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Late Thread Takes Chicago Handicap Over Bodens Pal in Hard-Fought Finish Oglesby Mare Just Outlasts4 Bishop Racer by Head Before 19#932 Sportsmans Patrons SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111., April 30. — A throng of 19,932 avid racing patrons, one of the largest gatherings ever to squeeze into this compact half-mile course, saw little reason to dispute Late Threads claim as queen of the track when the old mare came with her characteristic rush to account for the ,000 Chicago Handicap here this afternoon. With the sensational apprentice Logan Batcheller, Americas leading reinsman at the present time, putting up a powerful ride, the Mrs. John L. Oglesby representative prevailed by a pulsating head over William H. Bishops fast-closing Bo-dens Pal, while the Valley View Farms Superwolf was third. An eight-year-old chestnut daughter of Pilate — Silver Thread, by Mars, Late Thread is engaged in what probably will be her final campaign. Owner Oglesby plans to retire her as a matron next spring. In taking the Chicago she showed that she has lost none of her vaunted courage. She was co-topweight in the formidable field, according to the scale of weights, was conceding poundage to all. She raced the mhe and one-sixteenth in 1:52V5 and lost con- ► _____ siderable ground while in the midst of a sustained drive that finally netted victory. That she is a great favorite with local fans was indicated when she was backed into .40 for favoritism, a fact that came as something of a slight surprise to form players. Prior to the running of the Chicago, a few drops of rain fell, but not enough to force the bumper crowd to cover, which hardly would have been possible. Early in the afternoon, however, the weather was ideal. Ten thoroughbreds accepted the weights for the feature and it was an interesting melee from start to finish. During the running the lead changed many times, with Park Pigeon, Ration Book, Blue Agent and Superwolf alternating in setting the pace. At the head of the stretch several were bunched for the lead. While this hot battle waged, Late Thread merely galloped along in the ruck and made no effort to stretch out with her ground-devouring strides until settled on the backstretch the last time around. There she was steered to the outside to avoid interference and, once she began to roll, it was obvious that she was out to Continued from Page Forty-Three Late Thread Victress In Chicago Handicap Outlasts Bodens Pal by Head Before Huge Sportsmans Throng Continued from Page One make a spectacular defense of her rightly earned crown. Once she forged to the front in the stretch, the general belief was that it was all over, but from out of the clouds came Bodens Pal along the inside rail. The Bishop star had trailed early, but sparked by the excellent riding of Harold "Red" Keene, he closed with a powerful rush and actually was getting to the winner. Wndsor Farms Red Dawn encountered only weak opposition from the ,500-,000 platers in the fifth, a dash of seven furlongs. The colt, who had shown some good races in Florida before coming here, responded nicely to the handling of Gerald Porch and, at the finish, he was a length and one -half to the good over William H. Bishops Frost Bitten, while Randen Farms Cuddlesome was third. Disappointments in the test were the co -favorites, Dame dHonneur and Excelsis. Neither had any visible excuse, although Excelsis effort was much more listless than generally expected. Never at any time did he show the speed that characterized his most recent race.
