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► i Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS Summer Prevue as Aqueduct Opens Paddock Gang on Brooklyn Subject Dub Centerfield Lake Loch Kilroe AQUEDUCT, L. I., N. Y., June 20.— New York racegoers were right at home today at crowded Aqueduct with the thermometer readings edging upwards to the sweltering point and a merciless sun beating down on the concrete lawns that face the clubhouse and grandstand. The boys and girls who came out for their racing were dressed for the weather, tee shirts were de riguer while the gals, well, something new in sunbacked j I | plunging neck-line dresses were the rule not the exception. Summer, officially that is, is due Sunday around noon, but Aqueduct beat the gun and presented a prevue of what is to come. The ice cream peddlers, put in a busy day, while the men back of the mahogany boards doled out more limes and lemons than Florida, Texas or California can produce in any given season. Needless to say, the tart fruit was embellished by some sweetening liquids that reduced the acidulous properties of the yellow colored objects that pass for fruit. The paddock gang met in solemn conclave before the running of the first race, . gave the grounds the customary once over and then retired to a shaded spot in the lee of the Long Island platform to take up some important matters pertaining to racing. The Brooklyn Handicap was the first subject on the agenda and this race to be run on Saturday, July 11, over the mile and one-quarter distance was dissected with consummate skill by the experts. The Brooklyn Handicap was inaugurated in 1887 at Graves-end, which was located in the Coney Island area and since has been preempted by stores, apartment houses and baby carriages. The weather brought on some wishful thinking by the members present and a standing vote was taken that the calendar could be turned back and that product of France be doled out with the largesse that prevailed when Dry Monopole beat Blue Wing and Hildalgo. Well, thats all wine over the dam and the boys settled for another return to history and hoped that Tom Fool from the Greentree Stable would duplicate the feat of Harry Payne Whitneys Whisk Broown H.jot 40 years ago. This fellow won the Metropolitan, Suburban and Brooklyn and in each instance was high weight. Three week ends hence the boys will get the answer providing that Tom Fool stands up and faces the starter, in this instance, George Cassidy. The Brooklyn is one of the time-honored American handicaps and to this years winner will go a trophy, plus a salute from the anti-aircraft guns manned by a detachment of soldiers who are deftly hidden around the park to repel foreign aircraft should war be declared. However, the paddock gang discounted this military maneuver and stated that the guns and soldiers were kept in hiding to keep the boys who believe in the infallibility of 3 to 5 chances from committing rash acts or deeds. One of the stellar improvements in the Aqueduct centerfield is a lake. This body of water in size is comparable to the postage stamp on a large-sized envelope. A fountain squirts merrily as strong as a shower bath at low pressure, and the paddock gang immediately dubbed the new addition Loch Kilroe... One of the coincidences of the meeting is the number 53. This year marks the fifty-third renewal of the Carter, the event closed with 53 nominations and this year is 1953. What more could you ask the Daily Double seller. . . Larry Goldsmith is sojourning in Paris and relating the latest happenings in the American racing world to Laudy Lawrence, the transplanted New Yorker. The latter maintains a racing stable in France and a draft of broodmares in Kentucky. . .Frank Moreno, who accepted several mounts in this area recently, is no relation to Henry Moreno who rode Dark Star to victory in the Derby. Frank was born in Palermo, Sicily, and launched his riding career at Cumberland, Md. Dan Chappell, the Miamian, checked in yesterday and plans to remain for a spell. He reported that the racing: situa- Continucd on Page Forty-Three Connors "Corner By C. J. CONNORS Continued from Page Five lion in the Florida metropolis is set for the next couple of years. . .Jockey Willie Lester packed his boots and saddles and hurried off to Delaware Park where he will finish out that meeting-. . .Francis Dunne received a letter from Jim Wink-field who is galloping horses steadily over the Paris tracks. He recently won a handicap at Longchamp. Winkfield rode for Dunnes father, the late Pat, around the turn of the century and thus is no newcomers to the racing scene. Trainer Jimmy Smith shipped the W. J. Zeigler horses to Delaware Park from Belmont to finish out that meeting. They are destined for Saratoga Springs for that meeting . . . Trainer Norman Tallman will return the. horses that he has at Monmouth Park to Jamaica for the Empire and Saratoga downstate meetings . . Sam McCor-mick, secretary-treasurer of Hialeah, was among those present. He was a luncheon guest of Cyrus S. Jullien, top man at Aqueduct . Eatontown, owned by Mrs. Alfred Roberts, will -be returned to Monmouth Park tomorrow following his engagement today. Henry McLemore, ye ubiquitous scribe, he returned recently from Mexico City, showed up to regale the boys and girls with some new stories anent his racing experiences here and there . . Trainer G. M. Odom reported that Versify and Ros Clag would be returned to Belmont Park following engagements at Monmouth Park . . . The final draft of the horses trained by Kay Jensen were shipped, to Arlington Park. This gives that mentor 40 horses to race in the Midwest. F. Skiddy von Stade left for Saratoga Springs to give the Union Avenue course the once over and check over the stable application list which is extremely heavy this year. However, he reported that few westerners have applied for room for the meeting. . Patrons who buy reserved seats in the clubhouse enclosure are gifted with seat cushions for free. The cushions will be installed over the weekend and be ready for use on Monday . . Major Albert Warner relayed word from Los Angeles that he will be back for the final week of this meeting . C. T. Chenery came up from his Doswell, Va., farm to serve as visiting member of The Jockey Club in the stewards stands : . E. P. Taylors Canadiana was vanned over from Belmont Park to remain here until the running of the Gazelle on Wednesday. Track superintendent Dick Strickland at Jamaica has sunk four caissons, two in the parking lot, one in the centerf ield and the other in the stable area near the six-furlong pole. These caissons composed of concrete, are 18 feet tall and some 10 feet in circumference. The purpose, after they are sunk in the ground, is to serve as traps to catch the rain water and redistribute it into the ground. Strickland ran into a bit of trouble on two sites when the excavators began digging and a few feet below the surface ran into underground streams. The., project is about completed and Strickland -is of the opinion that they will serve the purpose. Jamaica it must be remembered is not connected with the .main sewage trunk lines, due to a clause in the charter which bars privately owned amusement property from full participation.
