Connors Corner: Plan New Clubhouse at Belmont; Woody Stephens Busy Commuter; Exodus of Jockeys to Pimlico; Drinkhouses Have Something New, Daily Racing Form, 1952-05-16

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CONNORS CORNER By Chuck1 Connors] BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 15. — Plans for a new clubhouse at Belmont Park are in the making, ac cording to word that leaked out from the inner sanctum the other afternoon. The architects have drawn up rough plans and the site will be east of the grandstand or towards the first turn. The structure when completed will be on a lavish scale and in addition to elevators, escalators, a massive dining room will be one of the features. The construction cannot be started until all bans on necessary materials are lifted. The matter has been hush hush for some time," but several of the directors of the Westchester Association have voiced .their approval. At the present time Saratoga Springs is the only track of the big four which boasts a clubhouse. The structures used at Jamaica and Aqueduct before the • advent of the mutuels were razed when the new stands were built, and a section of these structures was set aside as clubhouses. Belmont Park has a clubhouse, but it has been idle for many years or since the time that the English method of racing was abandoned. When it opened Belmont Park featured racing clockwise, with the finish line down where the Widener Course adjoins the main track. This building is now used as a store room and headquarters for program printers. Some years ago some ideas were advanced for the use of the building such as turning it into a dormitory or hotel for visiting trainers. This fell through and then the late Joe E. Widener ordered a study of what it would cost to move the building to the site picked out for the new building. The cost was found prohibitive and that fell through. However, as the boys and girls often remarked, Belmont needs a clubhouse and maybe some day in the not too distant future their wishes may be realized. AAA "Woody" Stephens is the busiest commuter between here and Baltimore, five round trips this week with a couple of more days to go before the Preakness... George M. Odom is showing rapid improvement in his battle against the virus. War Poppy, owned by Mrs. E. S. Moore and one that he- itrauisiJielpedialong jWhen,Jie w.qnj * Plan New Clubhouse at Belmont Woody1 Stephens Busy Commuter Exodus of Jockeys to Pimlico Drinkhouses Have Something New the other p. m The Miami delegation on hand received a new addition yesterday when Bill Reese, an adopted son, checked in to remain for some time. . .And speaking of Miami, the Florida city was in the limelight yesterday when the Charfran Stable racked up a double. This menage is owned by Charles and Frances Cohen of that city. AAA Don Ameche, of the films and teevee, was on hand during the afternoon. He is undecided about the Preakness now that Hill Gail will be an absentee. . .Arthur Loew, the theatrical man who has a few horses in training, was on hand yesterday. . .Spencer Drayton, of the TRA, came out to say hello . . .Bob Pinkerton gave the layout the onceover and reported everything normal, that is except picking a few winners. . .Ogden Phipps is a regular these afternoons and was somewhat disappointed in the failure of his starter, His Duchess, in Wednesdays opener. . .Al Light, "Mr. Realtor" from Jamaica, forgot all about lots, sub-divisions and house hunters for the afternoon. He had been on the ailing list for the past month. . .Mr. and Mrs. Nick Manero came down from the fastness of Greenwich, Conn., to witness the running of the midweek program and forgot about restaur-anting for the day... Joe Brown, the New Orleanian, showed up and promises to remain over for the Belmont.*. .Jim McCue, master of Brae-Burn Farm of which Star-Enfin is the prize member, accompanied by his brother Jock, flew up from Miami for the afternoon... Johnny Coburn, a three-time victim of illness this spring, the first was virus, apparently shook off the germ and came out to say hello. AAA Charles Raynor has taken over the training of the horses owned by V. L. Shea, according to that owner. . .Joseph P. Kennedy, formerly of the ambassadorial set, was a clubhouse visitor during the afternoon. . .Herman Delman, of the Dell Stable, was on hand yesterday to witness the running of the National Stallion. . .Frank Stevens, president of the Stevens Crabbing ,an4 Fishing, Assocpri, p%13781xnjygDot on the lawn and watched the different events between listening to the ball games . . .Jockey W. J. Passmore will go to Garden State this week-end to ride Anchors Aweigh, owned by the Cain Hoy Stable, in the Betsy Ross Stakes... The exodus of jockeys to Pimlico for the Preakness will start tomorrow. McCreary, Arcard and York head the list. . .The M. F. Drinkhouses came up with something new in the racing world. The colts race in her name while the fillies in the menage perform in his colors. The world evidently has changed around. AAA Frank Bambera, the ambassador at large for Jamaica, reported that every stall on the ground is occupied, including the receiving barn. . Dominick Fiandola, well maybe you dont know him by that name but he drives the ambulance at Jamaica and is known as Mimi. The other morning he made like a hero but, alas and alack, the results were not so good. It seems that one of the canines at Jamaica treed a cat and Mimi, the good Samaritan that he is, chased the dog and climbed the tree to rescue the feline. The latter evidently resented being rescued and let go with both front feet all claws unbared. Mimi has a nice collection of scratches across his face and the doctors and nurses got in some first aid practice. The feline later descended from her lofty perch and then chased the dog.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1952051601/drf1952051601_4_2
Local Identifier: drf1952051601_4_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800