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Keeneland Keeneland Meeting Meeting Opens Opens at at Downs; Downs; Excelsior Excelsior Field Field Headed Headed by by Devil Devil Diver Diver Eight Vie in Phoenix Handicap] As Sport Returns to Kentucky By Jimminy, Anticlimax and* ► Amber Light Match Strides In Six-Furlong Headliner LOUISVILLE. Ky.. April 14.— The Keeneland Race Course. Inc.. introduces the 1944 turf season in Kentucky at an-s cient Churchill Downs, here tomorrow. The six-day charity meet and Churchill Downs dates comprise a spring racing period of "31 days, including six Saturdays and high- lighted by the 5,000 added Kentucky Derby, on May 6. The Lexington club oper-1 ates seven days, followed by the combined s|week for charity, and the Downs 18. The ! first days program is embellished by a re-I newal of the Phoenix Handicap, a heritage from the defunct, century-old Kentucky Association track. This stake is notable, principally for the fact it will mark the three-year-old debut of Alfred Parkers By Jimminy. one of the Wests leading aspirants for the Blue Grass Stakes and Derby. The son of Pharamond II. has captured the publics fancy by vir-e tue of some flashy trials at Keeneland, but is opposing seven stout older rivals in this ,000 added test of six furlongs, and it is j rather generally expected that Dixianas i Amber Light will be the public preference in the mutuels. Although By Jimminy is the top weight "on the scale." Hal Price Headleys Anti- Y s e is • s e a ; e • s ! " s * * * climax will be the actual high weight, with 116 pounds. Amber Light was assigned 114 by handicapper Fred Burton. Parkers presumptuous three-year-old. 111. The re- maining entrants are Dearborn Stables ageing South American. Samborombon. with 113 pounds; Brolite Farms Roman I Sox, 108; C. U. Yaegers Corona Corona, 106; Mrs. M. E. Millers Traffic Court, 102, and J. E. Meiers Bold Style, who is the - light weight of the septet, under a dismis- sive 101. If the seven named all accept, : the winner will accrue a net purse of : ,400. All the usual indications point to this I ensuing Keeneland spring season as the i most successful in the Blue Grass Clubs short annals. The skies were overcast when t entries were accepted for the inaugural, but with a prospect of clearing the most t conservative prophets fancy more than i 13,000 will be present for the Phoenix and I its supporting events. There are a half [ million people within a street car ride of [ the sprawling, picturesque Louisville course, , and business conditions in this area encourage ■ the belief racing here this spring ; will be marked by the same increases in i patronage noted in the South and East. The Phoenix will be followed next - Wednesday by the ,000 Ashland Stakes ; ! Of six furlongs for three-year-old fillies. I Thursdays card will be featured by the » Thoroughbred Club Dinner Purse, for two- I year-olds, at four and a half furlongs. The I second Saturday will be notable for the ! running of the Ben All Handicap of ,000 Continued on Page Three a I _ at t D . ,r g t it H _ e s y i. t J J a » * J I t % J J t i t s j J i j j ] i * j C i i i ; I , , I Keeneland Begins Meet at Churchill By Jimminy, Anticlimax and Amber Light Among Eight in Phoenix Handicap Renewal Continued from Page One added, at a mile and a sixteenth for three-year-olds and upward. The ,000 Lafayette Stakes, for juveniles, will be decided on Tuesday of charity week and the 0,000 Blue Grass Stakes, at a mile and a furlong, the following afternoon. As entries for the opening days card amply attest, there is no dearth of fit racing material converged on Churchill Downs and neighboring Douglas Park. Nominations for Keeneland s roster of stakes features are not unusually heavy, but contain few "comps," and promise competition among some of Americas outstanding performers. The host organization offers its Blue Grass Stakes as a charity-day feature and there are 32 candidates for this nine-furlong spin, including Challenge Me, Gay Bit. By Jimminy, Alorter, Harriet Sue and Skytracer, who are on the grounds. On the Atlantic Seaboard are other eligibles such as Director J. E., Pensive, Twilight Tear, Jimmie and Stir Up. One or more of these may come on for the engagement. The Phoenix usually requires a good deal of winning. In 1943, for instance, Miss Dogwood prevailed over Mar-Kell in a good contest. The preceding year, Greentrees famed Devil Diver, then a three-year-old, won at the expense of Calumets vaunted pair of Whirlaway and Sun Again. Jockeys have been engaged for several of the field in this Phoenix. Johnny Adams, who holds the unique distinction of being the only three -time American jockey champion, is to aid and abet By Jimminy. Ralph Eccard has the leg up on Amber Light. N. L. Pierson on Anticlimax and Skoronski will be astride the fleet filly, Roman Sox. Amber Light Comes Well Recommended Amber Light comes well recommended by victories at New Orleans, Fair Grounds and, more recently, Oaklawn Park. He captured the Leo McLaughlin Inaugural Handicap at the Hot Springs course and is expected to take a lot of catching. Speed is this Pilate four-year-olds forte. At three, last year, he accounted for the Louisiana Derby and Test Handicap, finishing second in the Blue Grass Stakes and fourth in the Kentucky Derby. By Jimminy distinguished himself as a juvenile in 43 by winning the Grand Union, finishing second in the Pimlico Futurity and Albany and third in the Hopeful and Richard Johnson. He has trained at greater distances than the six furlongs of the Phoenix, however, a factor that is quite as disadvantageous to him as are the weight assignments. If he surmounts these handicaps, the Bradley-bred will greatly enhance his prestige as a Blue Grass Stakes-Derby hopeful. "We have brought him along to the races in good fettle, I think, and the rest is up to him," trainer Jim Smith said of his charge when he had blown out in :3625, easing up the last part of the move after breaking from the gate. Anticlimax will be making his seasonal debut in the Phoenix. Last year he won the Washington and Clark Handicaps, sharing in the division of half a dozen other stakes. As is well known, Hal Price Headleys stakes entrants are never to be ignored with impunity. Reports have Anticlimax fresh and fit." Roman Sox is fast enough and in light enough, apparently, to be troublesome. She was narrowly defeated in a division of Hia- leahs Inaugural and performed creditably also at Hot Springs. It is difficult to generate any convincing degree of enthusiasm for the other entrants.
