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► r Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS Rain, Fog Dished Up at Belmonf Dixie Handicap to Draw Stars Jose Zacour Guest of Campbell BELMONT PARK. Elmont. L. I., N. Y., May 7. — New York City, according to all the statistics, is the greatest tourist point in the new world. However, the natives do not go around and brag about the title and, furthermore, never blat from the roof tops that the weather is unusual, they just cuss and let it go at that. Anyway, the weather is unusual and has been for the past month or so, and when it will change for the better is anyones guess. This morning was no exception to the brand that has been dished out by old man Jupe Pluvius and, to make it worse, he tossed in a deep layer of clouds which produced a lifelike facsimile of a London fog. The main and training tracks at Belmont Park were blacked out and it was mid-morning, 9:00 oclock before the work-watchers could get a line on the horses who were on the track. A fog at a race track is just as eerie as one in a city and the ghostly shapes of horses that herald their advance by a series of clop clops through the mud and slop loom into vision for a second or two and then disappear into the water -soaked mists permit no proper identification. Take a glance at the work tab this morning and there is the proof that although many horses might have worked through the fog, their respective identities are a well guarded secret except to the stable, and to old Pluvius, who showed up as a colleague to befuddle the work-watchers. Just the same, Belmont Park got off on the right foot yesterday, the opening was good, better than anticipated due to the weather, and some interesting racing prevailed. The Native Dancer - Dark Star Kentucky Derby cause celebre was mentioned a few times during the afternoon by members in good standing of the paddock gang, but as the boys pointed out that race is in the book and will not be rerun this year and let it go at that. They were more interested in the outcome of the days big event and the other stakes and handicaps on the agenda. The Dixie down in Maryland got quite a play from the boys as they discussed the departure of this one or that one for the race, their jockeys, weight assignments and probable track conditions. That was a big item in their summation of the race and propounded such an amount of "if s, ands and buts," that a totalisator would be needed to keep up a proper tabulation. That New York will be well represented at Pimlico on Saturday goes without saying. The handicap stars will be there while the Acorn takes the spotlight here. The Acorn is over the mile distance and for three-year-old fillies. Jack Campbell looks for a good-sized field in the dash and a biggei one if the track is real fast. At private terms Sam Renick acquired from William Goadby Loew the campaigner John Barlycorn . . . Chief Fanelli and Fast Cash, owned by M. F. Drink-house, were shipped to Garden State for stakes engagements at that track. La Cor -redora. owned by Mrs. Marian OConnor, of Chevy Chase, Md., was returned to Pimlico following her engagement in the Firenze at Jamaia . . . George H. Walker, who a couple of decades back raced the pretentious Log Cabin Stable, was a first time visitor during the afternoon. . .Mrs. C. O. Iselin sailed for Europe yesterday for a summer vacation. She will be back in time for some Saratoga Springs racing. . .Jockey J. Westrope will go to Pimlico to ride Royal Vale, owned by Mrs. E. duPont Weir, in the Dixie Handicap on Saturday . . . Danny Arnstein, who races under the nom de course of the Starle Stable, did some fancy cussing at the weather that was reminiscent of his days on the Burma Road. Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Sackett were on hand for the opening. They were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. George Sackett. They came up from Virginia ... Wallace Gilroy motored over from nearby Connecticut for the afternoon. . .Vexatious, owned by the Pebblebrook Farm, arrived from Maryland for her engagement in the Acorn over the weekend. . Jose Zacour, of Cali, Colombia, which is in South America, was a clubhouse guest during the afternoon. He witnessed several races in company with that Continued on Page Thirty-Four Connors Corner By C. J. CONNORS Continued from Page Three astute veteran John B. Campbell and reported that the racing in his native city and at Lima was exceptionally good this past summer, that is winter to us. ... J. Bowes Bond came up from Pimlico, saddled Tuscany for Mrs. Sam Pistorio, picked up the velvet from the Toboggan Handicap and hurried home. . H. B. Massey, master of Grandview Stable, is due in from his Pittsburgh. Pa., home tomorrow for a few days visit. His horses are here in charge of trainer E. E. Russell. . . R. C. Winmill was among those present yesterday. Mrs. Fifi Widener came up from her Palm Beach, Fla., home for the opening and will remain for some time. Mrs. W. J. Salmon was a clubhouse visitor for the opening . . Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. HeUer, of Lester Manor Stable, showed up early. He reported t*»at the horses in the menage are rounding too steadily . . . Ashley T. Cole, of the racing commission, was an early arrival . . Tom Murphy, the old trotting horse man, came down from Syracuse for a look-see at the Toboggan and the other races . . . Jorge Contreras, under call to Horatio Luro, arrived from Churchill Downs and reported ready to ride for the remainder of the meeting. . Eddie Bren-nan motored over from nearby Monmouth Park to take in the opening and make a few notes . . . Sterling Young of the Jockeys Guild, returned from a trip to the hinterlands and was mum about the Hollywood Park situation . J. M. Roebling came over from his Trenton, N. J., farm for the afternoon. Trainer Syl Veitch will ship Cold Command, owned by C. V. Whitney, to Pimlico for the Dixie . . Mrs. E. duPont Weir came up from her Wilmington, Del., home for the opening day . . . Harry F. Guggenheim was on hand for the opening and reported that his Dark Star would be shipped to Pimlico in ample time for the Preakness Trial. He will, of course, be ridden by Henry Moreno who got a reception from the grandstand patrons as he paraded postward for the opening race yesterday . . . Alerted, owned by the Hampton Stable, is a Dixie possibility at the present . Arthur W. Abbott showed up in time for the opener and reported that Woody Stephens is convinced that his Blue Man will stand training. The four-year-old may be shipped this way later in the summer . . . John C. Clark," top man at Hialeah, canceled his reservations for the opening day but will be out on Saturday . . Leo Edwards, the Miamian, relayed word this far north that he would desert Miami for a look-see at some Belmont Park racing.
