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► : ; Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS ■ Chief of Chart Correspondents— —J SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., June 13.— John C. Pappas, president and general manager of this popular racing plant, has on the drawing board, for the near future, plans for a huge fountain. The architectural ornament to the racing grounds will be fashioned along the lines of the one that graces the paddock area at Santa Anita. Until this season Suffolk Downs presented a sunbaked area of concrete to the grandstand entrance and was regarded more or less as an eye sore. This spring some of the concrete was ripped up and in its place a sodded area embellished with flowers and shrubbery greeted the arrivals eye. The innovation proved to be popular for the plot was ringed with benches and was a mecca for footsore patrons seeking refuge I from the unyielding concrete. In speaking of his project, Judge Pappas discussed the matter with architects and found ,to his delight that the idea was feasible. The fountain will be constructed of concrete and marble and stretch upwards about 30 feet and spread out in a wide circle* Water will cascade from jets near the peak and on the wide base, which will be of marble, will be blazoned the names of Massachusetts Handicap winners. The fountain will be set in a large grassy plot and will be located at the rear*§*f the . grandstand slightly to the left of the administration office. Massachusetts Day is a popular one with Bostonians and at an early hour the grandstand was comfortably filled with spectators who evinced keen delight in the pre-race presentations. A miniature horse show was staged and among the exhibits were Shetland pony driving class, three and five gaited saddle class, trick riding ..and open jumping. Something new was added for this year for box lunchesjwere available to those who preferred to lunch alfresco. Following the running of the Massachusetts Handicap, 5,000 balloons were loosed but alas, due to the caprices of the winds, none were blown in the direction of the grandstand or clubhouse much to the dismay of some vof the small fry who had cast envious eyes at the gaily colored objects for the j better part of the afternoon.. Mrs. J. Linsey, mother of the Taunton track maestro, Joe, was on hand for the big day. The visit was her first in her life time to a thoroughbred meeting. She was thrilled no end with the entire presentation. Judge James E. Dooley came over from Providence for the big day and had as his guest some of the Rhode Island racing commissioners.. Earl Gibson, maestro of the "tote" department, had a crew of 425 men in action for the afternoon. The crew included sellers, cashiers, calculators, money room men and so forth. . Jockey Richard DeStasio went before the Army board yesterday for his physical. He will know his status tomorrow. . .Lou and Lutza Smith came over from Rockingham Park for the afternoon. Lou, for the summer meeting and as a convenience to the tourists, will furnish a nursery and childrens play room. The quarters will be in charge of a registered nurse and with plenty of baby sitters available. . .The two-year-old filly, Martha P., is back in training for the Brooklynite, Irving Gushen. The miss was named for Judge Pappas daughter, Martha, and dead-heated in a race in Florida. She was a victim of coughing and other equine ailments. Jockey George Hettinger flew up from New York to ride G. D. Wideners Lights Up and then planed back after the running of the Massachusetts Handicap. He had company in jockey Ted Atkinson, who flew up to handle One Hitter for the Greentree Stable. . .Ah entry office in the rear stretch at Rockingham Park will be opened for the convenience of horsemen stabled there... Bert Mulhol-land reported that G. D. Wideners Lights Up would be returned to his Belmont Park stall tomorrow. . .Dagmar, as she is known to the TVers, brought up a couple of checks from Walter Winchell for two local hospitals from the Damon Runyan Cancer Fund. The documents totaled 5,500 and she took one back from i Continued on Page Forty Connors Corner I J ; J Continued from Page Five Judge Pappas for ,000 for the same foundation. BabeDidrikson, of the golf links, staged an exhibition for the early race arrivals. She limited her performance to putts along part of the grass of the steeplechase course stretch. . .Ray Metcalf flew up from New York to saddle Colorset in the eighth race. He is a frequent commuter between here and Aqueduct. . .The jockeys staged a couple of foot races as part of the gala day and the winners were T. E. Martin in one race and Kenneth Scawthorn in the older class. . .Thomas J. Beedem, chairman of the Massachusetts Racing* Commission, was among the early arrivals. . .Something of a record was established shortly after training hours when upward of 1,000 visitors inspected the stable area. On this day the entire plant is thrown open during morning hours for the visitors. . .Eddie Welch, Boston scribe and placing judge here, was on hand for the afternoon. He recently underwent major surgery . . . Charles Mitten, one of Bostons better known merchandisers, deserted business for the big day. . .Starter Buddy Wingfield will have a shortljump to his next official post. He will press the button at Narragansett, which is within easy walking distance from his present locale . .Bob Frend, who will dispatch the fields at Rockingham Park, checked in from his Texas home all set for work. Before we left Belmont Park last .night, -we commissioned our operatives to study Thursdays entries there and relay their conclusions to me here. Heres what they came up with. LONE FISHERMAN in the fifth; DICTONARY in the sixth, and BARRAGE in the seventh.
