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Delaware Park Opens Annual Meet Fast Field of Eleven to Seek Wilmington Handicap Sprint Blue Border, Royal Blood, 4 The Pincher, Irisen and Piet Clash in Inaugural Feature DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Del., May 27. Donald P. Ross and Bryan Field, president and vice-president-general manager, respectively, of the Delaware Steeplechase and Race Association, this morning completed a tour of the plant and pronounced everything in readiness for tomorrows opening of Delaware Parks 32-day summer meeting, the longest since the inauguration of thoroughbred racing in this state in 1937. As has been the case at each of the previous sessions, festivities will commence with a program featuring the 0,000 Wilmington Handicap, a six-furlong dash for three-year-olds and upward. The response of horsemen was satisfactory to racing secretary Gil Haus, with the following campaigners having been named overnight for the fixture: Greentree Stables Blue Border, 116; P. A. Markeys Piet, 115; Maine Chance Farms Royal Blood, 114; Mrs. Esther duPont Weirs Royal Governor, 112; Mrs. O. L. Nybergs Irisen, 111; Walter S. Homes Skylighter, 109; Henry H. Hechts The Pincher, 108; Brookfield Farms Imacomin, 107; James Cox Bradys Basis, 105, and William Veenemans Irish Sun and Alan T. Clarkes Fritz Maisel, each with 104 pounds. .Blue Border, five-year-old gelded son of Bimelech, is a rather erratic sort, but comes up with a top effort on occasions. During the winter at Hialeah Park he was the winner of the Palm Beach Handicap, in which he vanquished a clever field. Blue Border last raced at Belmont Park in the one mile Metropolitan Handicap and, after establishing the early pace, faded to eighth position in the 10-horse field. Sprinting His Forte Freshened since a disappointing performance in Maryland is The Pincher, a three-year-old Heliopolis colt. This fellow was highly-regarded early in the season as a prospect for "Triple Crown" honors, but it took only a short time for his handlers to declare him a sprinter. That he is a top member of that division was-demonstrated at Havre de Grace when he beat ranking sophomores in the six-furlong Chesapeake Trial Stakes. That was his lone victory of the current season, but he was capable enough last year to win four of his seven races and establish a six-furlong track standard at Pimlicor The only other 1949 stakes winner in the Wilmington field is Piet, a four-year-old son of Grand Slam. This fellow, a triple winner last season, turned in four good races early in the current campaign, but was unable to accomplish a victory until the New York season, where he won the Jamaica Handicap at six furlongs. Irisen, one of the most consistent mares in training, could easily come up the Wilmington as choice, despite the fact that she is without a stakes victory this season. The Sweep Like five-year-old, winner of seven races during 1948, already has. won five of her 10 races this year, which is a true indication of her capabilities. Her last public appearance was at Garden State, where she turned in a top effort while bowing by five lengths to Ocean Brief in the Colonial Handicap. Imacomin Capable Sort Another highly capable lassie in the Wilmington field is Imacomin, a three-year-old. This miss won four races last season and narrowly missed victory in the recent Pimlico Oaks when she was less than a length behind Calumet Farms Wistful. That effort stamps the Heliopolis filly as one of the best of her division. Arrivals from New York to fulfill engagements in the Wilmington are " Basis, Royal Blood and Skylighter. Basis raced last at a mile and a sixteenth, and was a galloping eight-length winner in 1:44. Royal Blood also has a single victory this season and was fourth, beaten two lengths behind Up Beat in his last endeavor. Skylighter has failed to impress in two appearances. Royal Governor is one of those thoroughbreds who, when he is good, is very, very good, but it is difficult to predict just what his disposition will be tomorrow. Should he turn in the type of effort he is capable of, the Delaware-owned gelding could be a definite threat. He has a brace of victories this season, and last time out was but three and a half lengths behind Ocean Brief in the Camden Handicap. Fritz Maisel and Irish Sun are the outsiders in the field, with sharp improvement needed for either to rate consideration. Fritz Maisel has raced but once and was successful, while Irish Sun has won a single race in six starts. DONALD P. ROSS President of -the Delaware Steeplechase and Race Association.
