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Knights Reward Popular Winner at Detroit Oval VanBerg Gelding Takes Measure Of Trip Lightly Before 16,623 By DON FAIR Staff Correspondent DETROIT RACE COURSE, Livonia, Mich., June 18. Marion H. VanBergs Knights Reward, a quick six - year - old Reaping Reward-sired gelding, raced to a popular victory in the Livonia Rotary Purse here this summerlike afternoon before a crowd of 16,623. Knights Reward, unleashing a powerful stretch run under jockey Lois Cook, who was completing a saddle double, sped to the end of the six furlongs two and one-half lengths before Mrs George C. Whites game-running Trip Lightly. Foxie Jeanie, early pacemaker and stablemate of Knights Reward, ran third five lengths off the White filly and three-quarters of a length in advance of Theodore D. Buhls Second Avenue. Only six horses started in the Livonia Rotary, one of the better offerings on the week-end card. Grace Kosibas Sub Factor finished fifth while Duke Singers Hangover trailed. The latter colt was the high weight under the allowances at 122 pounds. Timed Six Furlongs in 1:10 Knights Reward, a good class winner of two Chicago engagements and successful here m the Mechanical Day Purse, shouldered 116 pounds and raced the three-quarters of a mile over the fast track in a commendable 1:10. The VanBerg pair went to the post favored at 3-to-2. Knights Reward, a probable Michigan Mile Candidate, was given a nice round of applause when Cook galloped him back to the scales after the speedy trip. Starter Johnny Morrissey caught the small Livonia Rotary Purse field in good alignment immediately after the last hors ?re thf ga- The band went away from the stalls in a "line break" and Sub Factor showed in front momentarily. The Kosiba colt, however, was unable to stay with Foxie Jeanie, who set a dazzling pace m tlje initial four furlongs, reaching the quarter in :22 and the half mile marker in Hoys. Cook kept Knights Reward within striking distance of the leader to the stretch and, after the ultimate victor put Trip Lightly away, the VanBerg gelding drew clear. Trip Lightly held on courageously Continued on Page Fifty-One Knights Reward Popular Winner at Detroit Oval VanBerg GeldingTakes Measure Of Trip Lightly Before 1 6,623 Continued from Page Six three times and third once, earning 29,675. The nomination of Spur On and Second Avenue insures that the winners of both the previous 0,000 Michigan Miles will be back to seek a repeat, along with the horses that ran closely behind them, Precious Stone behind Spur On, and El jay, Second Avenues nearest 1953 rival. Top attraction on the Monday program at the local course is the U and I Club Purse, a one-mile condition race for three-year-olds and older. Marion H. VanBerg will saddle an entry in the headliner, Dagazha, 112, and the hard-hitting Endon, 121 pounds. Jockey Lois Cook will be astride one of the VanBerg stable starters in the Monday feature. Others slated to start in the U and I are Bee Tee Stables Bettys Beauty, 111; Ralph A. Paracheks Best Fleet. 112; Tamarack Stables Bright Shoes, 121, and Mrs. George C. Whites Speed OLight, 105. pounds. The. apprentice allowance is claimed for Bettys Beauty and Speed OLight. Little Bobby Bright will handle Bettys Beauty in the Monday test, Emil Roy rides Best Fleet, and Joe Gregory will be at the reins on Speed OLight. Mike Basile, af- filiated with the Tamarack Stable, will pilot Bright Shoes.
