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Belmont Park By Chuck Connors Veterans Turn Clock Back Fifty Years Hark Back to Opening of Belmont Park Spin Yarns of Jockeys, Races, Horses BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 4;~ Time in its endless flight was halted this afternoon for a brief second as many of the veterans who were pres ent harked back to the opening of Belmont Park 50 years ago. The gray thatched veterans of this day were, for the most part, teenagers then, jockeys, exercise boys or budding apprentices. Yes, back in those days, 50 years ago, the ages of jockeys were from four to five years younger than those active these afternoons. There were no laws on the statute books against child labor, curfews were unheard of and the Gerry Act had not yet come into being. Boys were apprenticed at 10 or 11 years of age and, by the time they were 15 or 16, were ready for the strenuous roles that they had chosen as a Vocation, race riding. George Odom, Burt Mulholland, Bill Brennan, Mickey Miles, Max Hirsch, Preston Burch Bob Boyle, Marshall Lilly, "Chips" Heatherington and others are active and in the limelight these days, but some whose names are more or less forgotten played an important part in the opening meeting of the big Nassau County plant. Names of champions of the past were brought up during the talks and incidents in races were recalled in a vivid manner." Lilly was "kidding" George Odom about riding Delhi for the late James R. Keene and pointed out that he Could get a mile and one-quarter when Odom was in the irons. He won the Great Republic Stakes at Saratoga Springs astride Delhi and for winning the 0,000 feature was presented with a "kings ransom" for those days, a bonus of ,500. There was no such thing as a 10 per cent clause in the contract then and a stake of a couple hundred dollars for winning a big event was the accepted rule* Mulholland Recals Colins First Start Anyway, the boys had a good time, recalling memories, and Mulholland chimed in with a story of how they were all set to .put over a big coup. The medium was a horse named Inspector B., which Burt was rubbing at the time. They dropped this two-year-old in a race and a first time starter named Colin won off by himself. Inspector B. later broke his maiden at the old Bennings track outside of Washington, D. C, but Burt said it was too late then. Lilly told one on himself that concerns a lot of money, or so said James R. Keene, when he presented him with four one hundred dollars bills and the admonition to save it. Lilly did, he saved it until Saturday and bet it all on Colin and then had some more. The endless flight of time was marked by one of the boys when he pointed out that one-seventh of the New York 1955 season had passed into history and it would not be long before the trek to Saratoga Springs was at hand. Russ Ellis, ye olde Texas dabbler in oil paints, checked in this morning for a brief visit. He has an oil of the late Jack B. Campbell, which is lifelike and will be hung during this meeting, . . . The first issue of the overnight Pimlico condition book was distributed here today. . „ . H. A. Luro, checked out for Louisville and the Derby and to inspect some horses that he has . turned out in the Lexington area. . . . Russell Downs, who trains the Barclay Stable horses, was an arrival this morning. He has a starter in the Juvenile, Pollys Jet, for the Philadelphia-owned menage. . . . Frank Stevens, president of the Stevens Crabbing and Fishing Association, will plane out to Louisville Saturday morning, inspect the mint julep crop, get a look-see at the Derby and plane back on Saturday night. Hialeah Attracts Tourists in Offseason, Maurice "Dancer" Hyams was a belated arrival from GUlfstream Park, awaiting, he said, warmer weather at Belmont. . . . Mrs. Dave Mandel, wife of the New York regular, was admitted to the Lenox Hill Hospital yesterday. She is under treatment for hypertension and a mild form of anemia. . . . Trainer Preston Burch left for Upperville, Va.* to inspect the Brookmede Stable horses there. Later he will go to Louisville for the Derby and to inspect the horses at the farm in the . Lexington area. . . . Ev Clay, ye old tub thumper at Hialeah who was named secretary by Gene Mori, postcards from that center that 73,841 Visitors viewed the flamingoes, the palm trees jand the sowing of the racing strip with vegetables since the track was opened to visitors on March 7. Mrs. Dodge Sloane, mistress of the fashionable Brookmeade Stable, left for Louisville, Kentucky, to witness the Derby and inspect the horses she has there. . . . Jockey Ray Broussard, the Louisiana youth under contract to Johnny Theall, cancelled his mounts for a couple of days.* He has a touch of virus, but hopes to return to the saddle wars on Thursday. . . . Jockey Bob McLaughlin joined the local colony. . . . Jockey Eddie" Arcaro flew back from Louisville to ride High Voltage in the Acorn. He planes westward again tonight to be on hand to ride Nashua on Saturday. . . . Conn McCreary planed back from Louisville, he rode in the Derby Trial; but will fly back Saturday morning to ride in the Derby for the Cain Hoy Stable. . . . Marshall Cassidy will be discharged from Jthe Physicians Hospital, Jackson Heights N.4 *Y., over the week end.- *
