view raw text
■!»j.Uvkiw!!.,---.J!Wi.»,i ■ ™*™ ► : r ]♦ Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS * Small Metropolitan Field Looms Tom Fool, Royal Vote May Vie Jockey Warren Lane Sidelined BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 20. — How many starters in the Metropolitan? That is the burning question ■!»j.Uvkiw!!.,---.J!Wi.»,i among among the the paddock paddock set set among among the the paddock paddock set set and the boys admit for once that they are flying about the sonic barrier looking for the answer. The Metropolitan is over the mile distance and, after a careful study of the weights as released by that astute veteran John B. Campbell, the field will not not be be of of gigantic gigantic size. size. ■ ™*™ not not be be of of gigantic gigantic size. size. The handicap division, which generally at this time of the year nudges the three-year-olds off the pedestal titled public interest, is being depleted day by day. Crafty Admiral is on the. sidelines and One Count was not named for the Metropolitan. That eliminates two of the stronger potentials from the calculations. The emergence of Tom Fool, his Joe Palmer Handicap effort yesterday was a top one, is looked upon as the one that might dominate the entire situation before the season is many days older. Tom Fool was not started in the Derby as a three-year-old. He developed a fever following the Wood Stakes and was thrown out of training until late in the summer or early fall. This respite from the arduous tasks of training and racing apparently reacted in his favor, for he came back to the races a strong, stout colt and his efforts to date have been a shade better than good. Tom Fool was one colt who shattered a legend that grew up among the professionals that one who "busts" through the starting stalls before the start is automatically eliminated. This myth was fashioned out of pure phantasy for, it is true that last year some 10 or 15, probably more starters, "burst" open the starting stall gates and ran away a short distance and then in the real racing failed to finish in the first four. Jamaica was the breeding ground of this legend and it was hard to believe how much credence many placed in the tale. However, Tom Fool bust that into a cocked hat when in his first start he broke through and then when it came to racing his opposition was lucky to finish. But getting back to the Metropolitan, Tom Fool, Royal Vale, those two alone would make a good race of it. Intent, Golden Gloves, Count Turf, High Scud and Raes Reward at the moment loom up as starters. The study of the probable field caused several to remark, "What became. of the handicap division?" Trainer Red Wingfield checked in at Jamaica with a quartet of horses to be raced locally during the summer months . . . Dr. Luis Reverso, of The Jockey Club of Lima, Peru, is here on a months visit. He serves as veterinarian for The Jockey Club and while here will study the systems of identification and pre-race examination as practiced here. Trainer Frank Barnett reported that X-ray pictures of the two-year-pld Revolt, taken over the week end, revealed no injuries. The colt came up with a soreness that for a few days had everyone mystified. The pictures were then ordered and set at rest all doubts. The colt was in good condition this morning and was galloped for the first time in a week and showed no ill effects. . .Trainer Johnny Theall is all at sea and wondering what a man should or could do to win a race down the Widener course. Theall has started two-year-olds and older horses on the straightaway for the past 17 years, and that includes some good ones, but the best he could do was to finish second. There must be something wrong or some hidden reason, the New Orleanian opined. Jockey Warren Lane, who cut quite a swath at Jamaica and here, is on the sidelines for a week or so. He was grounded by the doctors when they located a pulled muscle in his back which was aggravated by a cold. Lane, who hails from Newark, Del., hopes to get back into action next week . . . Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Ziegler were on hand yesterday and not unduly disappointed over the showing of the two-year-old Gallant Task who raced on the inside all the way . . . Trainer Jim East returned to Garden State after the running of the Joe H. Palmer Handicap for which he saddled Eaton town. East sprung something new in head gear on the paddock gang when he showed up Continued on fog* Forty Connors Corner By C. J. CONNORS I Continued from Page Four with a tapestry cap, an import from old England. . .Fred Hume, the adopted Mi-amian via New York, was among those present the past few days. Mr. and Mrs. Sam DiGorgio, of the fruit and vegetable family, they have a few acres scattered in Florida, Texas and California, were on hand for the afternoon . . . Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Roberts came up from their New Jersey home to witness their Eaton-town race during the afternoon. . .Louis Lazare reported yesterday that the two-year-old Soto Voce would be shipped to Garden State to fulfill a stake engagement at that track later in the month. Trainer Bill Hicks will make the trip to saddle the miss. . .Phil Iselin and Eddie Brennan, of the Monmouth Park Association, were on hand for the afternoon. . .F. Eugene Dixon, who has a draft of horses in training here and New Jersey, reported the arrival of a nine-pound son at his Philadelphi home. The arrival showed up the day Belmont Park opened which brought the wider smiles to uncle George D. Widener as he surveyed the scene. Russ Ellis, the horse artist, is here and this time is doing some lobby work in the interest of a bubble bath for horses. The gadget is turned out by the Reid Hospital Supply Company of Louisville, Ky. . . . Trainer John Partridge will pull out for Pimlico tomorrow to suupervise the final details relative to Jamie K. in the Preakness. . .Granny Rice, the granddaddy of sports writing, was discharged from the Roosevelt Hospital today. He underwent treatments for a stomach disorder, which Greasy Neale attributed to too many Daily Doubles of the wrong type . . . Believe it or not, a heavy fog wrapped itself around Belmont Park on a couple of occasions this morning and interfered with training schedules. . .Track superintendent Lennie Litwak at Aqueduct reported that every stall on the grounds is allotted for the meeting . . . Trainer Max Hirsch has named To Market, owned by the King Ranch, for several Garden State engagements.
