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. r New England By Fred Galiani Johnny Smith Fine Riding Prospect To Stage Annual Horse Show Sunday Boston Doge About Ready to Gallop NARRAGANSETT PARK, Pawtucket, R. I., June 16. Some 30 years ago a horseman, plucked a little kid out of rodeo and calf roping contests in Nebraska and brought him to the race tracks, where he became a well known rider on the Midwest circuit. The youths name was Sammy Steele, now a jockeys valet on the New England circuit. Back on a Nebraska farm, in Ainswroth near Lincoln, his sister married a farmer named Smith, became the mother of nine children, five of them girls. When the oldest son, John E., was 16, Sammy sent for him and brought him to Florida where he launched him on what was to become a riders career. After three years of tutoring, the youngster arrived aj; the Suffolk Downs meeting, where he was the leading "bug" rider with 20 winners. Right at the finislr of that session he was hit with an attack of pleurisy and didnt resume riding unil early this week at Gan-sett. His first winner on his return was the 50 to 1 shot, Belle Chanteuse. Johnny followed almost exactly the pattern of his uncle, that is, by riding pony races and performing in rodeos, but he didnt have to wait until some horsemen spied him. His uncle was just waiting for the proper time. When he was brought east by Steele, he joined the stable of Harold Tinker and stayed with him" for six months, then switching - to Johnny Neruds tutelage, under whom he picked up his riding knowledge for the next two years. He had his first mount on a horse called Printers Gold on April 15, 1953, but it wasnt until a year later that he finally broke his maiden, on April 25 past,-to be exact, when he won with Sooner Time. Actually he had to finish first twice to win his first race. At the previous Lincoln Downs meet he got home under the wire ahead of the field on Long Eaton but his horse was disqualified. Last fall, his contract was sold to W. J. Beattie, whose stable is trained by the old Celt, Pat Brady. Smith is a slight, blond-haired youngster and can do 106 pounds. In many corners he is rated as a coming rider. Not only was he well prepped by Nerud, but his education continues daily as he has a constant tutor and advisor in his uncle Sammy, who is in the jockey room with him constantly. Thus far in his brief career he thinks riding both ends of the Daily Double at Suffolk on June 2 aboard Pavold and Mamselle was his greatest thrill. He is oldest of the Smith boys, there are three more who may find their way to the tracks as all are slight of build. Larry, who is now 16, is to begin his career on uncle Sammys farm at Avon, N. Y., but there will have to be a slight delay until the other two chaps leave Nebraska farmland. One is now 15 and the other seven. The fifth annual Brush Hill Horse Show on the grounds of the Columban Fathers Major Seminary, Milton, Mass., will be held this Sunday and a new attraction will be a class for thoroughbred yearlings bred in New England. Many breeders of nominees for the New England Futurity are expected to appear with their colts and fillies. Two trophies, one for the outstanding colt and one for the outstanding filly, have been donated by Judge James Dooley of Narragansett and Lou Smith of Rockingham Park. Judge John Pappas of Suffolk Downs has been a patron of the show for sev-Continucd on Page Forty-Two New England By FRED GALIANI Continued from Page Six eral years. The thoroughbreds will be the first of 27 classes to be shown on the beautiful seminary grounds. Other classes will include all types of horses from diminutive pets to open jumpers. The Henry Burke Memorial Challenge Trophy will be awarded for the horse winning the working hunter class. A total of " -,500 in cash and other valuable trophies will be offered. Al Ketchell, who has been associated with Sol Rutchick for some time, arrived here with his one horse, Rosa G., from Jamaica, N. Y. A former boxer, he has exuding paternal pride over the news that his son Kenny has won competitive scholarship to St. Johns University. The younger Ketchell will be graduated from St. Francis Xavier Military Academy, New York City, next week. . . . B. A. Dario and his sergeant-at-arms, Eddie Mack, were over to watch the formers Mae Not Tease perform in the juvenile race, although they had little to cheer about. . . . Sam Garfield showed up as a spectator on his vacation from Miami, where he now makes his home. . . . Jack Simpson, 24-year-old son of owner-trainer E. A. Simpson, has joined the staff of this newspaper as a clocker. The elder Simpson was once in the cattle business and was formerly director of racing at the Mitchell, Nebraska, Fair. Jack has-been with his father for the past eight years after discontinuing the pursuit of knowledge at Colorado A. and M. Eddie Anspach returned from Monmouth Park, where he saddled Mrs. Irving Gushens Star Rover to win the Select Handicap, and was on the receiving end of congratulations from his. fellow horsemen. The gray colt will be left in New Jersey for the Lamplighter Handicap on June 25. Eddie also made arrangements to send the marc In Taste to be bred to Mel Hash at B. A. Darios farm. . . . Frank Andolino reports that Boston Doge is coming along nicely and should be ready to start galloping in a day or two. . . . H. W. "Rube" Williams arrived this morning from Aqueduct with Dark Royal, Dominate and Sorority Miss, whom hell campaign for the rest of the session Allen Fairbanks, Newark, N. J., youngster who rode his first winner at the meeting, will be handled by Jimmy Read. . . . When Red Cap finished out of the money in Wednesdays ninth race, he also ended his New England racing careen Under a rule which went into effect on March 15 this year, horses four years old or over who have started for a claiming price of ,000 since July 1, 1954, and have not been first, second or third are barred from racing. Good-bye.
