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, ♦ = _ Knights Reward Stages Strong Finish for Sportsmans Tally 21,640 See VanBerg Runner Whip Golden Admiral Half Length Triple for Bishop By J. J. MURPHY SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111., April 30.— Knights Reward, a six-year-old gelding, put on a fine stretch run here this afternoon to carry the colors of Marion VanBerg, Nebraska turfman, to his first victory of the meetings Ridden by Ronnie I Baldwin, the son of Reaping Reward flashed down the middle of the stretch in the seven-furlong contest to catch Golden Admiral and score in a drive by a half length. Golden Admiral was second and Equal Strife finished third. The winners time was 1:28% and he paid 5.00 to earn ,525 of the ,500 purse. The ideal springlike weather was chiefly responsible for a crowd of 21,640 turning out for the first Saturday of the sport this year, and the track was fast. Deb Chaser Favorite Knights Reward, who had not won a purse in his .previous seven starts this year and scored but twice in 27 starts in 1954, was second to Sir Tribal in his only prior start at this meeting. He was rather tardy in. the early running, but Baldwin timed his move nicely and his judgment was justified. Deb chaser, winner of his last four starts, was a heavy played favorite and carried top weight of 121 pounds. He showed ability to keep up early but faded Continued on Page Seven — ] WILLIAM HAL BISHOP— Sent out three winners on Saturdays Sportsmans Park card. t . , , . ; ; " I r ! ■ ■ . • ; . ; - ; - r . - l t 1 - r t r i i e a t Knights Reward Finishes Fast for Sportsmans Win 21,640 See VanBerg Performer Lead Golden Admiral to Wire Continued from Page One in the stretch and finished next to last in the eight-horse field. Master Red set the pace but could never get more, than a head in advance of Golden Admiral, and the latter took over after they had raced almost a quarter. Golden Admiral, with Cox up, widened to four lengths nearing the stretch turn and saved ground on the bend. He was one length in front of Equal Strife at the end. Just Judy, claimed last time out, made it three purses on the afternoon for the William Hal Bishop stable when she won the seventh race, which was at one ,and one-sixteenth miles. It was a double on the day for Harold Keene, rider of Just Judy. The Daily Double paid 0.00 when Hot Chocolate took the opener and Franks Maude won the second. William Hal Bishop, who usually leads the trainers here, saddled his first winner of the meeting in Franks Maude, who was a well played second choice and was ridden by Dudley Vandenborre. Hot Chocolate, steered by Tony Skoronski, beat out the pacesetting outsider, Busy Gal, with Victory Elf, the public choice,-unplaced. Cleetsie, ridden by Wendell Leeling, scored over the favored Baluster in a tight finish in the third. The pair raced on virtually equal terms all through the stretch. Cleetsie was claimed by Mikel Farm for ,500 from E. K. Carey. - Dr. Felix, in the fourth, was the first public choice of the day to make good. The six-year-old scored with a fair degree of ease to make it a double on the afternoon for jockey Skoronski. He, too, was claimed, going to S. L. Loux for ,250. Owner E. K. Carey filled the stall vacated by Cleetsie earjier in the day by claiming Deed I Do, winner of the fifth. Deed I do, with Norman Hart up, was outrun early, but saved ground in the stretch to best Smooth Palm in a drive. Task Fleet and Bugle Corps, the first and second choices, finished next to last and last, respectively. The Bishop silks were seen in front for the second time during the day when Last Word carried them to a narrow win over the favored Feud in the sixth. Harold Keene was up on Last Word, and although the gelding was wide in the stretch, while Feud saved ground, he triumphed by nose. Each of the first six races was at seven furlongs.
