Judges Stand: Arlington Season Begins Auspiciously Fillies Entertain in Mid-Week Features, Daily Racing Form, 1953-06-23

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tSMi JUDGES STAND *y charles hatton ""~flBkandH ARLINGTON PARK, Arlington VKfW Heights, 111., June 22.— The season ffijliy " here at Arlington, the Ascot of the - vA JKhNHF Midwest, began with a record opening kBhP , attendance and very probably crowds MHk *Sih| and play will exceed the average of Hfc: -M 16,657 who wager ,117,622 last sum-.|UkVH mer. Lincolns interim meet at Hawthorne brought an uptrend in play of about three per cent, despite atrocious weather most of the time, and some rather small fields. The- opening day attendance found the vast Chicago course looking inviting and restful as ever. Few courses have a setting so lovely as Arlingtons, where nature seems to smile pleasantly from the emerald vista of the prairie and there is nearly always a breeze. The Primer was the forerunner of a .series of 15 more of the richest stakes events in America, and in the course of the season we may expect to see virtually every championship contender in training. Ben Lindheimer feels that the Classic, in particular, will be of national interest this summer. It will be the vehicle for showing Chicagoans the brilliant Native Dancer, probably versus his tenacious rival, Jamie K., and the mile distance and 93 .eligibles suggest a sizable field for this 00,000 on July 18. By the way, it occurred several weeks ago that perhaps "The Dancer" has been competing with a generally better lot of three-year-olds than some of the outstanding developments in this division in late years. When Jamie K. escaped the Vanderbilt stars orbit in the Leonard Richards, he beat the old track record. There is also an- interesting prospect that Arlington will lure Green-trees flash, Tom Fool, current leader of the handicap division, He is expected to be nominated for the 5,000 Arlington Handicap, for which entries close July 1. AAA The seasons leading three-year-olds fillies, a gay and capricious lot, will entertain in mid-week stakes both here Arlington Season Begins Auspiciously Fillies Entertain in Mid-Week Features Improve Facilities for Stable Personnel New Conveniences for Arlington Patrons on -Chicago pastoral North Side and at New Yorks cozy Aqueduct. The local Artful is expected to place Cerise Reine versus Bubbley once again, while the Gazelle brings together Grecian Queen and the Queens Plate heroine, Canadiana. And each race promises a good show. At the moment, the question of supremacy in this division is unanswerable, but it vwould not surprise us were Grecian Queen to win the honors. Indeed we are not sure_ she wasnt the beskof them last season at two, actually Though Mrs. Whitakers filly is not unlike her rivals in that her form has been sort of equivocal, the CCA Oaks was a revelation of her depth and class. She killed off Cerise Reine on the pace in that meandering mile and three furlongs, then courageously produced another run to withstand Sabette down near the finish. Grecian Queen is expected to point for the 00,000 New Castle at Delaware Park following the Gazelle. She is in none of Arlingtons early closing stakes, but may be made eligible for the mile _ 0,000 added Arlington Matron on July 29. AAA Ben Lindheimer is concerned abouttthe comforts of the stable personnel as well as the patrons at Arlington and Washington. The recreation rooms at both parks have been remodelled and the furnishings include TV sets, billiard tables, libraries and table tennis, sets. The custom of providing free movies and refreshments for the stable men and boys on Tuesday and Friday evenings will be continued. And Washington Park is to have a baseball diamond, that at Arlington has proved so popular. Lindheimer hopes to further expand this operational item, and is of the belief that it will assist owners and trainers in obtaining good employes. He points out that Arlington and Washington are countryside courses and hopes the new facilities "will make life more pleasant for the stable personnel. They are entitled to the comforts and recreations." In addition to the conveniences and diversions for the stable employes, Arlington and Washington have an elaborate safety program in the backstretches, what with their own fire department, patrol cars and 24-hour doctor and hospital service. AAA The amenities for the public this season also include several innovations. For one thing, the parking space has been increased to accommodate 2,400 more cars, for a total capacity of 14,000. There are more box seats. And Arlington has introduced the Daily Double in Illinois. The new doubles -machines also dispense tickets on combinations in and 0 denominations. There are more modern stands than Arlingtons, but none is functionally any better, and indeed this one is the model -of many of them. It has a seating capacity of 24,000, including the lawn accommodations, and is spacious and gracious in design, with wide mezzanines, elevators, pleasant lounges, sweeping lawns and convenient air-conditioned restaurants. Really one of the finest tracks in America, comparable to Belmont in the East and Santa Anita in the West. Arlington also is the setting for some of the "toughest," most contentious competition of the entire racing season. Horses annually assemble here from both coasts and compete with Midwesterners. Turfmen racing on the California or New York circuits usually can study the conditions books and have a fairly clear idea of what Continued on Page Thirty-Nine I JUDGES STAND I By CHARLES HATTON Continued from Page Forty-Eight horses they have to beat. But as one trainer here put it, "Every time I think I am about to win a race, three horses I never heard of run me out of the money." AAA Turf ana: Arlington and Washington welcome children. A Michigan commission rule excludes them from Detroit tracks, though the legality of this regulation is questionable. . . . Labor boss, Ray Carrolll of the Motor City, recently suggested a referendum on mutuel wagering in a paid newspaper advertisement. There is a movement to capture his union. In retaliation he would "pull the house down." . . . Arlington now can stable 1,550 horses on the grounds. . . . Former senator, Walter Coleman recently eluded1 a move to draft him into HBPA office. . . . Plain -Ben Jones may introduce Two Leas two-year-old sister, Miz Clementine, ,t this meet. . . The sta- | ble help situation at Detroit is described as desperate. . . . Eddie Arcaro will ride the Calumets during Arlington and Washington.


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800