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j j ; r I , I . . I r ; . | ; j ; - . ; i ; I I | c New England Notes SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., June 21. Earl Gibson, mutuels manager, announced-» that 150 veterans of World War II. are en-j gaged in selling and cashing in the mutuels department. It is an extremely high per-» centage of those employed. Cpl. Lester Balaski, a familiar figure in the saddle for some years, is a visitor at Suffolk Downs. Balaski has been in the service for the past 15 months, but remains in riding trim. Trainer Ben Lessler has shipped Seaward Bound and First Draft to the farm at Medfield. Mass., to be turned out for several months. One of the principal nominees for the .Massachusetts Handicap will be Mrs. E. Mulrenans First Fiddle, winner of the 1944 running. A count of the backstretch colony finds a total of 209 two-year-olds in train-• ing. the greatest number in the history of Suffolk Downs. Jockey W. Balzaretti has given first call on his services for the meeting to trainer Tom Haskos. Jockey Melvin Calvert joined the stable trained by Leo ODonnell and swung into immediate action, accepting three mounts Monday. Hart Dernham, Suffolk placing judge, who has been on the sick list at the meeting, faces a serious operation later in the week. One of the largest stables consigned for Suffolk Downs racing arrived here when Leigh Cotton unloaded 13 head for R. B. Berini. An additional six are en route from Kentucky. Jockey George Hettinger accompanied the shipment.
