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»sm andm Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS Chief of Chart Correspondents BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 14. — Forty-six years ago on May 4 this mammoth racing ground was opened. Races were were run run the the reverse reverse were were run run the the reverse reverse way, with the finish line near where theWidener Course now joins the main track. The clubhouse was facing the finish line, but where the clubhouse section is now located was known as the field stand. The straightaway course on the extension of the homestretch and two-year-old year-old races races were were year-old races races were were contested on this piece of ground. The paddock was located west of the covered walk that leads in from the Long Island railroad. Race King and Sysonby ran a dead heat in the Metropolitan and for those who were inclined to pit their judgment against those of the bookmakers there was no trouble on that score. The clubhouse contingent, the big ring and field supplied upwards of 300 men who quoted prices. There are some of the boys of those days still around but they are not as active as they were a half century back. Today Belmont Park opened its big meeting and the crowd was well up to expectations. Hands were stretched across the sea and Belmont honored the founding of Paris by naming a race in honor of that fabulous city. The French Consular staff and representatives from the United Nations were on hand. Madame Roger Seydoux, wife of the French Consular General, presented the trophy to the winner of the Toboggan. George D. Widener, top man at Belmont, spent a busy afternoon extending greetings to friends and neighbors, while the Stevens caterers wished that the walls were elastic, to make room for those who forget to make reservations. Walter J. Salmon, recovered from his Derby trip, was present for the afternoon and he plans to journey to Pimlico for the Preakness. . Nat Herzfeld, top man at Tropical Park, took in the final day at Jamaica and the Belmont opener. The occasions were his first visits since his return from Florida and his discharge from the hospital, where he was treated for a virus condition . . . Spencer Drayton, of the T.R.A., was on hand during the afternoon, an interlude in his frequent travels about the country. . Ray Bell, of Hollywood and other points, was present. He reported that he has in England a well-regarded colt named Windy City, which he plans to bring to these shores later in the year. . Dr. Alberto Inclan, one of Cubas outstanding breeders, in letters here, stated that the government had allotted the sum of 0,000 to be spent for the improvement of breeding operations in the Island republic. The breeders will match this sum and later in the year purchase some broodmares and stallions. Mrs. Anne Clare, track superintendent at Saratoga Springs, deserted the upstate resort for the grand opening. She reported that the flowers are blooming and that everything will be in readiness when August rolls around . Jack OHara will do the Metropolitan for the tevee screens . . An oddity in racing and one that will bear remembering occurred on Friday of last week. Two owners, one at Jamaica the other at Garden State, had the pleasure of seeing their colors carried to victory in their first starts. Henry Gehrhardt, of Roslyn, was thrilled no end when his Sneak earned a purse at Jamaica while Jack Delaney, master of the Delbriar Farm of Shrewsbury, N. J., enjoyed the. same thrill when his Annbell scrampered home . . . Trainer Colando shipped the filly Wac to his fathers farm down Pennsylvania way to be turned out and rested up. . A. F. Wall, the Detroit owner and patron, came on from the Motor City for a few days racing. His horses are stabled at Aqueduct . Trainer Charles Feltner shipped to the Gus Ring farm the horses Siren Song and Fair Self. The two will enjoy the Virginia air and countryside for a while. . .Irish Sun and Pamheim were shipped to Garden State Park and turned over to W. Hunt to train. The shipment came after trainer Bob Boyle turned in his resignation. . .Track superintendent Litwack of Aqueduct reported that final phase of reroofing the grandstand at that track was finished. A couple of coats of paint and other repairs will complete the job which was necessitated by the big blow of early spring. Donald P. Ross, master of Brandy wine Stable, made the trip from Wilmington, Del., to witness his Cochise in the Gallant Fox and then decided to return for Belmont Parks opening. . Mrs. Esther duPont Weir flew up to say goodbye to Jamaica and then welcome Belmont Continued on Page Thirty-Eight A !c c t 5 f * il t f 3 • t C I b 1 * t r t 0 „ £ € f t v j s to ■ * Connors Corner Continued from Page Five Park Mr. and Mrs. John D. Hertz were among the days visitors. They radiated pleasure over the success of their sire, Count Fleet. This fellow has to his credit. Count Turf, winner of the Derby, and County Delight, winner of the Gallant Fox on successive Saturdays. . Trainer Eddie Hayward will enter a local hospital this week for a hernia operation . . Eddie DeCamillas came over from Garden State to say hello and welcome _ in the Belmont Park meeting . . . "Specs" Crawford, the veteran of the steeplechase field, was on hand to witness the work- £ ings of the new starting tapes, English a a type, for the steeplechasers. -j p The Warner brothers, Harry and Major c Albert, were in high spirits when they re- v ceived the measurements of the Mangoneo colt out of Inscolita, by Insco. The colt, of tremendous size, said to be the largest ever p foaled in California, is well proportioned. n He weighed in at 140 pounds and was 37 I ] inches around the girth and 40 inches from I sj the ground at his withers. The average a as foal weighs about 100 pounds and measures j I n 33 inches around the girth and about 40 n inches from the ground. At private terms this morning Ray Bell, acting for J. A. I j Lyons, of Coobay, Oregon, purchased from c, the Brookmeade Stable the three-year-old p Oats, a son of Bimelech — Yarrow Maid. w He also sold to the Oregonian two Irish- t, ; bred two-year-olds. Republican Day and u up Trafalgar. They arrived today by plane from t] the Emerald Isle. The three were shipped ri to Hollywood Park for racing during that meeting J Dana Tasker has been get- n ting congratulations during the last couple t] of weeks upon his advancement to the n executive editorship of Time Mazagine. 0 of There was more handshaking at Jamaica jr Saturday when his two-year-old filly. Silk |, Quest, won the first race and gave him his £ first purse of the year. It has been a long t 77 time between purses for Tasker. His first w winner was Penseroso, at the Saratoga-at- w Jamaica meeting, on July 20, 1949. His c second winner was Silk Quest, who was sold p him by the fillys trainer, Charles Whit- C tingham. p it The selections are: BUSY SIGNAL in n the second; CROWNLET in the sixth, n and MANDINGO in the seventh. p E
