view raw text
► , , p, JAMES SMITH— Sent out Proud Ruler to take down yesterdays feature race j at Washington Park. Proud Ruler Turns In Speedy Effort Runs Six Furlongs in 7:70 At Homewood; Three Riders Hurt in Spill in Third Race WASHINGTON PARK, Homewood, HI., June 10. — Mrs. Ada L. Rices Proud Ruler, a very swift mare who flashed keen form in a recent race over this track, came right back with another powerful effort when she accounted for the Chicago Coal Merchants Purse before a crowd of 8,659 here this afternoon. Mel Peterson had her in front before going into the first turn and from there to the wire she ran her foes dizzy. M. J. Dants speedy Southern Pride was the one to force the rapid pace, but could not cut down the margin and tired near the end, although managing to save the place from Marion H. VanBergs Fa-vorito. Fourth in the field was Fred R. W. Stolps greatly improved filly, Sunny Boo. For some reason that came as a pleasant surprise to the backers of the Rice sprinter, Mrs. Emil Denemarks Enforcer was backed into even money favoritism. This caused Proud Ruler to return a liberal 0.80. Enforcer, who usually loses ground on the turns, remained near the rail throughout and had no other excuse than the fact that he simply was not good enough. Proud Rulers effort was also exceptional from a time standpoint. She shouldered 116 pounds and raced the six furlongs in a creditable 1:10 and probably could have beaten that mark had Peterson been forced to drive her hard through the final eighth. Eternal Reward Drops Back Eternal Reward, winner of the American Derby over this track, three seasons ago, returned to competition in the feature after having been away from the races since last September. He showed a good burst of early speed, but dropped back and could never threaten thereafter. However, sprinting never has been his forte and he probably will improve when the distances are stretched out. The weather during the afternoon was warm and humid and visibility was hampered by a haze that hovered over the strip during most of the day. The field for the feature was away in a line and Southern Pride and Eternal Reward were the first to show to the front. However, Peterson hustled Proud Ruler hard and before they made the bend into the turn she was on the lead and going handily, with the others already hard pressed to keep within striking distance. First Southern Pride and then Sunny Boo attempted to close the gap, but Proud Ruler didnt want any such thing today and at the head of the stretch she was a couple of lengths clear and no opponent appeared capable of mustering added speed. The worst spill of the meeting occurred on the far turn in the third race when a band of maiden two-year-olds, most of them apparently very green, competed. As a result, jockeys Angel D. Rivera, Larry Grubb and Andy LoTurco are now confined to the St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights. Rivera suffered a possible fractured ankle, LoTurco a possible fractured left arm and spine, and Grubb lacerations. From the beginning-, the race developed into a wild scramble, with several horses darting in and out after the break. On the turn, Grubb fell from Fanny Welsh. Then Rivera was spilled by Bank Bandit, and LoTurco was unseated from Redwood Lass. The patrol judges in the immediate vicinity of the accident reported that no one horse or jockey appeared to be responsible, but that most of the horses in the field were badly jammed. This was the second serious acident for Rivera, one of the outstanding jockeys riding in Illinois, of the year. He suffered a broken collar bone during the Florida meeting. Winner of the dash was H. H. Temple, Jr.s, Auld Sod, who beat Shady Brook Farms Merriest by a neck. Of course, both horses were fortunate to escape interference in the race.