view raw text
Aqueduct By Chuck Connors Times and Customs Change on Racing Scene Women Play Important Role at Many Tracks Take Over Positions Formerly Held by Men AQUEDUCT, L. I., N. Y., June 17. The dog days, doldrums or whatever you prefer to call them, are here. That old feeling of lassitude has taken over the mem bers of the paddock gang, individually and collectively. This morning under summery skies the boys could not raise sufficient energy to organize a quorum and discuss matters pertaining to racing. That is indeed a bad sign and in a way leaves your correspondent out on a limb when it comes to passing on the glean-, ings of the grapevine. The weather changed for the better,, the admission crew blossomed out in summer uniforms, the boys in the grandstand wore the latest in sport shirts, some went a shade farther and were bedecked in undershirts. The sport shirts would make ideal racing colors "for they could be seen by a weak-kneed student over at the far turn, happen. Anyway, there is one thing about Aqueduct, it is democratic when it comes to dress in warm weather. Back in the old days before the advent of the totali-sator, coats and ties were compulsory to pass the turnstiles. Anyway, these regulations still prevail for the clubhouse and are enforced. Times and customs have changed in the racing scene in recent years and the distaff invasion is in full swing. Today every race track has its quota of telephone operators, stenographers, private secretaries, nurses and during the war some of the "tote" windows, Garden State, for example, were manned by women. The girls maintain some of the most pretentious menages in training and their racing silks are prominent from coast to coast. The invasion on the part of the women for posts in racing that were once held by men started, shortly, after the first world war. Attends Balmoral Finale-Arlington Opener J. Samuel Perlman will be an absentee here this week end. He is going to Chicago for the final day of the Balmoral-at-Washington Park meeting and the opening of the Arlington Park season. . . . Sam Cohen, connoiseur of objets dart, student of Daily Doubles and a Hialeah .regular, checked in yesterday for a lengthy stay. He came down from Boston, where he spent several weeks. . . . Gary Lefkovitz, one of the veterans of the old days on the lawn, was admitted to the Jewish home for the blind, Bronx, N. Y. He had been on the ailing list for some time with his eyes. . . . Pat Provenzano chepked out for his up-state home but promised to be back ere long. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Nelson I. Asiel were among those present for the afternoon. The visit was his first since undergoing surgery some weeks ago. . . . Stephen "Laddie" Sanford came out for the steeplechase offering. The fiftieth annual dinner of the Turf Benevolent Society will be held at Whites restaurant, on Fulton Street, Saturday, July 23 at 8 pjn. The announcement was made by Ira Pennock of that organization. . . . Johnny Morris, one of the veterans of racing, he has been on the retired list for several years, will undergo surgery in Miami the latter part of this month. He recently celebrated his 84th natal day. . . . Trainer John B. Partridge decided that he will summer some of his charges during the Saratoga Springs-at-home meeting. The other members of the menage will be shipped to the Union Avenue course. . . . Fred Capo-sella, son of the "verce" on the public address system on the New York tracks, was graduated from LaSalle Academy yesterday. The youngster plans to enter Fordham University this fall for an engineering course. Mr. Fitz Hopes to See Oaks on TV Joe E. Lewis, turfdqms favorite comic, relayed word from Las Vegas that he will be at Saratoga Springs in August. The visit is strictly a pleasure one, but he has no objections to picking a winner or two.-. . . Major Albert Warner planed out to Los Angeles and will be among the missing for a month. He campaigns the Wafbern Stable. . . . Trainer Jim Fitzsimmons is hopeful that the Delaware Oaks will be televised on Saturday. The reason, he shipped High Voltage from the Wheatley Stable to race in that offering, but decided against making the trip. . . . Wee Wah was shipped in from Monmouth Park for the optional claiming event on Saturdays program. The visitor will race for W. R. Taylor. . . . G. H. "Pete" Bostwick vanned over Warbler and Calibogue from Belmont Park for short trials over the local strip. . . . Trainer Joe Mergler plans to return Westward Ho, owned by Breckenridge Long, to Delaware Park following the running of the Shevlin Stakes. Aeschylus, owned by Douglas R. Small, arrived from Delaware for his Shevlin engagement. The son of Orestes m. and Barbara R. was named for an ancient Greek, who, according to the legend, was killed when an eagle in flight dropped a turtle on his head. The story has it that the eagle mistook the bald spot for a rock. Owner Small hopes that the placing judges will never make such a mistake in their placings if Aeschylus ever pokes his nose in front at the finish line. . . . Black Main, a four-year-old daughter of Double Jay and Balm of Gilead, will be shipped here Saturday for her Distaff engagement on Monday. The Warner L. Jones filly will be turned over to G. P, "Maje" Odom to saddle for the race. . . . Joe W. Brown, the New Orleanian, has cancelled plans for a New York trip. Press of business was the reason but he hopes to head this way for the fall session at Belmont Park.
