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Detroit Don Fair : By -I Card 0,000 Tune-up for Michigan Mile Several Nominees in Governors Handicap July 4th Biggest Day of MRAs Meeting DETROIT RACE COURSE, Livonia, Mich., June 25. Though this season will bring the third running of the Michigan Mile since it was given a 0,000 purse, this is the first time that racing secretary Charles McLennan scheduled a stakes race that could be used by turfmen as a tune-up a few days before the mile itself. The "get-ready" event is the 0,000 Governors Handicap for three-year-olds and upward at six furlongs. It will be the Independence Day feature and McLennan is delighted with the response to it. More than a dozen Michigan Mile nominees -aire eligible for the Governors Handicap and several of them definitely plan to start. One of them is Spur On, the 1954 Michigan "Mile champion, who is being shipped from Chicago. Another is Second Avenue, winner of the 1953 Michigan Mile renewal. The Governors Handicap will be run at a distance that is two furlongs shorter than the mile and it precedes the latter event by five days on the calendar. Hence it is exactly the kind of a sharpener many trainers seek. From the public standpoint, the appearance of the Michigan Mile nominees in the Governors Handicap will add shine to the Fourth of July card. That particular holiday has become most popular with Michigan thoroughbred followers. Memorial Day once was the biggest holiday of the season. It was exceeded in mutuel play by the Fourth in 1954 and 1953. The record Daily Double handle for the Detroit Race Course came through the windows on July 4, 1953. Big Afternoon for VanBerg Stable Marian H. VanBerg, popular Columbus, Nebraska, turfman, sent out three, winners at the local course last Saturday afternoon; Crimson Dust, Solicit, and the stakes-winner, Vantage. The latter, a six-year-old Okapi-sired gelding, posted his second victory of the current meeting, trouncing, six quick rivals in the eight furlongs Kappa Delta Purse, top attraction on the week-end program. Vantage spotted weight to each member of the field and raced along in 1:37 for a handy length and one-quarter decision over Tamarack Stables Sharbot, and M. T. Gilpins Arson, an Italian-bred importation and good class winner of five races last year. Vantage, who had the saddle services of diminutive Larry Gilligan, certainly qualified impressively for his July 9 Michigan Mile engagement. Under mild urging during the last quarter mile of the Kappa Delta, the VanBerg star probably could have increased his winning margin had he been put under sterner t pressure. Arson, making his initial public appearance here, gave a fair performance and he undoubtedly will improve off the effort. Arsons third to Helioscope and Ifabody in Bowies Southern Maryland on May 26 stamps him as a useful racer. His appearance in the Michigan Mile field will add an international touch to the 0,000 classic. Frederick B. Pohls Bay Bloom, handsome six-year-old Irish-bred stallion, successful last autumn in Churchill Downs historic Clark Handicap, is training smartly but may not be ready in time for so serious a test as the Mile. Trainer Pohl had Bay Bloom out early Monday morning for a five-eighths mile trial. Pohl expressed satisfaction after the son of Coup De Lyon and Cellular accomplished the task in 1:01 quite handily. Trainer VanBerg established a good lead in the conditioning standings when his three charges scored Saturday. The Cornhusker-state horseman saddled 22 winners through June 25 racing and Vester R. Wright tightened the girth on 19 victors. Bryan H. Wise, William Zakoor and L. G. "Buster" Bedwell also are well up with the leaders. Jockey Lois Cook began the Monday card with 40 winning trips, Sherman Armstrong, absent on the week end to pilot Trim Destiny in the Ohio Derby, has 26 winners while Johnny Sellers, who departed for Arlington Park, posted 25 victories during his local campaign. Bobby Baird, who recently returned to the saddle after serving a rough riding suspension, is expected to gain on the top race riders. Through Saturday, the Huntsville, Texas, rider had 20 winners to his credit. Hotelman Page Takes in MRA Sport Fair Facts: Robert Page, manager of the new Florida Hotel, Lakeland, Florida, is a Detroit Race Course visitor, the guest of MRA vice-president Paul Chandler and Detroit News turf editor, George Krehbiel. . Miss Esther L. McSween, Michigan Racing Commission secretary, returned to her desk Monday. She plans to spend a few hours daily at the commission office. . . . Miss McSweentecently underwent surgery at Harper Hospital. . . . This corner is indebted to William S. Evans, II.-, general manager of the Breeders Sales Company, for the latest "run down" on Lexington, Kentuckys "hub cap" situation. . . . Lou Lemp, veteran jockey room attache, is widely known among racing folk as an outstanding saddle and tack maker. . . . Thomas F. Devereux homebred Greatest, a Governors Stakes arid Michigan Mile hopeful, worked four furlongs in :48 handily Monday morning. . . . Great-ests move was satisfactory to trainer Pat Devereux.
