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Billy Rolfe Leads Eight-Rivals Home at Detroit Up Grade Runner-Up in Sprint; 20,000 Present for Inaugural FAIR GROUNDS, Detroit, Mich., May 24. Billy Rolfe, from the Detroit-owned stable of Grissom and Sherman, drove to a convincing triumph over eight opponents in the six-furlong fifth race, as Mrs. George C. Whites Up Grade was a fast-finishing second, nearly two lengths farther back. Third went to White Spot Farms Happy Joan, who also was closing with good speed, but was a length and a half in the wake of the runner-up. Gordon Potter, the 19-year-old lad from Kinsley, Kans., rode the, winner for his contract employers, while making a triumphant return to the course where he learned his profession last year as a novice in the jockey school. Billy Rolfe came in for most of the support in the field to pay .00 and was the third choice to register during the matinee. The race was run over a track that had dried out to be rated "slow," although the earlier contests found the strip heavy. Ray, racing for Ray Ankenbauer, had the most early speed of the field and was able to open up a short lead down the backstretch, but the winner was next in line and Potter was content to permit this placing, as he rated his charge well within striking distance of the leader. In the home lane, Potter gave Billy Rolfe his head Continued on Page Three Billy Rolfe Leads Eight Rivals Home at Detroit Up Grade Runner-Up in Sprint; 20,000 Present for Inaugural Continued from Page One and he swept to the front readily and drew clear. Ray was done when headed and wilted abjectedly, but a new threat loomed as Up Grade, who had improved her position steadily, unleashed a burst of speed that saw her reach the runner-up position in the late stretch. Billy Rolfe had been well rated, however, and as Potter kept him to his task he was able to make the issue safe under mild pressure. Happy Joan had been slow to find her best speed, but she also was found to have speed in reserve for a stretch run, but her best efforts found her unable to make any serious inroads into the advantage held by the first two to finish. Racing returned to this Motor City course under cloudy weather conditions and the sport was conducted over a track left heavy from overnight rain, but a welcoming crowd estimated at 20,000 was on hand to usher in the 73-day meeting. The excellent opening day program was headed by the featured Boots and Saddle Handicap offered as the sixth race and this was followed by the Man o War Handicap. The meeting opened with a six-furlong dash in which the eight contestants were ridden by novice riders and it was Hywick, racing for Morton and Lewis, who found the heavy footing to his liking to lope to an impressive seven lengths score under the guidance of William Kenly Cook, an 18-year-old lad from Wisterburg, Ky., who was riding his first race. Dale Maedic was second for Mrs. S. Joseph and was handled by Fred J. Martin, of Toronto, a nephew of jockey Frank Munden. Three parts of a length farther back, the favored Flick was third for Mrs. F. Stafford, after showing the way to the field down the back-stretch. Johnny Foggiano, of Detroit, was astride the choice. When the start came, M. Johnsons Eleanor Van was unprepared and was virtually left, and it was Flick who was first to show in front. Under whipless urging, Flick was able to establish a clear lead before Dale Maedic, while the eventual winner was reaching closer contention on the outside. On the turn, Hywick was sent up on the outside and challenged Flick, and the pair raced heads apart in the lead around the turn. Hywick soon displayed her superiority and drew clear and was not in danger through the home lane. Flick weakened from her brief duel with the winner and when Dale Maedic was asked for speed she had nothing left to meet the challenge. The innovation of the practice of having independent auditors check the mutuel play for the state before the prices were posted, resulted in a delay of nearly 10 minutes before the pay-off figures were released.
