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Nine Are Entered in Spring Handicap As Sportsman s Park Meeting Closes i "■ | Shift in Weights Today May * Result in Bodens Pal Being Favored Over Late Thread SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111., May 13. — The initial lap of the Illinois racing season, covered at a rate in attendance and mutuel handle that has surprised even the most optimistic, will be completed here tomorrow afternoon, after which the site of pounding hooves will switch to Washington Park, where the Lincoln Fields Racing Association will offer 30 days of sport. Latest figures reveal that both the crowds and wagering is slightly above the figures during a corresponding period of last season during the regular meeting of the host organization. However, the first five days which were sponsored by local newspaper charity organizations, suffered a drop mainly because of the atrocious weather. Conversely, it was the balmy atmospheric conditions that followed which contributed greatly to the National Jockey Clubs unexpected success. For the first time of the current session nine races will be offered, with post time for the initial affair scheduled for the usual Saturday at 2 p. m. Featuring the program, one of the best offered by racing secretary and handicapper Horace Wade, will be the ,000 Spring Handicap, booked at a mile and one-sixteenth for three-year-olds and upward. Nine have been named over night for the exacting test and the manner in which they are weighted gives every horse in the field an excellent opportunity to emerge victorious. ► Because of a sharp change in the weights, it is likely that William Hal Bishops Bodens Pal will be favored over the local queen, Late Thread, owned by Mrs. John L. Oglesby. When this pair clashed recently in the Chicago Handicap, at this course, Late Thread scored by a scant nose. On that occasion she toted 116 pounds against her energetic adversarys 114. The adjustment finds Late Thread carrying 121, while Bodens Pal is listed at 116, a three-pound switch in the Bishop colorbearers favor. Bodens Pal, who is girding for distance events at Lincoln Fields, where the successful Bishop stable also will campaign, started only once here. In the Chicago he trailed his field until reaching the far turn the second time around. There he slipped through on the rail at a tremendous saving of ground and just failed to get up. Late Thread, on the other hand, was forced to overcome all sorts of obstacles to gain her Chicago victory. She, too, was far Continued on Page Two Nine in Spring Handicap As Sportsmans Meeting Ends Continued from Page One back early, and when she settled into stride for her victorious bid it was necessary for her to come around the entire field. She gained command a sixteenth out, but was forced under powerful pressure by Logan Batcheller, who is to pilot her again tomorrow. Batcheller, the nations leading rider in point of winners at the present time, has been vacationing at his Hu-manes, Mo., home. He returns to action especially to ride Late Thread. Others in the field are W. D. Rodrick and L. O. Lanes Dad, Bishops Superwolf, who is to run coupled with Bodens Pal; P. J. Valentis Caillou Rouge, Woolford Farms Approval and Leavenworth, M. H. Van- Bergs Sir White, and Ben Fogelsons Mae Agnes. Dad was recently purchased from Bishop by his new owners and is destined to leave for Ak-Sar-Ben at Omaha, Neb., over the week-end. The gelding has been a consistent performer in the past and appears well suited by his 115 pounds. After selling Dad, Bishop used part of the money to claim Superwolf, a clever sort who has shown several fine races at this track. Caillou Rouge succeeded in taking the Inaugural Handicap at this track but hasnt done much since. During the winter he attracted considerable attention by finishing in a dead heat with My Request , at the New Orleans Fair Grounds. That ; easily was the best race of his spotty • career.
