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Eternal Sam Captures Fairmount Inaugural Crowd of 8,533 Welcomes Sports Return to Southern Illinois Area By J. J. HAHN Staff Correspondent FAIRMOUNT PARK, Collinsville, 111., May 7. — The Southern Illinois racing season opened here with a bang Friday night and despite many other sporting attractions in this area patrons who had been waiting some five months for the return of the sport turned out 8,533 strong to witness the initial nine-race program of the 1955 southern Illinois season. Featuring the card was the Inaugural Purse, a five and one-half furlongs dash which resulted in the local favorite, Eternal Sam, who races for Lloyd Whiting, getting up in the last strides to garner a head decision over Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Holmans All Tilly. Lucie te, owned by John Zitnik and the public choice, got to the front at the head of the stretch and continuing to show the way to well within the last sixteenth, was third, a length to the rear of the Hojinan representative, . . , . , Gus Fan, owned in partnership by j. and G. Hejna, was two lengths to the rear of the third horse. Gus Fan, a tardy starter, made a game bid midway the stretch and was on practically even terms with the leaders, then hung when set down. Beeston, the second choice and early leader, flattened out when set down just before reaching the last eighth and finished fifth. Following the Fern Valley Stable entrant were Galway Boy, Bold Spot, Flitting Rod, Hard Sis and Mister Plucky. Eternal Sam paid 6.60. The mutuel play on the nine races was 70,230.
