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Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS Turf, Chase Race on Same Program Flat Events on Experimental Basis Chance to Compare Public Interest BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 10. The turf at Belmont Park took something of a pounding today. Steeple chasers, a band of platers, contested the third race of about two miles, and later flat runners sped seven furlongs on the grass. It was the second turf race of the meeting for the flat runners. The first was offered on May 1. And that day-there was no steeplechase. Today, with both jumpers and flat runners in action, an opportunity was afforded to compare their popularity. Eight were named to go over the jumps, and nine were carded to race on the flat. The form of the latter was better known to students of the past performances. AAA Turf course racing: here is on an experimental basis. How many more such offerings will be presented is not known. There is no indication whether they will be staged at Aqueduct or Saratoga Springs. AAA Aqueduct, according to some trainers, is not particularly suited to this type of sport because of the sharp turns. But the same men, on the other, hand, consider Saratoga ideal for it. Veterans recall, somewhat hazily, that many, many years ago a turf course was constructed at the Spa. How long it remained in existence and how many, if any, races were contested on it could not be learned. The venture, it was said, was sponsored by the late William Collins Whitney when he was at the helm of the upstate course. AAA Jockey Hedley Woodhouse canceled his mounts for the afternoon. He showed up with an infected finger that will keep him sidelined for a few days . . . Trainer Bobby Green was discharged from the Roosevelt Hospital, following surgery, and is convalescing at his home. He expects to be back at his chores in another week . . . Fred Hume of Miami showed up for the afternoon . . . Trainer Charles Whittingham is toying with the idea of shipping Porterhouse to Garden State for the Jersey Stakes. However, he hopes to get a couple of races under the belt of the Llangollen colt in the meantime. . . . Trainer Syl Veitch of the C. V. Whitney menage stated that Fisherman, owned by C. V. Whitney, is training steadily. Definite plans for his appearance in the Preakness a couple of weeks hence have not been decided. AAA J. M. Seider made his first appearance of the season. He and Mrs. Seider recently returned from a trip around the world and he reported that he had witnessed racing in a half dozen countries . . . James Cox Brady was on hand for the big week end and was none too sanguine that his Artismo could negotiate the footing which prevailed for the Withers . . . Danny Arnstein of the Starle Stable showed up to say hello and compare the local rains with those that prevailed in Florida . . . Nate E. Herzfeld, former top man at Tropical Park, was a week-end visitor . . . Cyrus S. Jullien of Aqueduct came out to witness the Withers ... J. Edgar Hoover and Clyde Tolson, a couple of men about Washington, D. C, were counted among the clubhouse contingent for the afternoon . . . Barney Gimbel, the Thirty-Fourth Street merchandiser, forgot all about sales as he discussed the outlook for the Withers . . . Spencer Drayton of the TRA was among those present . . . W. C. Langley of the State Racing Commission; was on hand. JI A Joe Donohue, New Yorks ambassador to English and French racing, recalled from hearsay that his grand uncle Joe Donohue walked Dublin from the old Guttenberg race track to Jerome Park to start and win the first running of the Withers in 1874. The route was from the New Jersey scene to the Forty Second Street ferry and then up the west side to the old post road and that was that. The colt was also walked back . . . A. T. Cole, chairman of the racing commission, was among those present . . . The out-df-towners over the week end returned to accept, mounts during the afternoon. Bennie Green, Jess Higley, Eddie Arcaro and Jack Wes trope in that order finished one, two, three, four in the Dixie . ... The Camden Handicap at Garden State had a home town flavor. A A Straight Face, owned by the Greentree Stable, was returned from his successful foray in the Dixie . . . Trainer Gene Jacobs shipped Oclirock, owned by Mrs. O. L. Continued on Page Forty-Three I Connors Corner By C. J. CONNORS Continued from Page Four Ostriker, to the farm in Maryland to be rested and freshened up for later engagements. He, however, is represented by a half dozen at Pimlico for that meeting . . . Trainer James Pitzsimmons reported from Aqueduct that the invaders he shipped to Pimlico and Garden State for week-end engagements are back at their quarters at the Rockaway Boulevard course . . . Funeral services of a private nature were held for R. B. "Bob" Odom this morning from Cronks Funeral Parlors in Garden City. The services were attended by members of the family and immediate friends . . . Freddie Lansburgh returned from a business trip to Charleston, S. C. . . . Humphrey Finney reported this morning that additional offerings had been named for the sale of horses to be held at Belmont Park . . . Trainer Jimmy Conway said that he is in the dark relative to the ultimate disposal of the B. F. Whitaker horses. The will of the late patron has not been probated and this document holds the key to the future.
