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. , See Most Competitive Racing In Local History at Arlington Leading Performers in All i Divisions Aiming for Various Stakes During 35-Day Meet The most competitive thoroughbred racing season in Chicagos history looms for turf fans is the "new" Arlington Park prepares to open its 1954 meeting on Thursday, June 24. v Already on the scene are two of the top-ranking three-year-olds of 1954 Hasty House Farms Hasty Road and Queen Hopeful. Before the 35-day Arlington campaign runs its span, racing fans are literally certain of also seeing Determine, winner of the 1954 Kentucky Derby; the fabled Native Dancer; High Gun, recent winner of the Peter Pan Handicap; Wise Margin, upset victor of Find and Royal Vale in the Massachusetts Handicap; Porterhouse, champion two-year-old of 1953; and Sickles Image, last years champion mare. Most competitive of all, off the results of the winter and spring campaigning, will be among the stars of the three-year-old division. Probably the most attractive duel of the year may develop in the 55,000 Arlington Classic, scheduled for renewal on July 17. The big race couid be the battleground for the "rubber" match between Determine and Hasty Road, winner of the Preakness, as well as the only spot where both will meet the topnotchers who missed the Spring features. That would include. Porterhouse. Artismo, The Pie King, War of Roses and High Gun. However, the sophomores wont command all the attention at Arlington. Other dfvi-, sions of competition, two-year-olds, fillies and mares, and the all-important handicap class on both the grass and main track, have a big chunk of gold in store for them. This year Arlington alone will offer five two-year-old added money features, worth 75,000. Two-Year-Old Stake Prospects Among the leading two-year-old hopefuls scheduled for Arlington appearances are Menolene, winner of the Gulfstream Dinner Stakes, Singing Tower and Rancocas; Will See, Bowie Kindergarten Stakes; Beau Brummel Stakes, Lafayette, Bashford Manor and Cherry Hill Stakes. Others showing promise include Trentonian, Smart Devil, Fleet Change, Lea Lane and Floyd Odium. First of the rich three-year-old stakes is the Warren Wright Memorial, a seven-furlong sprint with 5,000 added. Many of the Classic candidates will be seen in that race, along with the regular overnight features scheduled throughout the meeting. Filly and mare racing, long a prime factor in Arlingtons overall program, will feature the 5,000 Cleopatra Handicap for sophomores, 0,000 Modesty Handicap, and 0,000 Arlington Matron. On the strength of her performance thus far, Queen Hopeful is a leading candidate for distaff races. Last year the little Roman filly dominated the two-year-olds, winning the Arlington Lassie and Princess Pat Stakes. Others slated to appear at the northwest suburban track are Sunny Dale, last years J. PRICE SALLEE Sent out the speedy Lea Lane to make it two-for-two in the" Miss America at Lincoln Fields Saturday. Beverly Handicap victress; Arab Actress, winner of the Cleopatra and Misty Isle; Sickles Image, Washington Park Handicap ; and Miz Clementine, Pollyanna Stakes. The handicap ranks will have the big pot for which to aim. There will be something in the neighborhood of 00,000 gross offered in big stakes plus overnight features ranging up to 0,000. Those races are expected to attract such proven runners as High Scud, Find, Landlocked, Olympic, Pomace, Ruhe, Platan, Sir Mango, Royal Bay Gem, Straight Face, Sub Fleet and many more. Arlington will continue its daily policy to further grass racing. The annual holiday feature, 5,000 added Stars and Stripes Handicap on July 5, and 60,000 Arlington Handicap on July 31 will bring out the leading turf stars in training. Candidates for those eyents include Iceberg n., last years turf course champion; Native Dancer; Abbe Sting, 1953 Stars and Stripes winner; Brush Burn, Stan, Royal Governor, Royal Vale and Level Lea among others. To blend with the ,300,000 improvement program at the twin Chicago tracks, executive director Benjamin F. Lindheimer recently announced a record ,700,000 gross purse distribution for the 65 days of racing. Following the 35-day session at the northwest suburban plant, Washington Park will Continued on Page Forty-Two See Most Competitive Racing In Local History at Arlington Continued from Page Seven open August 4 and continue for 30 more days. To insure top-level competition, Lind-heimer and his aid, assistant executive director Kline Weatherford, completed an extensive tour of winter and spring racing capitals bidding for the best stables and horses. Together they took in the highpoint of Florida sport at Hialeah and later New Yorks Belmont Park. Lindheimer directed his personal attention to the Santa Anita and Hollywood Park meetings, while Weatherford sought out prospective summer tenants at Churchill Downs during Derby-time.
