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Permane Permane in in Tropical Tropical Spotlight Spotlight Again; Again; Jamaica Jamaica Set Set for for Big Big Inaugural Inaugural Throng Throng Paumonok Assured Splendid Renewal Several Hopefuls Miss Final Trials Due to Three Inches Of Snow on New York Tracks NEW YORK, N. Y.. April 6.— Devil ] Diver will start in the Paumonok unle the track is really muddy with a hard bottom," trainer John Gaver, mentor of the Green-tree Stable star, advised today. There were , three inches of snow on the Jamaica strip, | but the track was not frozen under its white covering and there is an excellent i prospect that the strip will be in fairly | good condition for Saturdays inaugural of I the 1944 New York racing season. Devil Diver, who has been assigned equal topweight of 130 pounds with Belair Studs . Apache in the ,500, six-furlong opening-day , feature, has the advantage of having ; had a highly beneficial six-furlong drill on Tuesday, during which he stepped the distance in 1:12, then was pulled up seven-eighths in 1:2545. Gaver expects to breeze him again at Belmont tomorrow as a final tightener. Howe Stables Cassis is another who benefited by getting in his final extended prep on Tuesday, going six furlongs in 1 : 14, and he is considered a definite starter under his burden of 120 pounds." Tom Heards Boysy got his conditioner at the distance of Saturdays race on Wednesday and he, too, may have some advantage physically. Snow Melting Rapidly While the other probables — Eurasian, Mettlesome, Brownie, Go-Gino. Alex Barth. Adulator, Bill Sickle, Valdina Albert and Dartaway — missed the final works they were slated to get this morning, most of them galloped during the afternoon. Of this group, only Bill Sickle failed to race in the South last winter, and they should not suffer unduly from missing this prep. Meanwhile, a bright sun is rapidly melting the snow and prospects are bright for a brilliant opening of the 181 -day Metropolitan season. There are more winter-raced horses quartered at the New York tracks this year than usual, providing an abundance of fit, seasoned performers. At this writing, Apache appears the likely choice by a slight margin over Devil Diver for the Paumonok, principally because the son of Alcazar won a division of the race last year and trainer Jim Fitzsimmons has had a virtual monopoly on the traditional opening-day fixture since 1938. Apache demonstrated his sharpness last week and, while he missed an important prep yesterday, he was galloped under the shed. All indications point to a record crowd at Jamaica Saturday, with interest in the return of the thoroughbred sport to New York after nearly a five-month lapse mounting to fever pitch. The hundreds of pari-mutuel clerks under Lou Walgers direction have been rehearsing daily at the "tote" windows, while racing secretary John B. Campbells office and the registration offices in the administration building are almost as congested as the Times Square subway station at rush hour. The only important innovation at Jamaica this year, from a strictly material standpoint, will be the tryout of the Photo -Chart Camera, which will be used during Continued on Page Seven Jamaica Fully Prepared ! For Big Opening Throng Paumonok to Have Fine Renewal 1 — Snowfall Hinders Workouts Continued from Pace One the Jamaica meeting, and. if found as satisfactory • as expected, will be continued to , decide finishes throughout the long season. • Another innovation, of importance to the I war effort, is the recently announced policy r of the New York tracks to give complimentary admissions to all purchasers of i War Bonds at booths at the track entrance. First post at Jamaica will be 1:45 p. m., • and patrons should have little trouble I reaching the track in time for the curtain-raiser by the regular Long Island Railroad ! trains or by the Eighth Avenue subway and bus from Parsons Btulevard. The parking lots will remain closed.
