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♦ Summers Benefits By Dunn Decision Trainer of Correspondent Gives Own Boy a Chance; No Reflection on Arcaro PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 22.— The jockey who succeeded Eddie Arcaro as Correspondents rider for the Preakness and the trainer who made the switch see no reason for anyone to get excited about the change. And most of all they insist that by no stretch of the imagination can there be any reflection on Arcaro s ability because of the change. Robert George Summers will pilot Mrs. Gordon Guibersons Correspondent in the Preakness and he was given the mount by Wally Dunn, who trains the Guiberson string. Correspondent was ridden in the Kentucky Derby by Arcaro and finished fifth. Dunns decision to use Summers in the Preakness actually should cause no surprise, the Canadian trainer said, "Summers has been riding for me for about two years and he was successful with our horses in California during the winter, so it was only fair that he be given a chance in one of these big races," Dunn explained. "You cant expect to have a rider give you his services regularly unless you let him ride the good ones in your barn." The combination of Dunn and Summers is a Canadian one, for the jockey hails from Winnipeg, although he now makes his home at Arcadia, Cal. He started his riding career in 1941 in western Canada and registered his first victory that year on Just Betty at Victoria. Canadian Apprentice Leader in 1942 As an apprentice, Summers was the leader in Canada in 1942, and in 1943 he tied for the leadership among all riders in the Dominion. He was under contract to H. C. Hatch. Not long afterward he came east to ride at Woodbine, Dufferin, Thom-cliffe and other eastern Canadian courses. Later still, Summers worked for Lloyd Gentry and while with this trainer made his first invasion of the United States. This was at Rockingham Park in 1944. His record there was excellent for he won 27 races over a three weeks period. Since 1945 Summers has been devoting most of his time to racing in California, although he has made a few excursions to some of the eastern American tracks. This is his first visit to Pimlico. Summers record with Correspondent seems to justify Dunns faith in the jockey for the Preakness. Bob was on the son of Khaled when he broke his maiden at Santa Anita on January 29. Next time out, Correspondent became tangled in the starting gate and did not run his race, finishing seventh. Then Summers piloted him to a 10-length triumph, finished third in the Santa Anita Derby, beaten only a head, and came back on March 7 to score again in an overnight handicap in which he defeated In-vigorator, who was third in the Kentucky Derby. The Canadian ranks Correspondent with the best horses he has ridden, naming among others Sou thar ling ton, winner of the Del Mar Derby, and No Wrinkles, a superior mudder with whom he scored in the Bay Meadows Handicap. Summers is married to the former Eileen Hunt, an American girl, and they have two children, a girl 7, and a boy 3.
