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► I Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS Belmont Nearing Golden Jubilee Hallowed Stakes Are Inheritances The Admiral Will Seek Dixie BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 6. — The racing clans will meet at this flower-bedecked racing ground with its big sweeping turns and the Widener course for 39 racing days. The first 37 belong to the Westchester Racing Association and the additional two to the United Hunts. When this session is over the scene moves on to Aqueduct. In the meantime, there will be some racing, most of which the paddock eraner hones will be interesting and profitable, to them at least. They are not worrying about the association or the state. The usual variety of Belmont opening day weather prevailed. The rains, for a change, came during the night but the overhead conditions were muggy, foggy and generally depressing. That might have had some affect on the attendance, that is as far as the Turf and Field membership, the steeplechase set and some of the tourists were concerned, but not John and Jane Doe and the boys and girls of the clubhouse set. They came out early and stayed late. Belmont Park, by the way the track opened on May 4, 1905 and is soon due for a Golden Jubilee, has some traditions, that is, if those hallowed anecdotes amassed in its 46 years of operation, dont forget there was no racing here in 1911-12, can be thus classed. The Belmont Stakes this season, taking a long range view of the mile and one-half race, shapes up as an interesting contest and could easily point the way to the three-year-old champion. Then again it could not. That matter will be decided when starter George Cassidy sends them away, but it is interesting to make conjectures and fool around with ideas relative to the three-year-old situation. Among the hallowed traditions of this racing ground are inheritances from other racing grounds. The Suburban was inaugurated at Sheepshead Bay in 1884; the Manhattan from Morris Park, the Metropolitan from the same track; The Ladies from Jerome Park; the Belmont from Jerome Park; the Champagne from Morris Park; the Futurity from Sheepshead Bay; Jerome Handicap from Jerome Park, this was first run in 1886 and so on. Anyway, these fixtures are worthwhile prizes on which the leading stables focus their sights, take aim and hope for the best. In addition to the trophies, the traditions, there is a little thing called value to the winner that is not scorned by any means. Well, we will be here for 39 racing days and in that period something in the line of racing history will be created for future generations to kick around and come up with that old crack — the horses that raced that year were just soso and not a champion in the lot. Trainer Bob Odom will ship Crafty Admiral, owned by the Charfran Stable, to Pimlico to fulfill his engagement in the Dixie. He will be ridden by Eddie Arcaro. . .Jockey H. Moreno, the hero of the Kentucky Derby, reported this morning and accepted mounts during the course of the afternoon ... A chestnut colt by Grand Admiral from Sheshoon, owned by the New Yorker, Walter Rumpel, was foaled in Virginia on Derby Day. The foaling was long and arduous, lasting over 90 minutes and for a time it was feared that both colt and dam would not survive . . . William Duke, of the state tax auditing department, assigned to the New York tracks was called to his home in Wellsville, N. Y., due to the serious illness of his mother. She is the widow of the William Duke, who trained in France for W. K. Vanderbilt and later here for Gifford A. Cochran, winning the Preakness and Derby with Coventry and Flying Ebony. Colin "Sandy" MacLeod came up from Virginia for the opening and reported that everything was in good condition at the farm. . .Warner Jones, who bred Dark Star and Royal Bay Gem to finish first and fourth in the Derby, is due here for a weekend visit, and then go on to Delaware Park for a brief stay . . A fashion show that attracted the giils from the clubhouse and grandstand was staged during the afternoon . . . Trainer Harris Brown shipped Hi-Continued on Page Thirty-Four Connors Corner By C. J. CONNORS £ Continued from Page Three c Dell to Lexington. Ky.. to enter the stud. , The mare may be bred this spring ... , Trainer Kay Jensen vanned over from here ] to Jamaica 15 horses. The move was brought about by the shortage of room at , this track . John A. Morris, top man at Jamaica, celebrated the close of that meet- i ing by tossing a press box cocktail party ... Harry F. Guggenheim was on hand and ] accepted hundreds of congratulations ten- ] dered on the success of his colt Dark Star ! . . Direct Hit. Bleareau and a few others 1 owned by M. F. Drinkhouse arrived at ] Jamaica from his Mt. Kisco, N. Y., home. 1 They are ready for racing according to re- : ports . Mark Erwin, who serves as stew- : ard for the Florida Racing Commission, : left for his home following the completion of his course in the Cassidy school for 1 officials. i New Yorkers are evincing interest in 1 the Florida date squabble at Tallahassee. They are anxiously awaiting word from that city relative to the actions follow- ing the tie vote in the Senate the other 1 afternoon . Charles Cohen, master of Charfran Stable, will leave for Baltimore on Friday to, witness his Crafty Admiral start in the Dixie on Saturday. Frank "Red" Leatherbury, of the Harborvale Stable, decided to remain over for the week end before moving on to New Jersey and then back to the shores of Mobile Bay for another fling at prosaic business. Tim Mara, the football man. came out to say hello and look over the steeplechase riders. He may find a backfield runner among the lot . . George D. Widener was on hand early for the opening and reported that he was happy that it was not raining. The showers during the night turned the racing strip into a morass, but a sound bottom prevailed . . . Trainer Max Hirsch, of the King Ranch, stated that he will decide over the week end relative to his Preakness candidate. He has a couple of eligibles . . . Track superintendent Neil Boyle had his maintenance force at work on the racing strip a few minutes after training hours, readying the going for the afternoon . . . Clerk of the scales Joe Kyle reported that 55 jockeys had registered to ride at the meeting. This number refers to flat jockeys.
