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" hi?W.W" ; — i t i _ New England By Fred Galiani • 1 The Lighter Side of the Racing Scene Official Answers Newsmans Question Horseman Solves His Own Stall Problem SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., June 4.— The Lighter Side: This happened here at the Downs some years ago, when hurdle racing was in vogue for its hi?W.W" ; — i " short short lived lived existence. existence. One One day day short short lived lived existence. existence. One One day day there appeared in the entries for a jump race the name of a horse who should have been utterly and completely drummed out of the genus equinus. He had never been remotely close in a flat race. His presence in the field prompted a local newsman to ask an attache of the racing secretarys office some questions. How, he wanted to know, could they allow such a horse horse to to be be entered entered in in a a hurdle hurdle horse horse to to be be entered entered in in a a hurdle hurdle race? "Well," answered this ingenuous chap assuring the scribe, "you know the stable wouldnt think of entering him if he didnt have a chance. Believe me, they know what they are doing." Now comes the race. At the very first jump, the horse smashes into the side rails of the fence. Wood flies in all directions, the jockey is tossed into the infield and the horse somersaults like a tumbler before getting up and following the field. Feeling vindicated, the newman rushed to the official and exclaimed, "what did I tell you! Wasnt I right in saying this horse should have been barred?" Undaunted not a whit, the chap, in all sincerity, replied, "how can you say that? Why the horse needed that race." Morrow Recalls Incident at Pascoag The problem of getting stalls around race tracks is becoming so much of a headache that it may wind up on the" UN agenda. But Gordon" Morrow, working at Pascoag in the old days, had an experience in that line that probably will never happen again. One afternoon a fellow came into his office, with his horse outside in a van. There wasnt an available stall anywhere on the grounds, swore Morrow. So what, the fellow wanted to know. He didnt want a stall. He had his own with him. All he requested was space some-here on the track here he could build his portable barn. . . . Then there was the time at Rockingham where the mountain came to Mohammed. Handicapper Dave Wilson was unable to keep an appointment at the dentist, so the latter came to the track with his drill, set it up in the carpenter shop and proceeded to whir it away on his patient. * An acquaintance attended a Preakness many years ago at old Pimlico, on a thoroughly rainy Saturday. In the course of the day he celebrated steadily and profusely at the potable counter, not leaving until his Pennsylvania breast was moved by the stirring strains of "Maryland, My Maryland." Then he wended his way out to view the Preakness. He was blissfully standing there awaiting the race, when a fellow next to him tugged on his coat and told him to move over. In high dudgeon the celebrant informed his neighbor to mind his own business. Which the latter did, leaving our friend still standing under a water spout, the rain cascading off him in a miniature Niagara Falls. Allan Rose, who got Baby Spot up to win by a nose in Fridays third race, was scoring his first victory since he hit the comeback trail last week. Rose was sidelined since last October with a broken leg and has -been put on the ailing list since with an injured ankle. Rose will do most of his riding for Mike Freeman. . . . If Norman Mercier maintains his lead in the jockeys race for todays final card, he will wind up the, king of the meeting, the first time he has ever accomplished such a feat. One of the better riders in New England," Mercier has always been among the leaders but has always just missed the magic circle. . . . Eddie Haugh-ton, who has his stable quartered at Narragansett, came up for Fridays program and spent a biisy day renewing old acquaintances. Mann to Ride During Gansett Meet Mrs. Gordon Morrow wishes to thank the many friends of her husband who sent cards and notes of condolence while Gordon was hospitalized. Gordons legion of friends sent so many that Mrs. Morrow would never be able to thank them all individually and wishes , to convey her thanks through this paper. . . . Walter Mann arrived from Garden State Park and will ride at the Gansett meeting, mainly for Arthur Bronsdon. This is the first time the latter has been at the Paw-tucket track in five or six years. . . . Red Kelly has taken over the engagement book of jockey Gene Martin, contract rider for the River Divide Farm,, which has one of the years most promising juveniles in Decathlon. . . . Freddie Ryan turned in a good ride to get Kensington Ted home in the eighth race Friday. Just as New Jersey abounds in Kellys, the Harrisons are in force in New England. Dave is a patrol judge here, Eileen works in the horsemens bookkeepers office, Walter is a placing judge and little Eddie Harrison is an embryo jockey, who has ridden one race here. . . . Narragansett will continue its practice of . designating every Tuesday as Ladies Day, on which all the fair sex will be admitted free of charge. Ladies Day was started back in 1953 at the Pawtucket plant. . . . Suffolk was a cinch to surpass the attendance mark of last year, despite the overcast weather of the final day of the meeting. . . . Over 70 entries were filed through the box this morning at the Downs for the Gansett opening day. ~
