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CONNORS CORNER By Chuck Connors BELMONT PARK Elmont L I N Y May 5 Times have changed in racing and the daily programs and stake agendas are mute evidence of the fact A decade or so ago an owner who had the luck of being rep ¬ resented by a top notch filly or mare while proud of his pos ¬ sessions often wished that his representative was a colt The reason well a mercenary one for the distaff mem ¬ bers were more or less neglected when it came to big gleanings in their own classifications Yes they could run against the colts for the big prizes many of them did and emerged triumphant The old adage of the racing world that a good colt would beat a good filly handed down from ancient turf history still prevails but today unless you so desire you dont have to match strides The earning capacity of a filly or mare today is far greater than yesteryear and owners and trainers as a rule prefer to run their distaff charges in races limited to their own sex sexA A A A AThe The Acorn was contested today over the mile distance and the monetary value was 20000 Next on the agenda as far as New York is concerned in the matter of prestige is the Coaching Club American Oaks with 50 grand as the lure Then comes the Top Flight Handicap with 25000 added These jround out the Belmont agen ¬ da but over at Aqueduct which follows this meeting are the Gazelle and a new ad ¬ dition named the Distaff These offerings are subsidized at 25 grand each Roaming afield over in New Jersey Maryland and Delaware are some other lucrative offer ¬ ings of which the New Castle at Delaware tops the list money wise that is with a hefty 100 grand added addedA A A A AThe The majority of the presentday filly and mare events are newcomers to the agenda and as yet not entwined with the tradition ¬ al ivy associated with the Gazelle which was first contested in 1887 nor Saratogas Alabama which dates back to 1872 Any ¬ way the Acorn Coaching Club and New Castle are relatively Johnnycomelatelys to the scene but in their brief existence have been looked upon as something to win not only for the monetary award but for the future when matron duties usurp the racing scene As far as the fillies and mares beating the colts the past perform ¬ ance and roster of the important stakes and handicaps are replete with examples examplesA A A A AAnita Anita Peabody owned by Mrs John Hertz was the first filly to enroll her name upon the list of leading money winners in more than a half century This miss as a Big Gleanings for FilliesMares Feminine Racers Not Neglected New Castle Has 700000 Value twoyearold iri 1927 took down 111905 as her purse earnings winning six of seven starts including the Futurity C V Whit ¬ neys Top Flight also a twoyearold four years later winning a couple of futurities the Belmont and Pimlico However no threeyearold or older member of the distaff family ever topped the list of lead ¬ ing money winners Under present day purses such stalwarts of the past as Ben dame Maskette Artful Tanya Princess Doreen Flying Fairy Cleopatra and a few others would have no doubt been formid ¬ able contenders Jack Campbell is on the ailing list with the virus but hopes to be back at his post tomorrow Maurice Gross the man from Lloyds came down from Boston on business connected with the policy covering the members of the Jockeys Guild James Abercrombie of the Pin Oak Stable showed up from his Houston Tex home and plans to remain for some time Howell Jackson the Baltimorean was on hand for the Acorn Jockey Bobby Bauer showed up Florida and joined trainer Steve Rowan for whom he will do some riding Jim Norris who races under the nom de course of Spring Hill Farm came on from Florida and made a brief appearance Clarence Miles president of the Baltimore Orioles accompanied by the reformed tub thumper who changed to advertising Dave Woods were among the clubhouse visitors yester ¬ Jack Mahony was a oneday visitor dur ¬ ing the afternoon He was en route to Pim ¬ lico from Miami Mr and Mrs Walter Marty he was formerly associated with Tiajuana are among the visitors They came east to see the Derby and then journeyed here for a weeks vacation Trainer Jack Lawrence pointed with pride to the fact that Every Hour a winner first time out was bred and foaled at owner Walter D Fletchers Long Island farm Mr and Mrs Milton Litzenberger of Wash ¬ ington D C returned from a European honeymoon and while abroad witnessed the Grand National and other racing He races under the nom de course of the North Hill Farm A party of Torontonians were among those present yesterday namely Eric Cradock of the North Down Farm his man ¬ ager Butch Taylor S Friedman Dave Schultz Cliff Tomlinson and Joe Perkove turf correspondent for the Toronto Star StarA A A A AR R J Kleberg master of King Ranchi planed in for the Acorn in which he was represented by Riverina The King Ranch sister to Assault named Sin Igual G P Maje Odom reported this morning that he had sold his fishing boat on which he hosted many a trainer during the winter months seeking the finny denizens of the Gulf Stream Artie Fertel checked in from Miami and reported that the weather was just the same there as at Belmont rain more rain and nothing but rain The early arrivals were treated to some extra curricular iri the fashion show busi ¬ ness A bevy of models displayed what is the last word in summer time finery for the television audience The weather was not favorable to such getups getupsA A A A AMrs Mrs Charles Shipman Payson of the Greentree Stable was on hand for the after ¬ noon Trainer Eddie Neloy said never again when it comes to flying horses The weather was bad the fog worse and he said the horses stood the trip much better than he did when it came to shrugging off the bumps and nausea Drs F H Wilson and L H Hartwick veterinarians to the Michigan State Racing Commission re ¬ turned to their Detroit homes fpllpwing the completion of their course in the local school relative to the methods used here Reports anent the illness of trainer Bob Odom are none too encouraging from his Garden City home The attending physi ¬ cians are hoping that he can overcome a recent setback setbackA A A A AJet Jet Action a winner yesterday for the Maine Chance Farm will be remembered as the colt who crawled under the screen door of his stall at Saratoga Springs last August and ran away inflicting severe lacerations and was thrown out of training He is a weekend Withers possibility James Cox Brady was on hand yesterday and stated that his Artismo will be a Withers starter Joseph Roebling is a clubhouse regular these afternoons Stephen Laddie Sanford was highly elated over the success of nis Oneida in the hurdle event and this fiveyearold accounted for the first score of the present meeting
