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Belmont Meeting Opens; Sixteen Seek Toboggan Polynesian Faces Fighting Frank, True North in Straightaway Test BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 3. — Most of the best horses in the United States will be running over the track that provides a true test of their ability from Monday through the merry month of May. New York racing changes it to Belmont Park, the largest track in the Metropolitan area, and, years ago, before the advent of Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Atlantic City, Monmouth and Garden State, was in every way the best track in this country. Track president George D. Wide-ner has no illusions or delusion concerning the present inadequacy of Belmont, and with his associates in the Westchester Racing Association has a multitude of plans for at least one modern race track in the New York area as soon as such construction becomes possible — which may be about 1950. Meanwhile, Belmont continues to offer the best spring racing in the country, starting with Mondays 0,000 Toboggan Handicap, a six-furlong dash down the Widener course. They also offer steeplechasing. The Toboggan, which is the first of 14 rich stakes topped by the 0,000 Suburban Handicap and 00,000 Belmont Stakes, two of Americas most important races in their diviisons, is headed by Elmendorf Farms Polynesian, who is asked to carry a mere 134 pounds, just 10 more than he carried successfully in last years edition of the straightaway stake. After succumbing narrowly to Fighting Frank in the Paumonok here at Jamaica on opening day, he beat Sunshine Stables Buzfuz in the Fighting Fox Handicap, then finished a distant second behind Coincidence in the Excelsior at a mile and a sixteenth here last week. The son of Unbreakable has always showed a liking for the Widener straightaway and will probably be favored in the wagering, despite his heavy burden. Greentree Stables Devil Diver, who was probably a better horse, but not necessarily a better sprinter, carried that poundage when winning in 1944. Polynesian will be opposed by no less than 15 speedsters, including Mrs. Louise Donovans Fighting Frank, who beat him a nose when receiving five pounds in the Paumonok and gets the same on Monday; Deering Howes True North, co-holder of the track record for the distance and who Continued on Page Three Belmont Meeting Opens; Sixteen Seek Toboggan Polynesian Faces Fighting Frank, True North in Straightaway Test Continued from Page One also gets in with 125; Sunshine Stables Buzfuz and Joe W. Browns King Dorsett, 121 each; King Ranchs Bridal Flower, 117; C. T. Chenerys Hornbeam, Shamrock Stables Air Patrol and Howes Cassis, 116 each; Russell A. Firestones Degage, 114; C. V. Whitneys Recce, 113; Christiana Stables Sea Snack, and Glen Riddle Farms The Shaker, 112 apiece; Hal Price Headleys Plumper and Bogle, 108 and 102, respectively, and Warbeen Stables Man-goneo, with the feather of 100 pounds.
