view raw text
-. L . ■ . i . ■ ■ ■ ; ;■ . ..;.■ ... ; ;...;.. M ... ; ; i;.; ; i !.!-■■■.» rm M iw .1 ll 1 fnnnnrc Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS Chief of Chart Correspondents— J JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., April 30.— Racing men have for many generations been looked upon as a superstitious lot. However, they allergiC allergic tO to . . . ... ... are are nO no more more -. L ■ i ■ ■ ■ ; ;■ . ..;.■ ; ;...;.. M ; ; i;.; ; i !.!-■■■.» are are nO no more more allergiC allergic tO to that form of courting the good fortunes of lady luck as the men next engaged in the more prosaic business of driving a truck or selling an article of merchandise. The truth of the matter is that the superstitions of an outstanding character on on a a race race track track is is more more . I ; i , [ . . I | ■ ! . " [ 5 I l i i I . I L x i I [ r j I [ 1 on on a a race race track track is is more more rm M iw .1 publicized than in other lines of endeavor. There are hundreds of stories told about the superstitions of the late Sam Hildreth, but one that bears repeating is in connection with the running of the 1924 Derby in which Black Gold was returned the winner over/ Chil-howee and Beau Butler. Hildreth had shipped from Belmont Park a pair of fair contenders in Mad Hatter and Bracadale for the Rancocas Farm of Harry F. Sinclair. A day or so before the running of the big race, Hildreth returned to his hotel in a gloomy frame of mind and when questioned by Mrs. Hildreth as to his troubles blurted out, "Were done." Further questioning elicited the information that a cross-eyed man had invaded the area near the Rancocas stable. This species was one of Hildreths pet fetishes and despite all the known antidotes the veteran was convinced that the jinx had been affixed to his starters. The placing of the race following the Golden Jubilee running of the famed event is in the books. However, there are thousands who saw the running who swore that Bracadale was third while Beau Butler, one of the E. R. Bradley starters, was unplaced. There was quite a to do over the placing but the original result remained as official. That was the first of the Hildreth misfortunes. That night he and Mrs. Hildreth went to a dinner party. Then the second of their misfortunes struck. This time it hurt. Mrs. Hildreth, in preparation for the Derby trip, as most women do, went shopping. During their absence the room was ransacked and the traveling bags were not in their accustomed place upon their return. Hildreth lost a pair of field glasses that he prized, while Mrs. Hil-5 dreth was left, as she said, without anything to wear. The boys in the paddock will forget the placing, but the hotel management never forgot the loss of the traveling bags. Today there are still plenty of supersti- tious turfmen. Max Hirsch, before flying out, shined his lucky rabbits foot. Eddie Continued on Page Six Connors Corner Continued from Page Three Arcaro fingered his charm piece while others touch this and that emblem which according to the grapevine is a positive inside road to the ear of that fickle lady who dispenses her favor in strange ways. . .. . M. B. Schanberg, host to Harry S. Truman, arrived from his Kansas City home for a few weeks at Belmont Park. . . . The rainstorm Sunday played havoc with the racing strip but the warmer weather helped dry out Jamaica. . . . Trainer J. P. Watts, of the Melrose Stable, is a patient at the Mary Immaculate Hospital undergoing a physical checkup. . . . Jockey Ted Atkinson has a big mount before the running of the Derby. This engagement is not a regular scheduled one but is on that old Debbil, the horns of a dilemna. Trainer John Gaver is trying to convince him that he should take the mount on Hall of Fame and not Big Stretch. Atkinson is wrestling with the problem as did Arcaro when Gaver suggested Shut Out instead of Devil Diver. Well well wait and see. Mr. and Mrs. George Dowty were among the clubhouse visitors over the week-end. He is an English owner and breeder and his Armored Knight started in this years Grand National at Aintree, but fell during the running. They came from London and were accompanied on the American trip by Lome Barber, an avid patron of racing. ... I. J. Collins, the Ohio patron, came on from his home for an extended visit. . . . Lee Shubert represented the threatrical world during the afternoon. . . . W. C. Langley, of the racing commission, witnessed the running of the days program. He once took off 40 pounds to ride in the English Grand National a couple of decades or more back. He did not win that coveted prize. Mrs. Dodge Sloane braved the chill winds to cheer her representatives Saturday afternoon. . . . Nick Schenck, of the motion picture industry, witnessed the running of the Grey Lag program from the sheltered confines of the clubhouse dining room. . . . When Gabez carried the white green sash and cap postward for John Barry Ryan the other day it marked the first appearance of those colors in two years. The set was first used by the late Thomas Fortune Ryan when he entered racing 30 or more years ago with his Oak Ridge Stable. . . . Major Albert Warner was on hand, keenly interested in the week-end program. . . . Horsese for courses is an old saying on the turf. Two examples which lend credence to the words are By Sea and By Road. These campaigners raced over numerous tracks, but have found the footing at Jamaica to their liking. By Sea has wracked up five wins, while By Road has three to his credit all gleaned at this track. The selections are: FAIRYS GEM in the fifth; SHEILAS REWARD in the sixth, and HIGH BRACKET in the seventh event.
