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Farrell Forecasts Exceptional Competition at Balmoral Meet ; I New Operation to Preview * High Calibre Grass Sport Carded for 97-Day Season Chicago may see the finest spring racing • in local history when the 30-day Balmoral meeting opens May 16 at Washington Park, Racing .secretary Frederick G. "Pat" Far-I rell forecast a highly-competitive spring meeting after an analysis of the nomina-k tion lists to Balmorals 11 stakes and a i" survey of the stakes aces already on the grounds. Balmoral, formerly Lincoln Fields, has i integrated its session with the combined ; Arlington Park-Washington Park meetings. | Enthusiastic response to the new Bal-; moral operation became apparent immedi-: ately after the transfer of racing dates to ■ Washington Park March 30 with a record-! breaking number of stall applications, for over 2,400 horses. "This was beyond all expectations," said President Russell L. Reineman, "and is an indication of what racing success the new 97-day spring-summer program will enjoy." An accelerated grass program has lured the nations top-level grass specialists. Heading the list is Stan, 1954 grass champion, representing the Hasty House establishment of Mr. and Mrs. Allie E. Reuben. Other outstanding turf runners heading for the Balmoral meeting are Brush Burn, St. Vincent, Colobarador and Salmon Peter. Last year Stan cemented his title claims with smashing triumphs in the 56,000 Arlington Handicap, worlds richest grass eyent, and in the Meadowland Handicap at Washington Park. This year he won the Hialeah Turf Handicap, indicating hie is prepared for a determined defense of his crown. Stanley C. Mikells Brush Burn also will be competing at Balmoral and again looms a stout contended for grass honors. His 1954 Grassland Handicap victory was sand ; I wiched between defeats by Stan in the Arlington and Meadowland Handicaps. English-bred St. Vincent, a recent grass development, hasi all the qualifications of challenger for the 1955 championship. The Alberta Ranches-owned four-year-old won Santa Anita grass honors, scoring consecutive wins in the San Gabriel, Washingtons Birthday, and San Juan Capistrano Handicaps with earnings over 00,000. Chicago fans also will have first look at another foreign-bred grass star, Fred Hoopers Colobarador, during the Balmoral session. The five-year-old Argentinian is only two weeks in this country. In his last South America effort, he toted 129 pounds and romped to a mile and one-half grass victory. Salmon Peter, star router of John Allisons all-Irish Foothill Farms string, also is at home on the grass, showing a third in the San Luis Rey at Santa Anita for his top 1955 performance. The Balmoral meeting also will feature high-calibre filly and mare competition. George Cavanaughs Blue Violin, two-time stakes winner last summer, Fairway Farms 1954 Beverly Handicap winner, Good Call, and Calumet Farms duo of Lap Full and Bubbley, will dispute the many rich events for distaff members. Eslie Asburys Insouciant, recent winner of the Ashland Stakes, also is scheduled to perform, as is Charlton Clays speedy Lea Lane. Three-year-olds will find Balmoral a lucrative stamping ground. Slated for action during the spring meet is the Hasty House trio of Prince Noor, *My Beau and *Summer Solstice. Calumet Farms Tren-tonian and Harvey C. Fruehauf s Blue Lem also will appear in Balmorals sophomore events. Other ranking three -year-old and handicap stars will be flown in for stakes engagements in the 0,000 added Citation Handicap on Memorial Day, the 0,000 added Balmoral Turf Handicap, June 11, and for the closing-day feature, The Chi-cagoan, 0,000 added one mile test for three-year-olds.
