view raw text
Mi -Marigold Narragansett Victress Leads Practically Throughout Event Crowd of 10,046 Welcomes Sport Back to Rhode Island; Favored Bank Coal Is Second By FRED GALIANI NARRAGANSETT PARK, Pawtucket, R. I., June. 6. — A crowd of 10,046 turned out on a beautiful spring afternoon to greet the return of the horses to little Rhode Island. Although there was no stake on the opening day card, the winner of the feature event was former stakes mare, Mi-Marigold, owned by Mrs. A. K. Gallagher,- of Pawtucket, R. I. The five-year-old mare lead for almost all of the journey and triumphed by a half length over Red Head Stables Favored Bank Coal. A • length farther back was Jake Friedmans Wabash Moon. Mi-Marigold paid 1.20 and sped the mile and a sixteenth over the fast track in 1:44% with Anthony Tavares doing the urging. Mi-Marigold will be remembered as the winner of the Vineland Handicap at Garden State Park in 1953. Mi-Marigold, a bay daughter of Wrack, of Gold Margus, had won only one race in nine previous outings this season, but she set a new track record for a mile .and three-sixteenths at Hialeah on that occasion while running for a 0,000 claiming tag. This was her second trip to the post in New Fngland and she had trailed Amyn Bey in a division of the Commonwealth Handicap at Suffolk prior to today. Takes Lead on First Turn Mi-Marigold broke, from the extreme outside post and fougiit it out with Bank Coal and Ronas in the run past the stands and around the first turn, where he eventually took complete command. With Tavares sitting chilly, the mare continued to pace Bank Coal and Ronas, while Wabash Moon was a close fourth in the run down the backstretch. Ronas dropped out of it midway of the last turn, as Bank Coal was put under the whip in an effort to get to the leader. Rounding the final turn, Tavares pulled his stick and dealt Mi-Marigold a couple of cracks, as Bank Coal came to within striking distance. The latter appeared to be lugging in the final drive, but, despite this, Mi-Marigold obviously had the situation well in hand and maintained her margin to the wire. Wabash Moon continued on for third place, while Condamion, who had been a distant trailer, picked her way between horses to finish fourth in a late bid. Narragansett was blessed with a good day for the inauguration of their twenty-second season of racing, but the attendance was "less than the 15,037 which turned out for Monday of August 2, 1954, which was the opening of their first meeting last season. -s
