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r 1. ■ i i I |m Stop Stop Gap Gap Takes Takes Prep Prep for for Peabody; Peabody; Detroit Detroit Track Track Opens Opens Annual Annual Meet Meet E. E. DALE SHAFFER— President of the Michigan Racing Association, which inaugurates the 1951 racing season in the Detroit area this afternoon at its one mile track. MRA Inaugurates Session of 56 Days Ky. Colonel Tops Field of 1 1 in Anniversary Handicap Under Impost of 120 Pounds By DON FAIR Staff Correspondent DETROIT, Mich.,- May 24. — Thoroughbred racing returns to the Wolverine State tomorrow when the Michigan Racing Association will inaugurate a 56-day meeting at this swank and correctly appointed course. The sport will continue through July 28 at the huge plant, located on Middlebelt and Schoolcraft Roads. Post time for the initial event on opening day and for the Saturday program is set for 2:00 p. m., Eastern Standafd Time. There is a decided air of optimism about " the front office at the local oval; MRA president E. E. Dale, Shaffer, executive vice-president George Haggarty and general manager Robert Leavitt all have expressed opinions that the racing this season, the second year at the new five million dollar plant, will attract Motor City racing followers in increased numbers. Members of racing secretary Charles J. McLennans staff will center their efforts on providing the class programs which will prove interesting to MRA patrons. "With a fair break in weather Friday and Saturday, we expect to entertain crowds of greater proportions than those that turned out in 1950," said President Shaffer. "We are in great shape this year for horses and our plant has been dressed up nicely. Not only the buildings but the track proper, parking lots, and stabling area have undergone thorough renovation. I am sure that the present set-up will be pleasing to our patrons for we have made every effort to bring about conditions that will stress spectator comfort," added Shaffer. Holds Worlds Record The Anniversary Handicap, six furlongs for three-year-olds and older, is to occupy the spotlight the first day of the season and 11 top flight thoroughbreds were named through the overnight entry box to contest the sprint. Included in the probable starting band are several horses that are well known to Detroit racing followers and also the seven furlongs worlds record holder, Ky. Colonel, who races under the silks of the widely known Kentuckian, Joseph A. Goodwin, master of famed Patchen Wilkes Farm. Ky. Colonel, a five-year-old homebred stallion, the get of Balladier and Minstrel-? ette, set his mark of 1:21% at Washington Park, Homewood, 111., on August 10, 1949. Continued on Page Forty-Four Meeting at Detroit Track Gets Under Way Today Ky. Colonel Tops Field of Eleven In Featured Anniversary Handicap Continued from Page One While several quick racers have neared the record, none of them have been able to equal the mark, let alone break it. Winner of two straight races at Churchill Downs before his shipment to Michigan, Ky." Colonel is to take up top weight of 120 pounds tomorrow in the Anniversary and he may have the saddle services of hustling Tommy Barrow. While Ky. Colonel is expected to rule favorite over his 10 Anniversary rivals,, he will have to turn in a sharp performance to increase his victory skein to three straight. Aligned against the Goodwin star tomorrow will De such worthies as Carl Grahams stakes-winning Fancy Flyer, 118; Mrs. Otto C. Neumanns The Farms foux-year-old colt, Bully Boy, 112, and Theodore D. Buhls locally-owned Bee Lee Tee, 114 pounds. Fancy Flyer won several important engagements here during the 1950 season, Bully Boy displayed considerable class as a sophomore and Bee Lee Tee, who is essaying a comeback after a long lay-up,- has turned in several sparkling morning trials. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gunter, of New Orleans, will depend on Tiger Matt, pegged at 103 plounds, who is to race coupled with another Orleanian, Illustrate, from the Robert S. Link, Jr., stable, pegged at 110 pounds; James Paddock, of Louisville, is to start Alphara, 108, and Dear Tint, 104, while P. L, Grissom, of Detroit, is to start Ida C, 108 pounds. Grace Kosiba Stables hope for Anniversary honors is Skyraiding, 103; A. and R. Craigs silks are to be carried by the hard-hitting Suffki, 108. Should Ky. Colonel pass his Anniversary engagement due to an "off" track or other conditions, Tommy Barrow will guide Suffki. Mike Cafferella drew the mount on Tiger Matt, and Darrell Madden, one of the best riders to show in Kentucky this spring, is to be- up on Bully Boy. Lois C. Cook, an old favorite with Detroit patrons, is engaged for -Illustrate; Eldon Coffman will ride Alphara, Willie McCadden will have the leg on Skyraiding, young Johnny Turner .is on Dear Tint, Alfred Popara will guide Ida C, and Chuck Headley is to ride Bee Lee Tee. At a late hour today, trainer Kenneth Noe hadnt named a boy to handle Fancy Flyer. • Among the better supporting attractions on thejopening day bill are three middle-distance events. The fifth race, one mile and a sixteenth for four-year-olds and upward, is to bring together an even dozen well-matched platers, while 10 horses from the same age divisions are to meet in the eighth and ninth, both of. which are to be decided at one mile and 70 yards. Present overhead conditions in the Detroit area are a bit on the cloudy side with a threat of rain, but it is hoped that the inaugural day program can be decided on a fast track.
