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CURANDERO — The King Ranchs five-year-old homebred makes his seasons bow in the Myrtlewood Handicap on todays inaugural program at Arlington P.ark. Arlington Stakes Form Pot of Gold! Rainbow Starts on North Side , And Ends Out at Washington j Worlds Richest Summer Race Program to Match Cream of Thoroughbreds for 67 Days By J. J. MURPHY Staff Correspondent ARLINGTON PARK, Arlington Heights, 111., June 16. — That colossus of Chicago racing, Arlington Park, embarks upon its 25th meeting Monday. On* that day the palatial plant will dominate the American turf scene and will of fer as its feature the 5,000 Myrtlewood Handicap. Executive director Benjamin F. Lindheimer and his able assistant, daughter Marjorie, have done themselves proud in setting the stage for what gives promise of being one of the greatest sessions in the history of the North Side course. And nature has aided. The spacious lawns are lush and emerald green, flowers bloom in profusion and the old and stately trees cast their shadows liberally across the greensward park adjacent to the paddock. The pounding of the hooves of some of the "best horses on the. American turf and a few from foreign lands will be heard for 36 racing days. Approximately 1,500 horses representing some of the countrys leading turf devotees are congregated here and at Hawthorne which proves the popularity of the Arlington Park sport with the men whose thoroughbreds provide the excitement. The rainbow begins at Arlington and ends at Washington this summer when the "pot of gold" in the form of the richest summer race-program ever staged on any race courses anywhere will be presented. During the 67 days of racing a total of ,500,000 in purse money will be distributed with both the Arlington Handicap and Washington Park Handicap carrying a value of 00,000 added. In addition there will be five 0,000 added races, two worth 0,000 added, six with a value of 5,000 added, four for 0,000 added and nine for 5,000 added making a grand total of 75,000 for the 28 stake races. In the initial issue of the Arlington Park condition book, covering the first eight days of racing at that track, there are but six events at the minimum purse value of ,000. The majority are worth between ,000 and ,000. Cleopatra on Wednesday If the manner in which nominations for the feature races have been and are pouring in Chicago patrons should be greatly pleased with the sport served them during the coming weeks. Following the Myrtlewood Handicap will come the Cleopatra for three-year-old fillies to be run Wednesday and the Equipoise Mile down for decision Saturday. The Equipoise, first middle distance race for older horses, has proved a stumbling block for some mighty runners in the past. Armed Was twice defeated in the event while Coaltown and. Thumbs Up also bowed., But one three-year-old, Oil Capitol, last year, has ever been successful. Independence Day. will bring the first of the great turf racers in the Stars and Stripes Handicap at one and one-eighth miles for three-year-olds and upward. This parallels in importance the Meadowland Handicap which is run annually on the grass at Washington Park. Both the Stars and Stripes and the Meadowland have been doubled in value this season each being worth 0,000 added. Volcanic, who won the Meadowland the last two years and holds track records at both Arlington and Washington Park, is in training here. Last seasons Stars and Stripes winner was In-. separable who is also on the job. Run Matron July 14 Following the Stars and Stripes will come in order the 5,000 Skokie Handicap, the 5,000 Pollyanna Stakes and the 5,-000 Primer Stakes. Then on Saturday, July 14, will be run the 0,000 Arlington Matron Handicap for fillies and mares, three years and older, at one mile. In the last two runnings of the Matron, Hal Price Headleys Lithe took the measure of the Calumets beating Bewitch in 1949 and Wistful last season. Following the Matron by four days will be another classic for equines on the distaff side this the Arling- : ► r ton Lassie. The Lassie, for two-year-old fillies, is worth 5,000 and Shawnee n Squaw, last years winner, will likely be in C the field. Incidentally, the Matron tnis 2 "* year will have an increased money value of 0,000. - | With the filles and mares having settled 2 differences the decks will be cleared for the | twenty-third renewal of the Arlington -Classic, a mile and one-quarter three-year- _ old race which rightfully belongs -in a c class with the "Triple Crown" events. The 2 Classic, to be run July 21, numbers among " its victors such as Blue Larkspur, Gallant -Fox, Mate, Cavalcade, Omaha, Challedon, * Shut Out, Ponder and that great filly of a -few years back, Twilight Tear. In the u money but unable to reach the peak have " been the Kentucky Derby winners Clyde Van Dusen, Twenty- Grand, Johnstown, _ Gallahadion, Whirlaway and Pensive. Preakness winners beaten in the Classic were Pensive and Bimelech. Belmont winners Twenty Grand, Johnstown, Bimelech and Whirlaway -failed to make it. In last years running Greek Song defeated Bed o Roses and Your Host. The Arlington Futurity will be the midweek attraction between the running of the Classic and the 00,000 Arlington Handicap. The Futurity is naturally for two-year-olds and is worth 0,000. To Market was last years winner. Aside from the purse value the Arlington Handicap differs from the Classic only in that older horses are eligible. Three-year-olds have won it on occasions, Riskulus, Sun Teddy, Dellor, Rounders and Busher having clicked at that age. The Calumet Farm has sent the winners postward in three of the last four runnings — Armed in 1947, Coaltown 1949 and Ponder last year. Fervent, from that stable, was third in 1948. Following the running of the Arlington Handicap the racing scene will shift to Washington Park but that is another story.
