view raw text
Connors Corner By CHUCK CONNORS BELMONT PARK Elmont L I N Y April 30 The first of the seasons steeple ¬ chase races was decided at Belmont Park today following a hur ¬ dle affair Tuesday The number of entries in both affairs as well as in the International Steeplechase Handicap to be run tomorrow augurs well for an in ¬ teresting season The fine weather on tap today brought out a good sized gathering of patrons whose chief interest in the turf is in the thoroughbreds that race through this field The coterie were to be found in the Turf and Field Club discussing the prospects of the coming season Many of the jumpers who have appeared at Bel ¬ mont in the past are training here while the arrival of several jockeys from Europe has added interest to the events The two latest riders to check in were Ray Harris and David Thomas both of whom have had considerable experience through the field in England The popular Frank Dooly Adams considered just about the best of the American steeplechase jockeys is accepting mounts and the Frenchman Albert Foot who spent the winter in his home town of Chantilly is back again Foot won three straight handicaps last autumn aboard the champion jumper Oedipus OedipusMonte Monte Preston trainer for E H Lane was an arrival from Keeneland with Ba loina winter sprint champion of New Orleans Lane made an offer last winter to wager 10000 on Baloma against any thoroughbred in the land in a quarter mile race Bill Knapp has resigned as trainer of the Havahome Stable but will continue to condition other horses for outside interests Duke Montour the wellknown plater and horseman has acquired Lovetown from William Post at private terms Frank Mormile checked in from Florida with a few head Jim ¬ my Stout star rider of Spartan Valor took time out from Garden State racing to escort Mrs Stout to luncheon in the Belmont Park clubhouse He later rode Emardee in the Fashion Stakes StakesApprentice Apprentice Ralph Zanelli checked in from the West Coast Jockey Warren Lane rode in todays first race on the flat and came back to steer a mount over the jumps in the third Oldtimers could not remember another rider accepting similar chores on the same day although trainer Kay Jensen rode both steeplechasers and flat racers during the same period of his career R R Dickman shipped C B Bohns Blue Hills to Pimlico to run in the Dixie Handicap Saturday Dickman re ¬ ceived the good runner Deluge from Mary ¬ land to occupy Blue Hills stall Brook meade Stable received a draft of horses from Maryland Jockey Ovie Scurlock returned from Garden State where he rode Tribe to second place in the William Penn Stakes StakesAmong Among the horse devotees present at Belmont on opening day were Ogden Phipps A C Bostwick G H Bostwick Rigan McKinney F S von Stade of Saratoga Mrs John Bryce Frank J JContinued Continued on Page ThirtyFive ThirtyFiveJ J I LU Y U A Y i V Connors Corner Continued from Page Four FourHeller Heller Mrs E duPont Weir whose Clive of India won the first hurdle event of the season Mrs Walter J Salmon E Barry Ryan Harry LaMontagne Walter M Travers Jr James Cox Brady Ashley T Cole Sir Ashley Sparks William Goadby Lowe Mrs C Oliver Iselin Mrs John A Morris Frank Stevens John C Clark F Ambrose Clark and J Harry Alexandra the latter the new president of the Turf and Field Club ClubGrantland Grantland Rice the dean of the sports writers took advantage of todays beauti ¬ ful weather to make his first appearance hi some time Has been confined to his quarters with a severe cold Mutuel man ¬ ager Lou Walger is another who is back on the job following a bout with virus Fran ¬ cis Burine very dapper with a white bou tonniere Says it blends well with his com ¬ plexion Mr and Mrs John Boolittle from Los Angeles taking in a few days of the sport The twoyearold Putney is unlucky in choosing his company In his last two starts he has finished second to Native Bancer and County Clare regarded as two of the best juveniles in this vicinity A new well ventilated and heated pro ¬ jection room in the basement of the ad ¬ ministration building was used for the first time Jockeys comfortably seated on some of the 30 chairs saw some of yesterdays races and heard steward Marshall Cas sidys comments Ovie Scurldck has been engaged to ride James Cox Bradys Land ¬ mark in the Acorn Woodhouse on Har ¬ mony Farms Semolina and Conn Errico on Mrs B B Firestones Petitpoint
