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Crowd of 10,000 Witness Fairmounts Opening Card FAIRMOUNT PARK, Collinsville, 111., May 22. — Racing under the lights got away to a grand start here at Fairmount Park last night when a crowd of over 10,000 racing fans were on hand to usher in the 1953 season. Despite the fact that rains threatened most of the night the patrons sent 21,322 through the windows for the nine races. This is an increase of over 9 per cent over that of last years opening night which would indicate that the 1953 season will go far above expectations. Wild Teddy from the stable of T. Koonce romped home three-quarters of a length winner to account for the winners share of the Inaugural Purse event to turn back Teapoy and Miss Taggs. Wild Teddy began rather slowly but was not long in getting into best stride under the piloting of apprentice K. Griffith. The five-year-old daughter of Saladin and Sun Mite worked her way up steadily while saving ground and being best, got up in the last sixteenth to take the lead from the pacesetter Flaming Bush. The six furlongs Inaugural was run in the good time of 1:12%, which was only one-fifth of a second slower than the fastest race of the night. Wild Teddy returned .00 to her faithful backers.
