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Connors Corner " By "CHUCK" CONNORS No Gooey Mud at New York Tracks Strips Have More Sand Than Loam Rains Make Racing Surface Firm BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 13. The paddock gang reported that something akin to a miracle had happened at Belmont Park over the past couple of days no rain and a fast track, The boys were at a loss for a few minutes as to whom to laud and extend thanks, but finally decided that, Aeolus, the mythical Greek god of "wind, was entitled to an assist for chasing old Jupe Pluvius around the upper stratosphere, at least away from the Nassau County course. Rain and unusual weather has played havoc with the racing schedule on the eastern seaboard, much to the disgust of the regular, the casual racegoer and the man with a horse whose forte is a pasteboard track. However, New York, in regards to muddy tracks, is in a more fortunate position than some of the other racing strips situated between Maryland and Oregon. The New York tracks, those on Long Island that is, have a different type of soil from the others, more sand than loam and, despite heavy downpours, never turn to gooey mud, but is packed firm, somewhat similar to a sandy beach when the tide is running out. These conditions bring about some curious results from a time standpoint, and to the uninitiated the secret is frequently . baffling. AAA Aqueduct, for example, has on many occasions displayed much faster time for a six, seven or distance event during a rainstorm than what was posted over a dry track by the same horses. Belmont and Jamaica are also of the fast drying type, with the main track slightly ahead of the Widener course and the training track. The latter mile oval does not contain the same sand content that is to be found on the main track. Saratoga Springs, on the other hand, is, when wet, a real honest to goodness mud surface, and takes several days of clear weather, plus stiff breezes and unceasing work on the part of the maintenance force to bring back the surface to what the boys consider fast. AAA Turfmen over the years have argued that a slop or even mud winning effort over a Long Island strip does not necessarily stamp the horse as a good mud runner. While he can negotiate the water-soaked strip, a similar test over, lets say Pimlico or Laurel, would not necessarily produce the same result, where the going is different. Owners and trainers, when seeking good mud runners, disregard Long Island efforts in such going, and concentrate on other surfaces. The Jamaica surface at present is undergoing screening and resurfacing on the inner perimeter. This task at another track would be tantamount to inviting disaster for a meeting .that will be staged in July, but not Jamaica. The surface when turned back to horsemen in another week or less will be top notch and show no pronounced changes from the past. When looking for a real honest to goodness gooey mud runner, forget races contested on Long Island tracks and go somewhere else. AAA Morris Dixon will be a busy man on Saturday. He will be at the Radnor Hunts, but during the afternoon will have representatives starting at Garden State and here Kaster will be a starter in the Metropolitan. . . The Maine Chance .Farm will ship Fascinator and Jet Action to Pimlico on Saturday. Jet Action is a Preakness starter while Fascinator will face the starter in the Black-Eyed Susan. Dave Gorman will be .astride the filly while Jorge Contreas will, if available, handle the colt in the Preakness . . . Jockey Benny Green will go to Suffolk Downs to ride Combat Boots in the Massachusetts Handicap on Wednesday next. . . Pat Provenzano was oh hand yesterday and reported that the broodmare Chick had foaled a filly by Reply Paid at the Bernadotte Farm in New Jersey. AAA Trainer Johnny Coburn, who was among the absentees for the past two weeks fighting an attack of pneumonia, was on hand yesterday for a few races. . . Johnny Cordes came on from Miami to attend the funeral services of Mrs. Brady, mother of Gerald, wha passed away at her Yonkers, N. Y., home following a lengthy illness. . . Horsemen were reminded that the nominations for the Aqueduct Stakes to be contested at the summer meeting close on Saturday. . . A draft of horses consigned . to trainer Dee Brooks arrived from the t i 1 4vCotfMwed on Page. Thiify-Seyen. M . a j Connors Corner By C. J. CONNORS Continued from Page Four H. P. Headley farm in Kentucky. . . Casey Hayes returned from Doswell, Va., where he inspected the horses owned by C. T. Chenery and served as an official at the Camptown race meeting which was presented at the farm on Saturday last. Eight races, the starters were recruited from neighboring Virginia farms, comprised the program. The fields were limited to six starters and the days finale was a contest of speed and endurance between six carefully selected mules. The running of this event evoked considerable merriment among the Spectators who numbered close to 3,500. . . Jockey Angel Valenzuela arrived from Kentucky and reported to trainer Charles Whittingham for whom he will do some riding this summer. . . . Valenzuela rode in California last winter AAA Owner R. J. Kleberg-, Max Hirsch and Bill Boland planed back from Garden State carrying the trophy, plus the loot, from the victory of On Your Own in the Betsy Ross Stakes. The filly is due in today from that point. . . . Trainer John Gaver has decided against shipping Palm Tree, owned by the Greentree Stable, to Pimlico for his Preakness engagement. . i . Jockey R. McLaughlin will ride Gigantic, owned by the New Orleanian, Joe Brown, in the Preakness. . . . Parlo, owned by the Foxcatcher Farms, was returned from Garden State by trainer Dick Handlen after fulfilling her engagement in the Betsy Ross. . . . Jockeys Hedley Woodhouse and Jim Nichols returned from Garden State and accepted mounts during the afternoon. . . . Marshall Cassidy, if his schedule permits, will fly to London to witness the running of the Derby at Epsom Downs. AAA Jockey Conn McCreary came in for some good-natured ribbing on the part of fellow riders when he scored astride Terell, owned by the Miamian, Mrs. C. Silvers, yesterday. The success was his first of the New York season. . . . Jack Cooper of the National Steeplechase and Hunts stated that about 150 steeplechasers are stabled at Aqueduct, Belmont and Bostwick Field. . . . The Greentree Stables Straight Face and Royal Vale, owned by Mrs. John R. H. Thouron, are probabilities for the Massachusetts Handicap to be contested at Suffolk Downs. . . . Trainer Jimmie Conway reported that Tahitian King is training along nicely but no plans have been decided upon for his return to the racing wars. He also stated that Chrysolite would not be a starter in the Preakness. ... A colt foal arrival at Ravensworth Farm, Annandale, Va., from Waymark by Call Over, was reported by Mrs. Jules Schwartz this morning. Way-mark will later be transferred to Brook-meade Farm, where she will go to the court of More Sun. t
