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► ■ : | Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS Weather Cuts Down Belmont Gate Directorate Approves Projects . ■ Vanderbilt Disposes of Whither BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 15. — Are you interested in figures? Well, if soT the attendance at Belmont Park is off 1.9 per cent and the "tote" play is i down four per cent over last year at this date. However, at that, you dont have to reach, for the crying towels, for when the fall season rolls around this spacious racing ground will be doing business at the same stand and doling out the green stuff for overnight races, handicaps and stake offerings, plus the upkeep of the grounds and a few salaries here and there to the men who keep the grounds in tip-top shape. The gate drop is not a surprise to anyone. Who wants to go racing in the rain, cold and what have you that prevailed this spring? Belmont Park had three of its best days ruined by old man Jupe Pluvius despite his promise of being good to the horse-players on the days that the big ones were contested. He ruined the Withers, the Suburban and on Saturday the Belmont by collaborating with the raincoat and umbrella makers. Well, thats all water over the dam and, when the fall season rolls around, will no doubt be forgotten. The Belmont Park directorate met in conference the other afternoon and the cost of installing sprinklers in every barn ! was gone into. The estimate was approved and a little matter of 50,000 was earmarked for the project. Eight of the long barns are so equipped at present. The pipe and equipment for twelve more have been assembled and the others will be brought up to the proper requirements when the horses are galloping at winter tracks or resting at Aiken or Columbia . down South Carolina way; The matter of a turf course was also given a bit of study and the reports of a few experts, who were assigned the job of surveying the layout and the probable cost, were favorable. The paddock gang reported gleanings from the grapevine that the opposition to the grass project is about ready to" toss in the towel and by next spring who knows but that a turf course will be ready and Belmont Park will offer that first type of presentation since the days of Sheepshead Bay. By the way, Hampton Court, that Sam Hildreth raced, won the last grass race in New York. Another little matter that came up for consideration was where to park the automobiles. That is a ticklish proposition. Belmont Park is big. If you dont believe it, try walking around the grounds some after-; noon, and then you will get a real good idea of the size. Anyway, despite the falling off in the gate, the tote play and the rain and the cold weather, the official family reached down into the bankroll and set aside a bundle of money for improvements. With an upsurge in both departments during the fall the expendi-; tures will no doubt be on a larger scale. * A. G. Vanderbilt left for Paris, France, yesterday to attend the convention of the World War Wounded, of which he is a director. . . . Zolton Gombos, chairman of the Ohio State Racing Commission, came on from Columbus, Ohio, for the Belmont. . . . Sir Ashley Sparks, the steamship man, was on hand to represent England for the duplication of that countrys famed classic, the Epsom Derby. . . . Howard Marchman, of the Crandall Park Jockey Club, was among those present, as were Paul Warren and Milton Ellis of the same association and the newly formed syndicate that acquired the Cleveland Browns football team: At private terms, trainer Bill Winfrey, acting for A. G. Vanderbilt, sold the four-t year-old, Whither, to Mrs. Howard Reine-r man of Chicago. The colt was shipped . west to be turned over to Larry Thompson to train. . . . Col. K. R. Marshall, of the t Ontario Jockey Club, Woodbine Park, To-. ronto, Ont., was on hand for the big week . end. . . . John DeBlois Wack, who main-l tains a pretentious menage in training, witnessed the Belmont from the Turf and T Field enclosure. . . . John A. Morris, F. Skiddy von Stade and Cyrus S. Jullien, a I trio of presidents of local racing associa- tions, extended the sympathies to George Continued on Page Forty~Three "*" Connors Corner £ By C. J. CONNORS Continued from Page Fire D. Widener on the miserable weather that prevailed. Nelson I. Asial, who has not missed a Belmont in some time, was pres- ent. . . . Asley T. Cole and Leon "Jake" — Swirbul, of the racing commission, came out early so as not to miss anything during the afternoon. n Ernie Heider, he was the first trainer for the Sagamore Stable of Mrs. Mar- G garet Emmerson of Baltimore, made his -n first appearance in a decade. He retired § from the racing ranks, but makes his 2 home in Queens Village, which is a coun- try mile from Belmont Park. . . . Ralph |jj Kircheval, manager of Sagamore Farm m in Maryland for A. G. Vanderbilt, came g up to root for the gray ghost. . . . Mrs. Edward S. Moore, mistress of the fash- ionable Circle M Farm, was among those present, deserting Delaware Park for the c afternoon. . . . The work on the racing Z strip at Jamaica is completed and was m opened, in full, this morning for train- j£ ing moves. The strip was regraded and - screened. Joe Boyle came up from Miami for the w big race.. Art Rooney, the Pittsburgher, who has the Shamrock Stable and the Steelers, the latter a football team, reported that he had bred four mares to the imported High Bandit this spring . Dr. Julio Perriterra, the Havana, Cuba, racing enthusiast, planed up from the island for the big race and then decided to remain over for a few days. . .Morris Nadler, the Flushing, N. Y., auto man, forgot about automobiles for the day. Jimmy McTague has a draft of horses in training for him . . Irving Gushen, the New Englander, was among the early arrivals . Dr. and Mrs. Curtis Haggard, he is chairman . of the Florida State Racing Commission-witnessed the big race from the clubhouse enclosure . . Dave Jones, of Cleveland, who is in the syndicate that acquired the Cleveland Browns, was among those present for the afternoon. Johnny Shapiro, of Laurel, came up from Baltimore, tarried long enough to witness the Belmont and then boarded a plane for the trans-Atlantic hbp. His mission to bring back the nominations of Europes top-notchers for the second running of the Washington, D. C, International at Laurel this fall. He was enthusiastic over the prospects . Ev Clay, ye tub thumper at Hialeah, conferred with John C. Clark, between races and accompanied T y Mrs. Clay, headed for Delaware Park. Business as usual is his motto •. .Joe- Seider,. the motion picture, man, braved the elements and stayed to the finish. "No use walking out before the picture is over" was his comment. Allan Brewer, the artist, was among those present and reported that he is busy on several oils. He completed Royal Gem U., sire of Royal Bay Gem, for Warner L. Jones of Goshen, Ky., and will deliver a painting of Atalanta to owner John W. Galhreath in the near future. . .Clyde Troutt before shipping to Monmouth Park said that whichever way Native Dancer goes, he will head in an opposite direction. Well Clyde, according to Bill Winfrey, the. gray ghost is destined for the Dwyer at Aqueduct and then a taain ride to Chicago for the Classic, and American Derby. Now Clyde you know what you can do. . A trio of jockeys left Belmont Park for Randall Park to ride in the Jockeys Invitational day purse. H. Woddhouse, J. Contreras and A. Widman packed their boots and saddles but are due back tomorrow... The tourists who showed up in the press box on Saturday checked out for their respective homes and sincerely hope that, their employers who manage different race tracks can lure Native Dancer and Jamie K. in a repeat performance.
