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On the Trot I By MORRIE KURLANSKY 1 John Sitzmann Suffers Lameness Parkinson Scores Double Victory Counterpart Hanover Clips Record MAYWOOD PARK, Maywood, 111., June 10. Tuesdays feature, a mile event for three-year-old pacers sponsored by the Northern Illinois colt Association, lost some of its original attractiveness when O. H. Boners John Sitzman had to be scratched because of lameness. Only slightly raced as a two-year-old, this son of Cold Cash nevertheless earned over 6,-000 in his initial campaign, the bulk of his bankroll being picked up by avictory in the Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes. He again is being pointed for this rich Springfield event later in the summer, and it is understandable that his connections are not inclined to compromise the pacers racing career by too many hard races at this time. Moreover, John Sitzman since last fall has been afflicted by recurrent lameness, but the exact location of the trouble hasnt been found as yet. On account of John Sitzmans absence, the gelding Starr Haven, was made a 4 to 5 choice in this ,500 race and the chestnut proved his backing. Bob Parkinson hustled him away from the gate to get a clear lead rounding the first turn and Starr Haven successfully withstood the bids of Tycoon and Adam Dale to hold his eight opponents safely to the wire. It was the tenth victory for Starr Haven since he made his debut last summer and third win this season. E. L. Garrison definitely has a contender in Starr Haven, who might be very dangerous come August and the Springfield State Fair. Parkinson, who a few seasons ago was very much in the limelight with the A. D. Knapp stable, scored a double victory Tuesday. Prior to his triumph with Starr Haven, Bob guided former free-for-all trotter, Clever Sunny, to a wire-to-wire victory in- a CC-class trot. The last time Clever Sunny had been in the winners circle was on November 2, 1951 aFHollywoodPark, when he scored the 19th win of an extremely successful season, earning over 8,000 and trotting to a mark of 2:02. When Knapp dispersed his stable in 1952, Parkinson bought the now 12-year-old from his patron, but luck was not with him. Clever Sunny for a long time did not take to his training as he used to do and, while he occasionally showed flashes of his great speed, his manners on the track left muchrto be desired. However, the veteran trotter seems to be enjoying a new lease on life this season, for prior to-his victory Tuesday, he was second twice and third once in seven starts at this meeting. Speed honors on Tuesday went to Counterpart Hanover, seven - year - bid pacing gelding owned by the Norman C. Towne Stock Farm of Libertyville, 111., when the son of Colby Hanover annexed the ,200 B-class pace in 2:06, with Dan Peacock at the reins. Counterpart Hanover reduced his, old mark by a full second and his owners might not regret that they withdrew him from last years auction at Aurora when bids did not reach the reserve price . . . Ace trotter, Victory Song, rapidly becoming one of the nations leading sires of early speed, was honored by victories by a pair of three -year-old trotters Tuesday. In the first race, the filly, Victorian, owned by W. J. Schmidt of Frankfort, Ind., with Jake Mahoney at the helm, scored a clever victory in 2: 11, a new mark for the full sister to the good pacer, Victory Scott, while His Song, with co-owner Tom Wilburn in the sulky, chalked up his third win out of seven races here in the fifth race, a C-class trot. The new starting gate used by starter Ralph Estes is quite a sight to behold in its gleaming, shining splendor, and you may be assured that its cost runs well into five figures. The starting automobile, incidentally, is the property, of the official starter at any given meeting and not the associations, as some people might think. The starts at this meeting have been exceptionally good, as witnessed by the fact that about ten per cent of all races have been won by horses starting from the outside post positions. Grandma Burright, since last year when she retired from active participation on the track, a timer at all Chicago harness tracks, will be honored Friday night with the feature event, a ,000 double - header for fast - class pacers, named for her. A big field of ten side-wheelers will vie for the trophy to be presented the winning owner by Mrs. Burright, who still holds a world record for lady drivers with Luckyettes mile in 2:04 at the Delaware, Ohio, half-mile track in 1943. A great contest can be expected when the recent winners, Kings Ale Jake Mahoney and Victory Scott
