Reflections: Aqueduct Ready for Tomorrows Opening Three-Year-Old Fillies in the Spotlight Sophomores Still Have Busy Schedule Arcaro to Ride at Arlington Park Track, Daily Racing Form, 1952-06-11

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mma .., ""■". j1! -,. ,,:i small iall field field will will go go to to REFLECTIONS I By Nelson Dunstan Aqueduct Ready for Tomorrows Opening Three-Year-Old Fillies in the Spotlight Sophomores Still Have Busy Schedule Arcaro to Ride at Arlington Park Track NEW YORK, N. Y., June 10. With the running of the Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handicap at the United Hunts tomorrow, racing at Belmont is discontinued until fall, but on Thursday Aqueduct opens for a 27-day 27-day meeting meeting that that will will carry carry through through July July mma .., ""■". j1! -,. ,,:i 27-day 27-day meeting meeting that that will will carry carry through through July July 12. While major improvements were banned by government officials, the Aqueduct management has done what is possible, adding more seats and larger parking facilities. The Queens County Jockey Club, which operates Aqueduct, has utilized some land back of the grandstand so that about 1,500 more automobiles can be accommodated. The architects revamped the grandstand with the result that approximately 2,500 more fans will find seats. Opening days Queens County Handicap, unfortunately, comes one day after the Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Suffolk Downs, Downs, and and indications indications are are that that a a sn Suffolk Suffolk Downs, Downs, and and indications indications are are that that a a sn small iall field field will will go go to to the post. On Saturday, the Gazelle, which with 5,000 added is for three-year-old fillies at a mile and a sixteenth, will be renewed. The Calumet Farms Real Delight having moved to Chicago, the Gazelle is likely to draw the best members of that ser and age now campaigning in the East. The Aqueduct track has always ranked high in purse distribution and, for the first 10 days, there is an increase of 1,500 over the 52,000 disbursed during the same period a year ago. While the coughing epidemic raised havoc with the two-year-old stakes on Long Island to date, there wiU be a quickening of interest in the baby division with the running of the 0,000 Astoria for fillies next Monday, the 0,000 Tremont for colts and geldings on June 25 and the 5,000 Great American, which is for all two-year-olds, and is the first event at six furlongs for members of that division. Last Saturday, Ogden Phipps Flirtatious, a daughter of Menow, won the Polly Drummond Stakes at Delaware Park and, in the Astoria, she will undoubtedly meet many of the little ladies who have yet to make their debut. The Tremont and the Great American have often pointed out colts who went on to be important factors in the richer stakes later in the year and have a direct bearing on the championship. To date, Alfred G. Vanderbilts Native Dancer, Ben F. Whitakers Tahitian King, and the Brookmeade Stables County Clare have attracted most attention. While the three are eligible for the Tremont and the Great American, there are many others, such as Count Trim, of whom much is expected. It is much too early to appraise the two-year-olds, even though the four mentioned appear to be youngsters who will take a lot of beating. All the three-year-olds who started in the Belmont, with the exception of Sub Fleet, were named for this Saturdays 5,000 Kent at Delaware Park, but there is a question of whom will journey down to the Wilmington track for this shorter race. The Kent promises to draw a good field, however, for Jampol, Count Flame, Warpath, Pintor and Hannibal are some of those who are likely to start. Next Tuesday, Suffolk Downs will offer the 0,000 Yankee Handicap, for three-year-olds at one and one-quarter miles, and, on the following day, the 0,000 Shevlin at one and one-sixteenth miles will be the feature at the Aqueduct course. As the top three-year-olds have already had a stiff campaign, it is sheer guesswork to attempt naming those who will go down to Wilmington, or up to Boston or remain here. The three-year-old schedule is a rugged one for, before this month goes off the calendar, the Cinema Handicap at Hollywood Park, the Warren Wright Memorial at Arlington Park, and the Leonard Richards Stakes at Delaware will keep the sophomores in action at three centers. Then, on July 5, the 0,000 Dwyer at one and one-quarter miles has drawn the nomination of practically every good three-year-old in the East, including One Count. Blue Man and Armageddon. Eddie Arcaro is going to Chicago for the Arlington Park meeting. One of the reasons for his deserting New York is that he would have an opportunity to ride Hill Gail when he returns to action, and also the crack Calumet filly, Real Delight, who is eligible for the Arlington Matron and other rich events. Arcaro now has accounted for five Kentucky Derbys, four renewals of the Preak-ness, and in riding One Count last Saturday, he tied Earl Sande as the winner of five Belmonts. He still has one Belmont to go to tie Jimmy McLaughlin, who rode six winners of the race that is the third leg of the "Triple Crown." With the exception of the Hopeful at Saratoga, Arcaro has ridden at least one winner of the many major stakes in the East, but his record in the West can stand some bolstering. He has yet to ride a winner of the Arlington Futurity, Arlington Handicap, Arlington Lassie, and the Arlington Matron. Barring accidents, it would appear that with Real Delight, he has the latter race at his mercy. Whether Real Delight is a true champion, or our eastern three-year-olds fillies are only mediocre does not alter the fact that she looked very good in winning the Coaching Club American Oaks. Shortly after the horses of the American equestrian team left for Europe, their destination being the Olympic Games at Helsinki, Whitney Stone wrote us that he was sure our team would give a good account of themselves. Now the cables carry the news that it won the jumping contest at Duesseldorf, Germany, in a contest that is patterned after the Prix des Nations, a feature of the Olympics. The United States team was composed of Arthur McCashin, Major John Russell and Bill Steinkraus and, taking their mounts over 18 jumps, they defeated Argentina, with a mixed British-American team in third place. The cable said, "The Americans had not dared to hope they would show well." We doubted that report for, though the riders realized they had a tough assignment, they went abroad confident they would give a fine account of themselves. With Norman Brinker, these men form a powerful team, and we believe they will fare well in the Olympics, and also in the Prince of Wales Cup in August. It is said that the Prince of Wales Cup is as difficult to win as the international jumping contest at the Olympics.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1952061101/drf1952061101_40_6
Local Identifier: drf1952061101_40_6
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800