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Capot Capot Captures Captures Preakness; Preakness; Lincoln Lincoln Fields Fields Meet Meet Opens Opens Eight Will Face Delegate in Crete Fast Woolford Sprinter Has With Pleasure as Main Foe At Washington Park Today WASHINGTON PARK, Homewood, 111., May 14. — Under new supervision for the third consecutive season, the Lincoln Fields Racing Association, one of the pioneers in the revival of Illinois thoroughbred racing more than 20 years ago, opens its regular 30-day spring meeting at this spacious and well-appointed course Monday, an important afternoon to turfgoers, for it marks the beginning of what generally is accepted as the "major" circuit in the Prairie State. Tiny Sportsmans Park furnished a fine and pleasant barometer for what can be expected in the future by showing an increase in both attendance and mutuel play during its regular 13-day meeting. Slated to headline the opening bill is the traditional 0,000 added Crete Handicap, •a six furlongs dash for three-year-olds and upward that has lured an excellent field of nine, topped by the Woolford Farm star, Delegate. Others entered are P. A. B. Widener in.s Happy C, Mrs. A. M. Durschs Anns Lee, Paul L. Kelleys Stud Poker, Oscar J. Breaults With Pleasure, Mrs. A. Sabaths Alsabs Day, Mrs. Emil Denemarks Enforcer for Bullish, and the Happy Stables Happy Issue. Guiding Light of the meeting this season will be Peter J. ODonnell, former Chicago turf reporter who was appointed to the post of general manager last year after the late Edward J. Fleming and a group of businessmen purchased the Lincoln Fields track in 1947. ODonnell at Helm Upon Flemings death several weeks ago, ODonnell was placed in full control of the meeting. He reports everything in readiness and was exceedingly pleased when . horsemen responded to the call of racing secretary Larry Bogenschutz and the entries closed shortly after the regular time this morning. Much concern was expressed in this department for Churchill Downs, now running and which will furnish a large number of the horses campaigning here, Continued on Page Tnree i Capot Gains Head Preakness Victory Greentree Colt Sets Track Mark of 1 :56 in Out gaming Palestinian by Head Margin Continued from Page One dawned bright and clear, but* it began to cloud up in mid-aftemoon, and shortly after the running of the fifth event a sprinkle began. By Preakness post time it was drizzling steadily, although not hard. Many fans were driven to cover by the downfall, but thousands put newspapers over their heads and braved it out rather than miss seeing the race running. Harry Parr m., president of the Maryland Jockey Club, presented the Woodlawn Vase to Mrs. Charles Shipman Payson, co-owner with John Hay Whitney of the Greentree Stable. Trainer John Gaver also was in the circle, as was Governor Lane of Maryland. Starter Eddie Blind had the field away in a perfect break at 5: 17 V2 . Noble Impulse darted to the lead while drifting steadily to the rail, and he attained that position from No. 6 post position before the wire was reached the first time around. Capot, breaking from the rail, had his speed and was not bothered by Noble Impulse. Model Cadet and Curandero w,ere prominent early but retired on the backstretch when the real racing began. Die of Race Cast The die of the race was cast at the final turn into the stretch. Capot, as recounted, rallied, while Palestinian made a vigorous moyed into contention. Sun Bahram also made a powerful bid at the corner. It was here, too, that Ponder began his serious bid. Old Rockport was discounted from any chance of getting any part. Capot then disposed of Noble Impulse, the latter holding on stubbornly until just about the sixteenth pole before faltering. Capot earned a net of 9,985 in scoring in the seventy-third Preakness in a field of nine. All but one of the original starters named yesterday through the entry box went postward. Parliament was withdrawn early in the afternoon when the chances of rain looked slight. Parliaments trainer, H. A. Clark, had announced earlier that -Parliament would start only in the event of mud. Capots Preakness win lifted his total earnings to well over the two hundred thousand dollar mark, to be exact, 12,-985. Capot has always been partial to the old Pimlico racing strip, for in winning the Preakness, he kept his record at this particular course unmarred. The race in the Preakness is most interesting. All early fractions, made by Noble Impulse, guaranteed that the eventual time would be fast, which it was. They follow: eighth in :12, quarter in : 23.54, three furlongs in :34%, half in :46%, five furlongs in :58Vs, six furlongs in 1:10%, seven furlongs in 1:23%, mile in 1:36%, and mile and a furlong in 1:49. Todays Preakness saw 91,798 turned over by the "tote," of which 0,297 was wagered in the special Preakness booths prior to the opening of the "tote" for the Preakness. Last year saw but 91,004 wagered on .the stake, but there was straight wagering only in theJDitation year, as those who were here well remember. Todays total handle was ,471,478, slightly higher than last years ,465,175.
