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First Aid Lowers Track Mark in Omnibus Score Even Money Choice Runs Mile and Furlong in 1:4914 at Monmouth By FRED GALIANI "MONMOUTH PARK, Oceanport, N. J., June 16. Performing as an even money favorite, Brookmeade Stables First Aid carried his top weight of 113 pounds to victory and a new track record in the twenty-first running of the Omnibus Handicap here this afternoon. Threading his way between horses on. the turn and coming to the outside for the drive, First Aid came to the finish a length before Jacklyn Stables Closed Door. The latter, who carried 113 pounds, one of which was overweight, was seeking a repeat score in the Omnibus. Killian Farms Resilient was third. The time of 1:49 for the mile and an eighth clipped four-fifths of a second off the old standard set by Three Rings in 1949. Backed down to even money by the majority of the estimated crowd of 11,700, Continued on Page Twenty-Seven f irst Aid Lowers Track Mark in Omnibus Score Even Money Choice Runs Mile and Furlong in 1 :49V at Monmouth Continued from Page One First Aid paid .00. The attendance was slightly under the corresponding day of 1953, but it was hardly a pleasant afternoon for racing. Skies were overcast and a raw, penetrating wind whipped through the stands. First Aid, a four-year-old gelded son of Bernborough Humane, earned 2,450 net of the gross purse of 7,950, and Elliott Burch accepted the Omnibus Trophy from Mrs. Townsend B. Martin, wife of the secretary of the Monmouth Park Jockey Club. The Omnibus was first run in 1882 at the old Monmouth and was worth ,975 for its inauguration. First Aid was fifth during the early running as Buck n Gee, Resilient, Better Goods and Sky Command went before him, while Necktie, Mister Paradise and Closed Door came in that order as they went round the first turn. Buck n Gee dropped out of it at the half-mile pole, as Resilent took over the pacing duties. Better Goods was a close second and First Aid started to move. On the turn, Better Goods took over the lead from Necktie, while First Aid came between horses to range into contention. Closed Door, who had trailed, made up room on the inside and was also moving dangerously. As they came to the head of the stretch, Shuk took First Aid to the outside and passed Better Goods, who weakened, and Resilent. Closed Door was also taken to the overland, passed the same two horses and took off for the leader. Gorman, on Closed Door, was driving vigorously, as was Shuk, and both horses were all out as they came to the wire. Closed Door managed to get to a length off the winner, but in the final stage could not get any closer. Held as a "stroke" on the odd-on board, J. Warfield Rodgers Due De Fer justified J the fans confidence by driving to a length victory in the Boro Club of Deal Purse, which preceded the feature. With Logan Batcheller using the whip only once in the long stretch drive, Due De Fer ran down Brookfield Farms pace-setting I Appeal and led that one under the wire. Allen Smiths By HJeepers closed well, a neck away in third place.
