venture augurs well as far as concerns horseflesh, and proves just what an attraction lies in high purse distribu- tion. During the spring season 60,000 will be disbursed on the basis of a 0,000 daily prize offering for eight races and naturally this has tempted the best stables and horses in America to the locale. Of course the enticement rests not solely with the minimum purse valuation of ,500, but rather the inducement of coveting such highly endowed fixtures as the 0,000 Preakness Stakes, the 0,000 added Dixie Handicap, the 5,000 Chesapeake Stakes, the Pimlico Oaks and Philadelphia Handi- cap, each worth 5,000, and sundry other features among the 20 stakes up for decision in the period of sport. Old Favorites on Track in Morning Hours The fact that opening day is not far off has prompted trainers to "set down" their charges. And. any morning now pretenders to fame, as well as those bereft of illusions, can be seen going through their paces. It is possible to pick out E. K. Brysons very well regarded Director J. E., a Derby and Preakness eligible; Challamore, a favorite hereabouts and winner of the Capital, Heiser and Ritchie Handicaps last fall: Incoming, who appears to be training well; Half-brothers, New Moon and Quarter Moon, the latter being the 1943 hero of the Maryland Futurity; the capable Barbara Childs. a stake winner in New England last year after rising from claiming ranks; Sollure, who captured a division of the 1943 Capital Handicap, and Preak- ness candidates, Seebeebee, Jimmie, High Straight and Royal Prince. Incidentally, Royal Prince, who races for Mrs. Harry J. Mohr and is trained by her son, George, is a prospective aspirant for honors in the three-year-old division. This Maryland-bred son of Dauber harbors de-s signs on the Preakness and, although named for the Kentucky Derby, it is doubt-1 ful that the colt will trek to Louisville. Young Mohr, a "butcher boy" turned horse- man, favors granting his protege every chance, preferring to go along slowly with the growthy and impressive chestnut. | Should the colt fulfill training expectations i he may go postward once prior to contesting the 5,000 added Chesapeake Stakes on April 29 and then look to the Preakness. To be made a Preakness starter he will have to be a supplementary entry. The cost of this fancy is ,500 and deadline for naming is April 15.
