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k!9 On the Trot L By MOBMB KURLANSK Y - Trigg County Shows Speed, Stamina Little Steve Wins Despite Old Age Trotters in Limelight This Evening MAYWOOD PARK, May wood, 111., June 14. R. W. Shaffers Trigg County, four-year-old pacing colt by Calumet Adam from the Cold Cash mare, Ruth M. Gary, showed great early speed and stamina to win both heats of the -featured Grandma Burright Stakes Friday. In both dashes, Roy Riegles courageous mount got to the top early and had to repel numerous bids by Easter Bunny, Victory Scott and Trusty Key. and, while Trigg Countys winning margin in both heats was not more than a nose, he nevertheless was .best in this feature event named for venerable Mrs: Forrest Burright, who in her time has written a special chapter in the history of the light harness horse, the spright lady still being credited with a worlds record performance behind her own trotter, Luckyette, who trotted the mile in 2:04 over the Delaware, Ohio, two-lapper. Like his dam, Ruth M. Gary, Trigg County, a well-made but rather small colt, indicated as a two-year-old thai he would make a good race horse, and he broke his maiden in his second start here, June 19, 1952, almost two years to the day before his triumph in the Grandma Burright Stakes. At the end of his two-year-old season, Trigg County acquired a mile track record of 2:03 at Lexington, driven, of course, by Riegle. Among Trigg Countys victims Friday were such good ones as Victory Scott, Kings Ale and the steadily improving Easter Bunny. Trigg County also got a new half-mile track record of 2:05, while he paced the second dash in 2:06. A most exciting contest was Fridays conditioned trot for the faster-class trotters. Little "Steve, 11-year-old stalwart who was a good stakes winner . on the Grand Circuit when racing for A. D. Knapp, never caused his present owner, Mrs. Henry Warren, Jr., any regrets for having bought the veteran trotter when already past the prime of his racing career. Last year Little Steve earned close to ,000, which is more than his purchase price and, including his victory Friday, Little Steve has accumulated seasonal earnings of over ,000. In any case, Little Steve doesnt seem to fell .the burden of his years, for his mile time of 2:06 would be a credit to most trotters many years his junior. Young Carl Sifert, who recently drove the Shirley Stables Lady Natalie to a convincing triumph in a B Class pace, guided another pacer owned by the Indianapolis outfit to a smashing score in a 22-23 Class pace. That was the four-year-old colt, Battle Cry, by Dean Hanover put of Volomites half-sister Frorita. It was only the second start this year for Battle Cry, who competed last season, mainly on the Grand Circuit against the best of like age, and gait, winning three races and -finishing third five times in 18 starts. In Fridays race, Battle Cry defeated a field of four-year-olds in 2: 0and, a new personal best mark. Edward Hanover, another son of Dean Hanover owned by the local Landas Stables, scored his fourth victory in eight starts at this meeting Friday and again improved on his previous record ta now sport a mark of 2:07. This five-year-old trotter by far has shown his best yet, and there is, a strong possibility that Dee Stover will bring him up to a point Where he might successfully compete against the free-for-all trotters on the Chicago circuit. Edward Hanovers victory was Stovers twentieth winning ride here and the Mt. Vernon trainer regained second position in the driver standings, four wins behind Howard Beissinger, who has 24 wins, his latest coming behind Gayland Abbe, a pacing mare. In order to further upgrade the sport presented at this popular half-mile track, the stewards decided on an extensive schooling program, which will be effective immediately. Under the new ruling, all horses that have not finished fourth or better in any one of their last four starts in C-class will automatically go on the stewards list and must start in a schooling race before they will be permitted to I start in a regular race. The schedule for schooling races is: Mondays, 22-cIass and slower pace for horses with unsatisfac- j tory performance lines and horses on the stewards list; Tuesdays, 22-class and slower trot; Wednesdays, 21-class and faster pace; Thursdays, 21-class and faster trot; Fridays, two-year-old pace; Saturdays, two-year-old trot. All races will carry a 00 purse. While the free-for-all pacers were pres-! ented tonight, the fast-class trotters will be in the limelight on Tuesday nights program. A representative field of seven diag-onally-gaited performers promises another one of the close contests Chicago fans have been privileged to witness all during this very successful meeting. Headed by Marcia D., coal black trotting mare owned by Paul F. Davis, who is undefeated in four starts this season, the field consists of Daisy Astra, fastest trotter here this spring with a mile in 2:05; Steve Tell, recent conqueror of Daisy Astra and Clever Tee and never worse than third in six starts here; Little Steve, winner of his last two races; Nancy Lee Day, winner of three consecutive races earlier in the meeting; Taylor Ridge, Hugh K. Funderburgs trotting ace and one of the busiest campaigners here, and the Detroit invader, Black Worthy, winner of two races at Hazel Park where he conquered Elby Hanover, Scotch Mc and Lingo Direct. Trainer Gene Sears will be here to handle the daughter of Worthy Boy.
