view raw text
New Jersey — By Fred Galiani ; 1 Loss of Wliite Skies Blow to Turf Sport Was Champion in True Sense of Word Wickham Ace Earned Honors Hard Way GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J., May 3.— The unfortunate training accident which resulted in the death of William Wickhams White Skies at Ja- maica Monday morning removed from the American racing scene one of the most brilliant sprinters in recent years. The big red stallion was a champion sprinter in the true sense of the word. Not only could he run at blistering speeds, but he carried the necessary high weights that earn honors. Last year, when he won five of six races, he was selected as the king of his division, and the year previous was. chosen second to the incomparable Tom Fool as the sprint leader. Although White Skies most famous triumphs came on the New York tracks, he spent most of his time in New Jersey. It was here he ran in the early days of his career, and where he trained for his New York invasions. Ironically enough, although, he won stakes over the Jersey strips, in his two most recent appearances in the state he was beaten. The only blot on his record of 1954 was a second to Master Ace in the Oceanport Handicap, and yet this may well have been his best race of the year. Under 136 pounds, he gave his conqueror the staggering concession of30 pounds and even so the winner was forced to burn up the Monmouth strip in 1:09 to win by more than a length. __That afternoon Tommy Roots charge appeared more impressive in defeat. Prior to that loss he had run up a string of victories that was interrupted in the Princeton Handicap in the fall of 1953, in which he finished fourth under 128 pounds. It was a stake he had won as a three -year-old. Gradually Returning to True Form - Away from the races from June of last year to April 1 of this year, White Skies had started but twice. He finished third under 130 pounds in the Paumonok and was narrowly photoed out in a three-way finish of the Toboggan Handicap, in which he was burdened with 132 pounds. He was obviously going to regain his true ability before his tragic end. For Tommy Root and Bill Wickham this is- a dark spring indeed, and we can only join with others in offering sympathy. And one can only conjecture what the breeding industry lost in his death. White Skies was bred by Charles Nuckols and Sons. Another product from that Kentucky farm made good in the first race of the season here, Beauridge Stables Beauridge, winning by six lengths. Beauridge; is the nom de course of the partnership of trainer R. B. "Bud" Carroll and William Lynch, a demolition contractor from Leonardo, N. J. Mrs. Lynch and Mrs. Hesse, owners of the Beacon Stable, are cousins and both families entered racing five years ago, with "Bud" Carroll training the latter stable. In recent years, Carroll has confined himself to handling his own small stable and declining to take any other contracts. But last fall, Carroll invited the Lynches to take a trip with him to Kentucky to attend the yearling sales. After three days of sitting at the salesring without buying any horses, the Lynches were wondering if Carroll had just come down for a slight vacation? rather than to buy any horses. The upshot of the thing was that "Bud" was waiting for the Nuckols colt by I Will— Starlit, which he got for ,200, and later named Beauridge. A breeder on a small scale, Carroll had a yearling of his own on the farm which attracted Lynchs eye. One word led to another, with the result that Carroll and Lynch entered into a full partnership, which was about the only way Lynch could have induced Carroll to take over his horses. The deal went through with just the shake of a hand, and the operation has been functioning smoothly ever since. Beauridge has been named for the Cherry Hill Stakes on May 18, in which he will be more sternly tested. Outriders Pony Sustains Injury A slight casualty here Saturday has caused the absence of a colorful figure of the New Jersey tracks for a while. Outrider Ray Folkes albino pony, known to" many face fans as "Whitey," suffered a suspensory injury when he went after the runaway Little Jonesy, who threw Walter Williams at the start of the fourth race. Whitey has been sent to Mrs. Wallis Armstrongs Meadowview Farm to recuperate and Ray hopes that the horse will be ready to resume his duties by the Atr lantic City meeting. Jack Delaney, master of Del Brier Farm at Shrewsbury, reports that the foaling has been completed at his place with seven arrivals. The last was a chestnut filly by Nizami — Disturbance, by Sir Gallahad HI. Mad Bunny, dam of Bunnys Babe and Bunnys-Best, was barren this year, but is believed to be in foal to Spy Song. . . . Trainer Harry Silver sold his wifes Eastern Glow to S. H. Popkin of Philadelphia, who is reentering the sport, and will continue the training duties. . . . Dutch Nielsen is on the scene with his eight-horse stable, which he had wintered at Keene-land. . . . Steve Bronsdon, trainer of the O. G. Ranch of Dania, Fla., reports that Father Tiber, the new stud at the south Sunshine State farm, has been bred to five mares this spring. . . . Assistant mutuel manager Champe Barton is reported resting comfortably* from* an eye operation in the University of Pennsylvania Hospital.
