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FRANK PODESTA — Arrived at Hawthorne from his Memphis, Term., home for the remainder of the Lincoln Fields meeting. WeatheTrackCondition To Decide Starting Field Many of Candidates for Lincoln Won Last Races Over Muddy Strip HAWTHORNE, Cicero, 111., June 12.— Weather and track conditions on the weekend may have an important influence on the number of horses which will start in the mile and a quarter Lincoln Handicap on Saturday, final day of the Lincoln Fields meeting here at Hawthorne. The track had just been soaked by heavy rains when the prognosticators began guessing about the probable field 24 hours before the entry box closes Friday morning. Among the more prominent candidates for the Lincoln, several won their latest or recent victories on muddy or heavy tracks. Mikel Farms Illinois-bred False won the j Crete Handicap here on opening day in 1 heavy going, running one of the best races of his career and winning in a fashion which convinced spectators that he doesnt care too much what the track conditions might be. Reuben Kowalls Pur Sang, hero of last years Peabody Memorial, won his first victory of the 1952 season on a muddy track at Golden Gate last March. All three of the Hasty House Farm trio — Ruhe, Seaward, and Inseparable — have demonstrated their respective abilities on "off" tracks. The track was labeled "good" when Ruhe won the Narcissus Handicap, with Seaward second, here on May 31. No fewer than five other Lincoln nominees won their latest victories when the tracks were muddy or heavy. Sam E. Wilson, Jr.s Air Mail won the ,000 Potranco Purse here on May 28 by three lengths on a heavy track, beating Cacomo, Screemin Jack, Tattenham and others. It was heavy, too, when N. G. Bouchards Can Locate won his two latest races by margins of five and eight lengths, respectively. The same track condition prevailed when B. W. Landys three-year-old Plunger scored his latest win by six lengths at Hawthorne on May 17. The tracks was labeled muddy when E. C. Roths Challcote and Mrs. Herbert Herffs Screemin Jack last visited the winners circle. Of all the 15 nominees it appears that Walmac Farms Volcanic is the only one who has shown any dislike for an "off track. Sun and wind could easily remove that distasteful element for the big stallion, who for the past four seasons has been one of the most prominent members of the handicap division. But regardless of track conditions and because of his prestige and well established class, no one is selling the fellow short. The name of Volcanic may head the entry list tomorrow. With three, two, or only one representative. Hasty House Farm is a formidable contender no matter what sort of track conditions tome up.
