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Ten Oppose Tom Fool in First Running Of Joe H. Palmer Handicap at Belmont Greentree Ace Takes Up 130 In Six-Furlong Event That Honors Late Turf Writer By BOB HORWOOD Special Correspondent BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 18. — The Westchester Racing Association honors the late Joe Hill Palmer tomorrow with the first running of the 5,000 Joe H. Palmer Handicap, a six-furlong event on the main course which has attracted a fine field of 11, headed by Greentree Stables Tom Fool with 130 pounds. Palmer had for seven years been the turf editor of the New York Herald-Tribune until his sudden death last fall, and had added a refreshing flavor to the daily coverage of thoroughbred racing with his graceful, urbane style, and a reverence for the sporting aspects of thoroughbred racing, which was enlivened with a deft and occasionally mordant humor. The Kentuckian, who came to racing from the English departments of the Universities of Kentucky and Michigan, left an indelible impression, through his ephemeral daily reporting, as well as his many volumes on racing and breeding, and a zest for life that makes this early memorial a welcome gesture. Tom Fool, who will be ridden by Ted Atkinson, would be a short-priced favorite ► if he was racing alone, but he will have a running mate in the disappointing Northern Star, who gets in with 109 pounds. The handsome son of Menow won the Wilson Mile, Grey Lag, Jerome and Empire City handicaps last season, after having been the victim of a prolonged siege of coughing during the spring that left its effect until September, quite possibly preventing him from achieving the championship that had been forecast when he won the Futurity and East View Stakes the previous autumn. Tom Fool came back this spring, vastly improved in appearance and style of going, to win an overnight dash at five and a half furlongs, after being blocked at the halfway mark. Since then, he has trained brilliantly, finishing his preps by blowing out a half in :484/5 on a sloppy track while under a light hold on Sunday morning. Harborvale Stables Dark Peter, 121; F. Ambrose Clarks Tea-Maker and Mrs. Alfred Roberts Eatontown, 114 each; Alfred G. Vanderbilts Whither, 109, and W. Hag-gin Perrys lightweight, Reprimand, 103, appear the chief rivals to the Greentree pair tomorrow. Dark Peter won five of his nine starts last year, including the Toboggan and Roseben handicaps, and was a winner in Maryland before finishing a close third to Continued on Page Thirty-Eight Ten Oppose Tom Fool Today In Joe H. Palmer Handicap Continued from Page Oat Tuscany and Hyphasis in the Toboggan this year. Eddie Arcaro has drawn the mount on the Piping Rock gelding, who | will probably be a strong second choice in the wagering. Tea-Maker has shown little this year, finishing unplaced in the Toboggan last ! out, but is training in much improved style. Eatontown has been racing well in Maryland and New Jersey. Whither finished with a tremendous rush to be third to Gay Grecque and Bryan G. on May 9, in his first outing since the Santa Anita meeting, and may be very dangerous. Reprimand has frequently showed considerable speed and won his last start at Jamaica in clever style. The Palmer Handicap field is completed by Hampton Stables Alerted, 116; Wool-ford Farms Delegate, 111; Phantom Farms Nullify, 105, and Mrs. P. A. B. Widener II.s 1 Pacific Ocean, also 105 pounds. Alerted showed nothing in the Dixie Handicap last out, after having been freshened and his engagement tomorrow appears to be another step toward sharpening him for Saturdays Metropolitan Mile and the Suburban on May 30. A poor work horse. Alerted needs racing to reach his best form. Tom Fool, of course, is also pointing for the Metropolitan and Suburban, but is a "quick" horse who can give a good account of himself in these preliminary sprints. Nullify comes from a dull race in which , he finished far behind Whither, while Pacific Ocean turned in a fair effort behind | Jets Date and Risque Rouge last out.
