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V,! i 1 m . ] I Chicago Downs1 Annual Trot Meet Opens at Sportsmans Park Tonight e p l 1 j j 0 • j 0 0 ° j | 0 . is ■ ■ n 10 io Is .90 30 10 J J jo 10 r Jg .80 30 10 30 10 * ■ 5,000 Pacing Derby Top T ► Race of Session; Dr. Cooper Among Nine in Inaugural SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111., June 21. — The Chicago area harness season j ■ moves to Sportsmans Park in Cicero Mon- t day night as Chicago Downs begins its 42- * night season. J Consistently the most successful harness 1 track in the Middle West over its three- i year reign, Chicago Downs officials predict its biggest season for this meeting, which £ runs through August 9. Last seasons mutuel handle average was more than 17,000. The climax of the meeting will be the 5,000 Sportsmans Pace on August 8. The race has 77 entrants, which will be screened in a series of "Derby Trials" during the third week of the meeting. Most of the Midwests big name pacers are entered in the largest stakes event ever held in the Chicago area. The trials will also be respon-0 sible for the distribution of another 3,500 in purses, making the Derby worth 8,500 in all. Racing secretary Jerry Baier explains that the Derby Trials, plus the large purse offered for the climax, will keep the big name horses on the grounds for most of the meeting. "They are all assured of big purses almost every week, besides the jackpot of 5,000," he said. "So they might just as well stay around Sportsmans Park all dur-jjj ing the meeting." Baier also pointed out that the overnight purses will also be generous. The racing secretary declared: "We have a total of 89 stakes events, classed for all the horses on the grounds. This gives owners of large stables a break. If they have one or two free for all horses, and several average pacers and trotters, they can bring the whole stable in and get plenty of racing. This gives us the two real good classes of horses and is the only way to insure get- ting them." In Monday nights opening program there are two stakes events, climaxed by the ,837 Inaugural event. Nine free for all pacers go in the feature, including Doctor Cooper, Goose Island, Caramac, Cash Kirk and Chief Mite. Doctor Cooper has developed into the hot- test horse west of the Alleghenies. The vet - ?ran eight-year-old pacer, owned by Ra- -leigr? Pollard of Carmi, 111., tied the track T ► j ■ t * J 1 i £ _ record at Maywood Park two weeks ago when he went the mile in 2:03%. The performance broke a record that stood since 1948, when the immortal Jimmy Creed was in his prime. A three-year-old trot stake will be staged in the third race for ,380 with 10 entrants. Bills Order, driven by Whitey Ainsworth, and Quick Tip, with Harry Beattie at the reins, will rule as the top favorites. However, such standout youngsters as By-land, Shorty De Ponti, Little Oty and Mr. Andy are expected to cause trouble. Little Oty made his first start as a two-year-old at Sportsmans last year, and had an impressive season. He will be driven by Clarence Curtis. JERRY BAIER — Chicago Downs racing secretary has arranged an attractive opening-night program at Sportsmans Park.
