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; i Sportsmans Park Notebook Apprentice Owen Headley Expected To Go Far in His Chosen Profession By J. J. MURPHY , J SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111., May 13. Owen Leon Headley,. a recent bridegroom, is making something of a name for himself at Sportsmans Park these days. The 105-pound apprentice from Hollywood, Fla., is the leading tyro of the meeting, having amassed a total of seven winners during the first 15 days of the meeting. The youngster, who will celebrate his nineteenth birthday in a few days, took time o,ut during his trip from New Orleans to the Chicago area to marry attractive Georgia Korgis, of Detroit. Owen met the young lady when he was rid- -ing in the Motor City last summer and the romance developed. Young Headley has a brother Charles, who is also a jockey and who is exercising horses at this course. It was from Charles that he learned the rudiments of the business. Owen first came with horses in 1951 and spent two years around the stables before getting his license and first mount: That was at Fort Miami, Toledo, last spring. After having ridden a dozen horses at the Ohio course without having visited the winners circle, Headley, who was under contract to Clarence Hartwick, owner of the fine -mare, Sickles Image, journeyed to Detroit, where he achieved his first success on a runner named Early Bull. He subsequently rode Sickles Image to a couple of victories at Atlantic City. AAA Last autumn Headleys contract was purchased by R. Harold Raines, former Brown Hotel Stable conditioner, who had a public stable at the New Orleans Fair Grounds. Raines, one of the most practical horsemen on the turf, tutored. Headley carefully and the body developed. Along toward the end of the Fair Grounds season, Raines sold Headleys contract to Grace Kosiba, of Detroit, and Owen is now in the employ of that lady. He will accompany the stable to Detroit at the conclusion of the meeting. The boy rode 23 winners at the Fair Grounds and three at Oaklawri Park before coming here. Headley is a short lad with powerful shoulders. He is built along the lines of Johnny Adams. His father operates a citrus farm in Florida, and Owen finished his ninth grade in school before turning to the turf. It is the general opinion of Harold Hoffman, trainer of the Kosiba horses, and a number of other conditioners that the boy cannot miss making good. AAA Among the thoroughbreds owned by the Emerald Hill Stable checking in for the Lincoln Fields meeting, in charge of trainer Nick Moran, are Blue Dare, Blue Square, Blue Teal, Alma B., Marcy Girl, Brad F., Eternal Moon, True Libby, Gladfoote, and Effie W. They came from Bowie Arriving in the stable of Mrs. Sadye Smith, from Louisville, were Blue Licks, Miss Esquire, Santa Star, and South Flares.. They are trained by J. Woodruff . . . Carl Blank got in from New Orleans with Be Loyal, Hurry Harry, and a couple of others . . . Frank J. Grand is planning to send six horses to Detroit at the end of this meeting . . . Following the current session starter Roy Dick-erson will spend several weeks at his home in Miami before reporting to Arlington Park . . . The three-year-old filly Jenjay, who finished second in the Betsy Ross Stakes at Garden State Park Wednesday, is due to arrive at Lincoln Fields soon. She won the Durazna Stakes at Hawthorne last fall and is owned by L. J. Tutt, of Georgetown, Ky who also bred her. AAA Leslie Wickel, who has been showing the best riding of his career here, has replaced Harold Keene as favorite jockey for the Bishop stable. However, Keene beat a Bishop horse, with Wckel up, in one of the feature races here Wednesday. . .Frank Butzow, generally regarded as Illinois foremost authority on thoroughbred breeding, is again on the staff of the Lincoln Fields publicity department. . .Ike Bassett, of the Jockeys Guild, will spend a few days here and then leave for Omaha to attend the opening of the Ak-Sar-Ben meeting there May 20. That evening he will hop a plane for Detroit and be present for that opening May 21... Chicago policeman arrested a horse the other day. Claimed the pony was moving too slow on a downtown street. Press Box Lou says the officer should come to Sportsmans Park and check on a few of the racers on which he has been wagering. AAA Fred Crafton is passing out stall application blanks and stake blanks for Arlington Park... Mrs. Phil Reuter, wife of the well known trainer, was an arrival from Miami . . .Blue Hierocles and Pry Pat, owned by Sunny Blue Farm, will be shipped to Detroit by trainer B. H. Wise at the end of the meeting. Admiral Porter, star of the stable who was sent to Pimlico last Sunday, will return to Lincoln Fields following the running of the Preakness. We have noted that Sportsmans Park is running on about a par with Pimlico and Suffolk Downs as far as pari-mutuel handle and attendance is concerned. Each track handled between 00,000 and 00,000 Wednesday. Attendance was 11,588 at Suffolk, 11,282 at Sportsmans; and 10,904 at Pimlico.
