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CONNORS CORNER i twc*»« AQUEDUCT, L. I., N. Y., June 12.— The Queens County Jockey Club opened its 27-day meeting under favorable weather con ditions with a goodly crowd on hand. Years ago, that is, when men wore straw skimmers, it was known as the straw hat track, for the boys on the lawn wanted some dome covering from the rays of the sun that bounced all around from the concrete lawn. Today it is sort of different, the boys are under cover, and anyway, none but the traditionalists sport the bonnets that sometimes were tempting the horses that were attached to the icemans wagons. These were frequently tethered in front of Sams place on the corner, a rather handy meeting place. Aqueduct has outlined a tempting stake program for the meeting topped by the Dwyer and the hallowed Brooklyn Handicap. These events are down for decision on Saturday, July 5 and 12, respectively, and as a rule attract the "name horses" of each division. The three-year-old division for the present is in something of a chaotic condition, with the most preferred ones on the shelf from injuries or what have you. The older fellows, well they seem to improve with age, and like old man river, keep right on rolling along. By the time the Brooklyn rolls around the players and officials hope that they are still rolling and not in the care of the pill rollers. The news from Chicago was pleasing to the local members of the HBP A and, many of them gave the accolade to J. Samuel Perlman, who acted as mediator in bringing about the settlement. Jimmie Donn, prexy at Gulfstream, tossed a cocktail party for the boys last night. The reports were that a good time was had by all . . . Sam Masons To Market, winner of the Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs, and jockey Willie Boland returned to Belmont Park today. An oddity in To Markets career is the fact that he has never won a race over a New York track . . One Hitter, from the Greentree Stable, and Alerted, owned by the Hampton Stable, runner-up and third, respectively, in the Massachusetts, were reported headed back this way. ..Eddie Kilroe, general manager of Aqueduct, was out early to iron out the few "bugs" that have escaped detection during the pre-opening examinations . Lennie Litwak, track superintendent, reported that the equine population of [ Aqueduct Called Straw Hat Track* Story of Landlords Recent Tally Woodhouse Keeps Whip in Double Jullien Hosts VIP Gathering the course is 614. The others who fill the overnight programs are stabled at Belmont and Jamaica ... Neale Boyle, track superintendent at Belmont, came over to see what kind of a job his protege, Litwak, turned in for the opening. Boyle expressed satisfaction. . .Jockey Ted Atkinson reported back from Suffolk Downs a"nd swung into action during the afternoon. AAA Question: When does a sprinter become a router? Answer: When the nations most adept jockey tells the sprinters trainer to send him a distance! Thats the story of Landlords recent surprise victory in a race at one mile and an eighth. Landlord, now a nine-year-old, has been campaigned almost exclusively in the shorter dashes with varying success. He has been pegged "strictly" a sprinter — and not without reason — until Eddie Arcaro rode him on May 28. Landlord got no part of the rent in that sprint but when Arcaro dismounted he suggested to Lipari that the veteran would be better suited over a route. "Why not send him a mile and an eighth in cheap company," Eddie said. "Hes a lot gamer than you think he is." Lipari did just that on June 2 and Landlord confounded the form-sters by coming from behind to take the big money. Lipari gives Arcaro full credit for the belated discovery that the old-timer can register at more than a mile. But heres the rub: Did Arcaro ride the venerable plater the day he won? Nope! Eddie had contracted to handle another horse in the same race so Lipari gave the mount to Conn McCreary. Eddies horse ran out of the money. AAA Trainer "Red" Wingfield transferred the horses he had at Jamaica to Belmont Park yesterday ... Trainer J. Coleman shipped Aircult and All Fair to Delaware Park for engagements at that track . . . Trainer George Riola shipped Combat Boots and a couple of others to Monmouth Park for engagements over the week-end. They are owned by Mrs. Sara Chait . The paddock gang remarked that jockey Hedley Wood-house did not lose his whip in accounting for the Daily Double offering the final day of the United Hunts. On three previous occasions in races down the Widener course at Belmont he lost that article of riding ►paraphernelia. The boys ascribed the loss of the bat to trying to shift from one hand to the other for whipping purposes . . . Pete Peroni, the old veteran, returned from Camp Langley down Virginia way. The visit was for Pete to get his first glimpse at his grandson born a couple of weeks ago. Pete finally admitted that old age caught up with him . Herb Polesi and Henry Millberg closed out the United Hunts meeting and dug up a flock of new questions for their radio and television show. * AAA Tom Bragg deserted the Connecticut countryside for the gaudier racing colors at Aqueduct . James Cox Brady came up from New Jersey for the afternoon. He will have a big representation at that meeting . . .Horace Wade, the tub thumper for the Monmouth track, lost no time in reporting that Jimmy Breckons will accept mounts at that meeting . Lou ONeil, the ubiquitious scribe from the Long Island Star Journal, has gone on record predicting a brilliant career for the apprentice Ken Peratti who i is under call to Norman Tallman. Peratti is a former kid roller hockey star . . . Cyrus S. Jullien, president of Aqueduct, hosted a ! gathering of owners and VIPS at a luncheon : before the running of the first race . . . Mr. j and Mrs. Kleberg were on hand and the visit was the first in some time for Mrs. Kleberg j . . .F. Skiddy von Stade, the top man at the Union Avenue course of the Saratoga Association, came out to see what happened . . . | William C. Langley, of the state racing i commission, was on hand for the opening ...Ted Husing, of the air waves, pored through the past performances trying to, locate what it takes to greet the cashiers . . | Mr. and Mrs. Christopher T. Chenery were among the clubhouse visitors. . .The mem- j bers of the press gallery were gifted with name plates for their respective stations The plate depicts, in color, the triple dead J heat of the Carter Handicap of 1944 be- I tween Brownie. Bossuet and Wait A Bit and ! is surrounded by a horseshoe . . . Mr. and j Mrs. John B. Kelley of Atlantic City] motored up from that resort to be in for the opening . General and Mrs. Hamilton took a day away from Army duties for the racing panorama here.
