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„ mmmmmmmmmmmmfmm. Sportsmans Park By J. J. Murphy Recall Two Myrtlewood-Clang Races Clack Puts Mare on Distaff Ballot Columnist Picks Two Lea Above All SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111., May 7.— Twenty years ago, two of the fastest horses ever to race on the Chicago Circuit — Clang and his filly rival, Myrtle-wood wood — — engaged engaged in in a a couple couple of of the the „ mmmmmmmmmmmmfmm. wood — — engaged engaged in in a a couple couple of of the the most memorable match races in turf history. At the end of both events there was hardly the width of a cigarette paper between the noses of the two speed specialists, and they wound up where they had started. Each was victorious once. Fred Hayden, of the Delaware Park publicity staff, writes that in its nationwide poll to rank the top ten fillies and mares in American racing history, came a a ballot ballot from from John John F. F. Clark, Clark, Jr., Jr., ov a a ballot ballot from from John John F. F. Clark, Clark, Jr., Jr., ov owner of Clang, mailed from Metairie, La. Perhaps you can guess who Mr. Clark put right on top. Myrtlewood, of course! Myrtle-wood was not one of the 42 fillies and mares listed on Delaware Parks ballots which were accompanied by past performance sheets covering the 42 racers dating back to Civil War days. But write-ins are permitted in the voting. Also small wonder, then, that Clangs owner sent in the name of Myrtlewood as his first choice. Hawthorne Scene of First Match Myrtlewood and Clang clashed in their first match at Hawthorne in late September, 1935, each carrying 110 pounds over the six -furlong distance. The fillys nose barely showed in front on the wire. Her time was 1:10%. They met again in a match at the same distance and weights on October 12 that fall at the Coney Island track, now River Downs. Once again the result was in doubt righl down to the last stride, but this time Clang took the nod. Those who witnessed the two matches are unlikely ever to forget them. Hayden writes that for his next five selections behind Myrtlewood, Mr. Clark heavily favors old-timers. He picks Imp second, Beldame third, Pan Zareta fourth, Artful fifth, and Miss Woodford, sixth. Back of them, in order, he selects Twilight Tear, Regret, Nellie Morse, and Top Flight. Our personal ballot for the voting on the mares must have gone astray. Therefore, we do not have a complete list of those designated. Were we to mark a ballot we would name only the mares we have seen in action on our 30 odd years on the turf. Undoubtedly such as Beldame, Imp, Artful, and some of the others were great, but the mares that have become imprinted in our memory are Princess Doreen, Lady Broadcast, Twilight Tear, My Dear, Top Flight, Anita Peabody, Myrtlewood, Pan Zareta, Bed o Roses, Busher, Bewitch, and our favorite of all-time, Two Lea. And Next Move, Sickles Image, and Real Delight were clever runners also. So was Honeymoon. Although such as Edith Cavell, Bateau, Regret, Esposa, Rose of Sharon, and Gallorette came within "our time," we never witnessed them in action. Our one, two, three would be Two Lea, Busher, and Top Flight. Cleone Parke Active in Delco Community Affairs Cleone Parke, daughter of Vasco Parke, racing official on all Chicago tracks, has been selected by the faculty of the Delco, Idaho, high school to be one of their two representatives at a state conclave to be held in June. Miss Parke is very active in community affairs in her home town and is a charter member of the National Thespians in which she has won high honors. . . . Robert McAuliffe, the affable racing secretary, celebrated his 44th birthday on Friday. . . . Mrs. A. Childress, wife of former jockey Albert Childress, gave birth to a son at Lewis Memorial Hospital, May 5. It was the fourth child for the couple. Albert is exercising horses at this track. . . . Charles R. Sego, assistant manager of Chicagos swanky Drake Hotel, is a frequent visitor. Nells Boy, who used to stop going five furlongs, now comes from behind at seven panels. . . . The horses of the Reverie Knoll Farm stable, owned by Freeman Keyes, are expected to arrive at Washington Park Tuesday. . . . Jockey Ronnie Phelps is here with the stable trained by J. S. Jones, one of whose patrons is J. Tomlinson, Canadian turfman. . . . King Midas and Steersman were shipped to Fairmount Park by trainer A. H. Johnston. . . . The six-year-old mare, Panade, was courageous right up to the end. Fractured a sessamoid in her last start in which she finished second, was destroyed the next day. . . . Trainer Robert Boyens is back following an absence of a couple of years. Has Auroch and Bloomfield for H. Nichols and War Red and Miss Zenith for his own interests. Tommy Trotter, one of racing secretary Pat Far-rells asssistants at Balmoral and other tracks, is expected to arrive Monday. . . . Farrell will be at Sportsmans Park Wednesday to shake hands with the horsemen. He has a good field lined up for the LaSalle Handicap, opening feature at Balmoral. . . . Jockey Harold Keene, who was recently handed a 10-day suspension, departed for his home at Lowell, Mass. . . . Jockey Harold Featherston will leave for Omaha, Monday. . . . Jockey Steve Kovach, a 23-year-old rider from Dearborn, Mich., checked in from Florida and will ride free lance here for the remainder of the session. . . . Owner C. T. Chrom arrived from Memphis accompanied by his son. . . . Noble Lad and Chowgarh, owned by M. N. Goodwin, have been shipped to New York.
