view raw text
~ Churchill Focuses Spotlight on Fillies Sickles Image Clashes With Calumets Sunshine Nell and Jennie Lee as Meeting Ends By DON FAIR Staff Corresporident CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 18. — The 1951 Kentucky spring racing season is to conclude tomorrow at this historic South Louisville course and a splendid program has been arranged for the Derby tracks patrons. Armed Forces Day is to be celebrated and all of the events slated for decision on the holiday card are named in honor of prominent Army and Navy men, military posts, and various service forces. The week-end bill should serve as a most fitting climax to one of the most successful meeting staged at the local oval in many years. Attendance has held up admirably throughout the season and wagering showed an increase over that of 1950. Major Bill Corum, president of Churchill Downs, and resident manager Russell Sweeney recently stated that they were exceedingly pleased with the response to the sport this year. Clarence Hartwicks stakes -winning "commuter," Sickles Image, is to head a field of eight three-year-old fillies tomorrow in the Armed Forces Purse. The six and one-half furlongs feature also drew the following entrants: Calumet Farms Jennie Lee and Sunshine Nell; Charlton Clays Lyceum and Edward D. Axtons The Ghizeh, which pair is to race coupled; Mr. and Mrs. James R. Collins Detroit-owned Biddy Bid; H. F. Krimendahls quick Roman Miss, and Bernard Bax Cardinal Lady. Hartwick Homebred Carries 121 Sickles Image, a homebred daughter of Sickletoy and Ariel Image, gets in the Armed Forces wTith the top impost of 121 pounds and jockey Charles Swain is due from Chicago to handle her in tomorrows principal attraction. Victress in Keenelands Ashland Stakes, the Hartwick miss also gave a good account of herself in the Kentucky Oaks, finishing third to How and Continued on Page Eleven Three-Year-Old Fillies Hold Downs Spotlight Continued from Page One Astro in that important fixture. Previous to her Ashland triumph, Sickles Image won at Jamaica and New England, scoring four straight sucesses before suffering defeat in the Oaks. Main opposition for Sickles Image in the Armed Forces probably will be furnished by the Calumet duo, Sunshine Nell and Jennie Lee, with Lyceum also afforded a good chance for major honors. The Calumet fillies visited the local winners ring during the current meeting, while Lyceum, a handsome daughter of Bull Lea and Colosseum, was quite impressive last week in capturing the six furlongs Count Fleet Purse, skipping the distance in a commendable 1:11% under 112 pounds. Jennie Lee is to take up 117 pounds tomorrow; Sunshine Nell gets in with 113 pounds, and Lyceum is favorably weighted at 109 pounds. The Waves and Wacs Purse, seven furlongs for three-year-olds and older, certainly should develop into one of the bet- tef contests on the closing day program. Eight shifty performers went through the entry box for the secondary number and Brown Hotel Stables Grass Fire, a better-than-average sophomore, is the early choice for the race. Grass Fire displayed class here one week ago when he engaged five older rivals in the three-quarter mile Reigh Count Purse, bowing to Hasty House Farms good stakes winner, Inseparable, by only a half length margin and beating Tom Grays Oil Capitol for the place. Grass Fire is to race coupled with Joe D. Pucketts improved and hard-hitting Warmed Over, while Henry Forrests recently-acquired Old Tom and Mrs. Leo Wagners My Sister are expected to give the top pair a sharp tussle. Others slated to answer "Boots and Saddles" are G. H. Cavanaughs Fugitive, Mrs. C. C. Normans French-bred Autan, James Paddocks Al-phara, and Elkcam Stables Blue Kay. -Should the present clear weather continue through Saturday, Downs officials expect to entertain a banner crowd and the first race will be called to the post tomorrow at the regular hour, 2:00 p. m.
