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" — ™ — m" , ~ ♦ New England Notebook By JOE HIRSCH Confident of Improvement at Rock DeSpirito Man of Hour in N.f. Bad Luck Following Days Duke ROCKINGHAM PARK, Salem N. H., June 21. — Its always pleasant to return to New Hampshire • with its picture-postcard scenery scenery and and the the re- scenery scenery and and the the re- refreshing breezes which originate in the White Mountains to cut the summer heat at this historic plant. Business — rivalling conditions in Michigan and Ohio — has been somewhat slack here since , our departure for a sojourn in Delaware a few weeks ago but Lou Smith bmith is is confident confident on on Smith bmith is is confident confident on on " — ™ — m" , Rockinghams 21st birthday that attendance and handle will improve in the coming weeks and that by the conclusion of the 54-day meeting on July 31 the overall dip will be of a moderate nature. "Weve had a change in dates of course and it is hard to alter the habits of racing fans," Smith points out. "Then, too, the mills are shutting down in this area and the economic situation could be better. But the vacationers are beginning to come in and I think that things will begin to pick up by the Fourth of July." There has been quite a bit of discussion in these parts about Tony DeSpirito. and his short-priced winners. Smith has received a number of letters suggesting: that Tonys consistency in turning everything he rides to chalk has been partially responsible for the financial dip at The Rock. Smith wont buy this and is standing solidly behind the nations leading rider. "Both Mrs. Wright of Calumet and Mrs. Graham of Maine Chance are eager to purchase DeSpiritos . contract," he says, "and I dont blame them a bit because that boy is as skilled a jockey as any we have ever had in New England. They hoot at him like they Hoot at Ted Williams but hell always be welcome here and if he ever leaves it will be our loss." Jimmy OBrey was leaning back in a comfortable chair, relaxing after the morning works under the shade of the stable roof, and talking about Days Duke, the two-year-old that he conditions for H. W. Patrick, the Chester, Pa., oil man. "The gelding has always run in some kind of bad luck. If its not one thing, its another. Actually we were pretty fortunate that he was up in front in Saturdays race." OBrey was talking about the stretch pile -up in the fourth event, which saw Me Perfect, Pollys Ace and Super Toy go down with their boys like tenpins. From all accounts it was nasty action, and fortunately there appear to be no serious injuries to any of the participants. "I was afraid of a steal," said OBrey. "And told Bill Zalzaretti to bust Days Duke out of the gate and keep him close. As it was, he -had the lead most of the way around and finished in -.59%. A little farther back, though, and hed have gone down, too." OBrey bought the gelded son of The Doge — Torantal last fall at the Keeneland sales. As a matter of fact, he had to buy him twice. "I went to ,300 for him," said the veteran trainer, "and I thought I had him. But the "auctioneer mistook my bid for another mans and I grabbed him just as they were getting ready to lead the horse away. Then the other guy said hed go to ,300 and we went back and forth for a while until I went to ,600 and got him. "Hes a good horse and hes run some good races. Hes gone out 12 times and brought in seven checks and has more than earned his keep for the year. Weve got him entered in the Juvenile Handicap on July 3, but hes liable to buck before that. His sire, The Doge, has been producing good thoroughbreds. Boston Doge, Paul Andolinos good youngster, is one of them, and Id like to see a match race , between the pair. I believe my horse would get him." Around the Track: George Handy is planning to run his good three-year-old ■ Continued on Page Forty-Four 1 New England Notebook By JOE HIRSCII Continued from Page Seven Blessbull in the Select at Monmouth on the thirtieth. The Bless Me gelding will ship Thursday and Handy will follow a few days later .. .Mo rrie Sidell is bound for New Jersey to condition News Again, for Wednesdays Longfellow on the turf while Eddie Anspach is already at the Oceanport oval to prepare Soldier Son for the same feature. . .Jockey Chris Rogers returned from a Canadian riding stint . . J. F. Plett replaced W. Rodgers as conditioner for the J. and P. Venuti string . . Eb Pons will take his place in the stewards stand at Scarborough following the conclusion of this meeting ... A. F. Martinez is back at the Rock after a week end ride aboard Royal Indian at ThistleDown. A Boston television station plans to film "A Day in the Life of Tony DeSpirito" here shortly . . . Jockeys Gene Martin and Jimmy Mayer have been released from Bon Secour Hospital in nearby Methuen, Mass., following Saturdays three-horse spill. Martin plans to. rest for about a week while Mayer should be out three days. Vernon Bush, third man down in the pileup, was a little sore today and cancelled his mounts for the afternoon. . .Nobody stole de wedding bells over the week end so reinsmen Ronnie Fisher and Vince Spinelli each took themselves a bride. Fisher is off on a brief three -day honeymoon in Maine.
