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Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS Belmont Racing of Highest Quality Notables in Crowd for Big Event John Schapiro Due Back in States AQUEDUCT, L. I., N. Y., June 14. The downward trend in attendance and play that was in evidence early this spring at Jamaica continued during the Belmont Park meeting. The attendance was off a trifle from last year as was the mutuel play. Well, comparisons between this and last year are odious for -this meeting was a long one. The big sufferers, in a financial way were the tax collecting agencies and the stockhold ers. The latter at Belmont Park are not of the worrying type but they evinced great satisfaction at the brand of racing furnished and many expressed themselves pleased with the resurrection of turf racing. Their pleasure in this was also shared by the public, judging from the enthusiasm displayed. Trainer Ray DeStefano opened a public stable and took over several horses for the Maryland patron, Col. H. B. Marcus, of Glade Valley Farm. He also has the Hampton Stable campaigners. Alerted from the latter menage was shipped to the Maryland Farm to be rested up and freshened for the Saratoga season and late fall meetings on Long Island. ... Art Rooney, the Pittsburghcr, and master of the Shamrock Stable, showed up for the running of the Belmont. He later left for Monmouth Park for a few days racing. Leon "Jake" Swirbul of the racing commission had Senator Homer Capehart of Indiana as his guest for the week-end racing. . . . Bernard Baruch, the elder statesman, showed up for the final day sporting his South Carolina plantation hat. This 10-gallon type made of straw is a must on Belmont Day. . . . Arnold Hanger was out for the final day and then promised to stick around for a week or so of the Aqueduct session. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Ashley T. Cole, he is chairman of the state racing commission, were among the early arrivals. . . . Stephen "Laddie" Sanf ofd was on hand early for the big week-end activities. . . . William C. Langley of the racing commission made one of his infrequent appearances. . . . Frank R.- Warton of the Illinois Racing Board came on for the big event. He later left for Chicago to await the opening of the Arlington Park season. . . . Mr. and Mrs. John D. Hertz were present for the afternoon. Their horses will be shipped to Arlington Park this week for : that meeting and the one at Washington Park arid then back to Saratoga Springs. J Maurice Gross, insurance executive, journeyed from Boston Saturday to see the Belmont Stakes . . . Also in the gathering were Arlene Francis and Steve Allen, who are on TVs "Whats My Line" panel. Bernard Gimbel, the Thirty-fourth . Street merchandiser, came out to say hello and witness the Belmont . . . Harold E. Talbot, Secretary of the Air Force, was among those present during the afternoon . . . Herbert Bayard Swope, recovering from two broken ribs suffered in an auto accident, made the pilgrimage for the final day and his look at the umpteenth running of the Belmont. He has kept the record intact over a goodly number of years ... Melville. Church was among those counted present for the afternoon . . . Jockie Eddie Arcaro rode on the opening day for the first time in several years. As a rule his appearance was limited to one stake event during the meeting, the other time being spent at Chicago. Mrs. John R. H. Thouron came up from Delaware Park for the Belmont. She was represented by War of Roses . . . The veteran James Fitzsimmons returned from Belair, Md., this morning. He inspected the horses, owned by William Woodward at the farm. rFor the first time in years Fitzsimmons headed i;he list of winning trainers, he saddled 20 at Belmont Park . . . Fred Purner, the Santa Anita publicist, planed to Norfolk, Va., to vacation following a Belmont Park visit . . . Allen Brewer, the artist, was on hand. He recently finished an oil of Royal Gem II. for Warner L. Jones and is doing one of Regret, the H. P. Whitney Derby winner, for the Monmouth Park Jockey Club. The latters picture is being copied from photographs and drawing . . . Gene Mori was on hand for the afternoon to represent Garden State Park for the Belmont running . . . Morris Schapiro of Baltimore came up for the final day and reported that his son John is due back from Europe on Tuesday. He reported that some interesting data and promises had been received relative to the forthcoming Washington, D. C, International at Laurel this fall .
