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— — ♦ Sportsman7s Meet Shows Increases Average Daily Handle of 32,228 During 24 Days; Bishop and Keene Leaders Sportsmans Park, the popular half-mile oval in Cicero, 111., hard by Chicago, showed an increase in daily average pari-mutuel handle for its recently concluded spring meeting over the corresponding session of last year. However, an equitable comparison of the 1952 and 1953 spring sessions is impossible due to the fact that last years meeting was abbreviated to 12 days because of a failure to reach an agreement with Horsemens Benevolent and Protection Association on purses. The daily average handle reached 32,-228 in this years 24-day meeting, which ran from April 20 through last Saturday, May 16. In 1952, when racing was conducted for only 12 afternoons, the fans wagered an average of 69,009 daily. The 1952 and 1953 spring sessions each comprised five days devoted to charity. However, the daily average attendance for the 12 days last season was slightly better than that recorded in the Sportsmans meeting just ended. In 1952, it was 12,912 on a daily average basis, while this years average daily click at the turnstiles read 11,407. To strike a fairer comparison of the uptrend at Sportsmans this spring, the 1951 figures for 19 days of pre -summer racing showed that a daily average of 9,933 patrons bet an average of 96,254 every day. Attendance of 273,767 Total attendance this year was 273,767 and total mutuel handle 9,973,479. The percentage of winning favorites was above normal, 73 first choices in the 200 races run jogging their way to the winners circle for a .36 mark. Winning second choices numbered 43, with 86 victorious outsiders. There were nine thoroughbreds successful at odds-on, against seven that failed at less than even money. As during the past several seasons at Sportsmans, the perennial leading twosome in the respective owners-trainers and jockeys "races" — William Hal Bishop and Harold "Red" Keene — again held sway. Bishop, who saddled 27 winners. 17 more than his nearest competitor. Marion H. VanBerg, pocketed a neat sum of 0,160 by virtue of 27 firsts. 16 seconds and 12 thirds, plus a goodly number of fourths. The short ends of purses are not computed in the tabular lists. VanBerg also was runnerup among the money-leading owners with 4,370 on 10 winners, six place horses and four in show spots. Keene, meanwhile, far outdistanced and outshadowed his closest rival with 41 triumphant mounts in 142 chances for a creditable percentage of .29. Ronnie Baldwin, who brought in his share of long shots; Willie Cox and Don Wagner tied for runner-up laurels with 16 winners apiece. Second best average by a rider was the .19 hung up by Joe Valenti. Thats how far the red head, who rides for Bishop, outstripped his "field." En Fleur emerged the leading money-winning horse on earnings of 5,475. En Pleur captured four straight events, including two handicaps, before bowing to Continued on Page Forty Sportsmans Park Meet Shows Good Increases Daily Average Play of 32,228 At Recent Session of 24 Days Continued from Page Three Dr. Ole Nelson in the Sportsmans Handicap on closing day, saving the place. Complete Sportsmans Park statistics for its spring meeting follow: April 20 to May 16—24 Days Net distribution 16,800 Daily average net distribution. 1,533.33 Attendance 273,767 Daily average attendance 11,407 Mutuel handle 9,973,479 Daily average mutuel handle. . . 32,228 includes 5-Day Charity Meeting. Leading Money-Winning Owners Owner. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Won. Bishop, W.H. 27 16 12 0,160 VanBerg, M. H. 10 6 4 24,370 Mikel, Mrs. N. M. 9 6 8 18,645 Mitchell, M. M. 5 11 14,665 dleary, J. J. 3 0 0 10,200 Smith, Mrs. S. 4 2 3 10,120 Beals.J. 5 12 9.387 Lowe, R. 3 2 2 8,945 Gregory, J.J. 3 5 2 7,780 Jayne.F.M. 4 12 7,745 Leading Money-Winning Horses Horse. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Won. EnFleur 4 10 5,475 Night Fighter 4 11 6,695 Victoria Cross 3 10 6,645 Dr. Ole Nelson 110 5,900 Albemarle 2 0 1 5,800 Blunt 111 5,500 Cross Ring 2 0 0 4,875 Snapheel 3 10 4,835 Third Division 3 0 0 4,625 Whirlahead 0 3 1 4,600 Leading Trainers Trainer. Wins. Trainer. Wins. Bishop, W.H. 27 Johnston, A. H. 5 VanBerg, M.H. 10 Kalensky, E. 5 Mikel, J. D. 9 Kepler, K.D. 5 Proctor, W. L. 6 Leading Jockeys Jockey. Mts. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Unp. PC. Keene, H. 142 41 19 19 63 .29 Baldwin, R. 110 16 10 12 72 .15 Cox.W. 87 16 12 12 47 .18 Wagner, D. 130 16 16 22 76 .12 Domenico, P. 109 13 19 15 62 .12" Valenti, J. 64 12 10 10 32 .19 Skoronski, A. 84 11 12 7 54 .13 Carroll, W. E. 76 7 7 12 50 .09 Litzenberger, H. 82 7 11 7 57 .09 Bailey, P. J. 39 5 7 2 25 .13 Weissman, M. 43 5 4 5 29 .12 The percentage of winning favorites was above normal, as shown in the subjoined tabulation : Number of races 200 Winning favorites 73 Winning second choices 43 Winning outsiders 86 Winners at odds-on 9 Defeated at odds-on 7 Percentage of winning favorites 36 ■Pd-heat.s
