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I * * ■■ "■" mmm ■■ Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS ■ Withers Mile Is Around One Turn Few Rivals for Native Dancer One Count Will Seek Suburban BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 13. — While for the most part attention is focused on the Withers, horsemen J ■ * r ° c ■ is * c * c I * as usual are taking the longer view and studying the condition books not only here but at other tracks for their charges. The Withers over the mile distance, they race around one turn at Belmont Park, and is one of the time -honored stake offerings of the Metropolitan season. David D. Withers, who foster £ J * * * i * £ * 1 I , I 1 1 | * ! 1 ! I t I * 1 I » ed the race that was named for him, was an astute student of breeding and racing long before the turn of the century and his proposed changes in racing and racing rules were looked upon as somewhat radical by the powers that presided during those times. However, his ideas prevailed and racing today is the beneficiary. In regards to the Withers on Saturday the offering will serve as a step in the restoration of Native Dancer to the position that he enjoyed before his downfall in the Derby. The field for the Withers is likely to be on the small side, for in the past quarter of a century the largest to face the starter was 13 in 1944 when Who Goes There was returned the winner for G. D. Widener. The smallest over that span was in 1943 when two others. Slide Rule and Tip Toe assayed without avail to keep up with the "Triple Crown" winner, Count Fleet who raced for Mrs. John D. Hertz. Count Fleet, with Johnny Longden in the irons, sped the distance over a fast track in 1:36. Man o War and Snob II., both in their winning efforts, shaded that time requiring one-fifth less to negotiate the distance. The race was inaugurated at Jerome Park in 1874 and in 1890 moved over to Morris Park and in 1905 Belmont Park took over the feature. August Belmonts Blandy won the 1905 renewal with Willie Davis in the saddle. Davis, by the way, won the first race at Belmont Park astride the same colt. Geldings are not eligible for the Withers and the weight is 126 pounds. This year 64 were named before the closing date of March 16 and of that lot a scant handful wiU be named the day before the race at the usual time of closing. Those predictions are based on the reports and gossip about the paddock and stable area and as a rule when it comes to matters of starters the boys in this respect are generaUy on the ball. New Yorkers, for a few fleeting hours last week, were under the impression that a meeting between Dark Star and Native Dancer would come about in the Withers but that tidbit was negated when Harry F. Guggenheim announced that his colt was going to Pimlico. This old track will stage the Preakness and no doubt many New Yorkers will make the trek to Baltimore for the race and to see for themselves and not take the reports of eye witnesses that such and such happened. Anyway, the John and Jane Does who patronize the grandstand must wait for the Belmont to witness the meeting, that is if both colts come up to the race fit and ready. Trainer Jim Ryan, who a few months ago entertained some ideas of reconverting Royal Vale, owned by Mrs. Esther duPont Weir, back to a steeplechaser has definitely set his sights on the Suburban. His appearance under colors in the Metropolitan is for the moment undecided. Ryan in speaking about bis charge in handicap offerings reported that something he was not sure whether the weights were assigned by Jack Campbell or Jack Cooper. The latter handicaps the steeplechasers ... A filly by Citation from Cosmic Missle arrived at Circle M Farm in Kentucky according to trainer Frank Catrone. Mrs. E. S. Moore, who maintains the pretentious racing stable and nursery will be among those present to witness the running of the Preakness and then head for Belmont Park. Trainer Oscar White of the W. M. Jeffords menage said that One Count would be a Suburban starter. The colt is not eligible for the Metropolitan. . Fred Francis, of St. Augustine, Fla., was among those present yesterday. The visit was his first to Belmont Park in some years . . . Edgar Barnes was a recent arrival and is on the lookout for some horses to train during the Continued on Page Tbirty-Six I ; , 1 c t c c 1 i 1 i 3 c 1 l J 3 Connors Corner I By C. J. CONNORS I Continued from Page Three summer months . . . Trainer Tom Waller re-potted that Auditing is at the farm, Mr. J Kisco, N. Y., and will be returned to training next month for the later summer and fall offerings . . . The horses Lord Admiralty, € e Gloriette and Centenaire, owned by Morton r Weil were shipped in here and turned over to Jack Skirvin to train. Trainer Max Hirsch has about aban- doned hopes of having a starter in the s Preakness for any of his patrons . . . The i is paving of the parking lots at Aqueduct c is completed according to emissaries from c that track. . Jimmy Mas u ire came down t from Saratoga Springs for a look-see at £ some racing . Jockey H. Moreno will go 1 to Pimlico to ride the Cain Hoy Stables c Dark Star in the Preakness Prep. ... c Jockeys Ira Hanford and O. Scurlock re- I turned from filling out-of-town commit- r ments . John C. Clark, president of Hia- d leah, returned from Miami where he s spent several days on business . Trainer t Preston Burch, of the Brookmeade Sta- d ble, reported that some of his two-year- E olds are on the sidelines with bucked 1 shins. f s Trainer Jake Byer may ship a couple of p horses to New Jersey for engagements at t Garden State . . . The second issue of the r overnight condition book for this meeting 0 will be available tomorrow. A trophy will j be presented to the winning owner of the i- is Joe H. Palmer Handicap, which will be a contested next Tuesday over the six-furlong course. . .Trainer George M. Odom reported that Mr. and Mrs. Stefan Zachar of * Miami, Fla., he has several horses in train- ing here, are en route for a visit. Mr. i] Zachar, an architect of that city, was busy e during the spring season drawing plans for * hotels and housing developments in the * Bahamas . . Jockey Jim Nichcls will go to B Pimlico to ride on Saturday for James Cox ij Brady. f
