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r lrl Arlington Park By J. J. Murphy Opening-Day Handle Up, Attendance Down Doc Eggers Beaten Only Once in Four Starts Blue Lem to ThistleDown for Ohio Derby ARLINGTON PARK, Arlington Heights, 111., June 21. This meeting, generally regarded as the outstanding session in the nation at this particular time of year, cot got off off to to a a satisfactory satisfactory start start on on cot got off off to to a a satisfactory satisfactory start start on on Monday. The weather . could not have been termed ideal, as it was .a bit too humid, but business showed an increase of about 0,-000 over the opening day of 1954. The attendance, however, decreased about 1,500 from the inaugural of last season. The racing was generally good, with the success of the Kentucky-bred colt, Doc Eggers, in the Primer, coming ing as as somewhat somewhat of of a a surprise surprise de- de- ing as as somewhat somewhat of of a a surprise surprise de- de- r lrl spite the fact that he had never been beaten on a fast track. His only downfall in four starts came about on a muddy strip during the Balmoral meeting. Doc Eggers, a son of Royal Gem H., out of the mare Balla Tryst, was bred by Ed Axton, one of his owners, the other owner being Nick Burger, who is also the trainer. Due credit should also be given to Flight History, owned by Mrs. Ada L. Rice, who finished a close-up second. Patrons had their first glimpse of jockey Willie Har-tack, who is at present leading Willie Shoemaker for the American jockey honors. Hartack looked good in the saddle and piloted one winner. Fruehquf Colt Meets Honeys Alibi Again It was announced today that the three-year-old Blue Lem, owned by Harvey Fruehauf, Detroit trailer manufacturer, would be sent to ThistleDown to run in the Ohio Derby, to be decided at that course Saturday. Blue Lem ran a smashing race back of Honeys Alibi in the Chicagoan, the closing day headliner of the Balmoral meeting, coming from last place to be a fast going second. He will have another crack at the California-bred colt in the Ohio Derby, the" distance of which is a furlong farther than was the Chicagoan. Honeys Alibi has already left for Cleveland in charge of trainer Joe Ingelone. Blue Lenas greatest claim to fame was a good second to Nashua last winter. Honeys Alibi ran his best race to date in the Chicagoan. Jockey Johnny Longden, generally regarded as the dean of American saddlesmiths, although not as old as a couple of other fellows still doing their stint on the -tracks of the land, will be here Wednesday to have the mount on the California filly, In Reserve, in the Cleopatra Handicap. Johnny bred the miss and is quite naturally greatly interested in her progress, not only because of her close connection with him, but due to the fact that his son Vance is the trainer of In Reserve. It is unlikely that the senior Longden will remain over for any additional days of racing at this time, but is likely to be back later in the year for a lengthier stay. The running of the Cleopatra brings to memory Arab Actress, the fine filly who was successful in the three-year-old filly affair two years ago. Arab Actress is on the grounds in the stable of Mrs. H. J. Damm, and according to trainer R. H. Raines has been going along satisfactorily. . . . Prize Story, who started in the fifth race Tuesday, is the first of the get of the mighty Citation to appear on a Chicago track. The miss is owned by Mrs. Ada L. Rice. . . . Trainer Nick Burger announced that the next engagement for Doc Eggers. the Primer winner, would be in the Hyde Park Stakes, 0,000 added, to be run Monday, July 4. . . . Joseph Tomlinson, whose wife owns Homeplace, and A. B. Hancock, Jr., were here for the opening. Too bad their colt ran such a disappointing race in the Primer. Following the running of the event Tomlinson departed for Toronto and Hancock for Lexington. Prince Noor Shows Some Improvement Dr. W. O. Reed, prominent veterinarian of Elmont, L. I., N. Y., is visiting and was looking over some of the runners in the Hasty House Farm stable. Inci- dentally, when Prince Noor, from that barn, performed opening day it was the first time he had been postward since having been altered. Although he showed some signs of his former temperament in leaving the starting gate and was outrun by a dozen lengths or more down the backstretch, he finished fast and may become an important factor in three-year-old ranks before the meeting ends. Summer Solstice, imported three-year-old from Hasty House, tried the dirt for the first time in the same race and turned in a creditable performance. He forced the early pace and was a close-up fourth. Nomination for the meanest thief is the person who entered the room of "Peaches" Morton, the blind trainer, the other day and made off with Mortons radio and all his clothes. . . . William Hal Bishop proved that he plays no favorites when it comes to claiming horses in taking Regis from Calumet Farm in the first race opening day. Bishop recently lost Tahitian for ,500 and claimed Regis for a like amount. . . . First spill of the meeting was taken by apprentice John Sellers, who is riding here for the first time. Was unseated from Coronation Boy leaving the starting gate. . . . Big Stretch, one-time stake star in the Greentree Stable and making his first start in two years, finished second and might have won in a few more strides. Now runs for Hasty House Farm. . . . Several members of the Brooklyn Dodgers were present opening day, among them Duke Snider and Pee Wee Reese. They had Tom Sheehan, the Giant scout, as their advisor and tis said Tom scouted them up a few winners.
