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Sportsmans Park By J J Murphy 1 1Chicagoans Chicagoans to Cheer Their Derby Choices Ben A JonesTerrang Raced Here in 55 Wager 3832000 at FiveDay Charity Meet MeetSPORTSMANS SPORTSMANS PARK Cicero 111 April 30 This is the week that turf minded Chicagoans who can pos ¬ sible afford it are making arrangements td journey to Churchill Downs for the Ken ¬ tucky Derby Not that they have a local favorite in the field on which to pin their affections but simply to take in the turfs great ¬ est spectacle Only two of the 10 prospective starters with which they have a nodding acquaint ¬ ance are Ben A Jones and Ter rang both of which raced in this sector as twoyearolds last sea ¬ son The Fair Grounds regulars among the turfmen here will be cheering for Reaping Right the Louisiana Derby win ¬ ner and the Florida delegation for Needles the Florida Derby victor Followers of the fortunes of the Calumet Farm Stable and the Jones boys will have a favorite of their own in Fabius while those who delightyin the rags to riches theme can cheer for Count Chic who once ran for a 6000 claiming price Two Chicago owned threeyearolds are on the possible list They are Marks Rickey owned by Angelo Cilio and King o Swords owned by Freeman Keyes The press box favorite Itays Blue Man owned by Dave Feldman will not start One of Chicagos most popular riders Dave Erb who staged a sensational comeback on local courses will be aboard the favored Needles and will have his quota of personal rooters in this area areaDespite Despite the unpleasant weather the Chicago Ameri ¬ can Benefit Fund did not fare too badly during the fiveday meeting staged under Jts auspices at Sports mans Park last week The parimutuel handle for the period was approximately 3832000 which was about 78000 below that of last year Openingday business was 1099628 as compared with 1042000 in 1955 and 1030000 in 1954 The attendance in 1954 was 15054 in 86degree weather and 14384 in cool weather last year This opening day it was 16238 On Saturday the first day of the regular meeting the handle was 1115123 in cold miserable weather as against 1324272 on a balmy 71degree day in 1955 1955Johnston Johnston Busy Giving and Receiving ReceivingPresident President William Johnstons private quarters were filled with wellwishers Saturday as the twentyfifth anniversary meeting of the National Jockey Club got unded way One of the highlights was the presentation of a plaque to Johnston by the central division of the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association Maurice Ginsberg E H McMahon and Emil Denemark did the honors on behalf of the organizatiaon Twentytwo thousand money clips and key rings were ordered as souvenirs and about 14000 doled out When someone suggested the surplus be distributed to the crowd next Saturday by having them scattered from a helicopter flying low over the grandstand area pub ¬ licityminded Lou Diamond said Oh no some one might get hit and one of the first rules in the book is never to injure a horse player playerThose Those of the patrons who selected Jimmy the One an outsider to win the Silver Anniversary Handicap need not be too hasty in patting themselves on the back The horses trainer did not even like his chances tried to scratch him in the morning but got stuck in the draw Silver State the favorite suffered a bad cut on one of his legs when He stumbed leaving the gate in the race Jockey Job Jessop was lucky to retain his seat Ronnie Baldwin had three winners Sat ¬ urday First triple of the meeting Baldwin has always ridden well at this particular track At the end of the first six days of racing Tony Skoronski led Howard Craig by one winning mount At Oaklawn Park the last meeting at which the two clashed Craig topped the list while Tony was fairly well down downJacnot Jacnot Farm Import May Have Full Book BookLAsterisk LAsterisk the French stallion that Coleman Kelly purchased for the account of Jack Hogan and Hogans father owners of Jacnot Farm may be kept quite busy up around Wadsworth 111 where the place is located next spring Paul Serdar Edwin Roth and others have farms in the vicinity and might possibly try him to some of their mares although Roth himself has a promising sire in Roman Bath Bob Cromie who covered the races for his paper during the first week was happy to finish his speculations with a Mexican standoff Joe Lassa who was ailing all last year is himself once again and was a recent visitor to the press box The retired turf v reporter Paul Hirtenstein also looking much better was another to pay a call callTwo Two of the most active horses on the American turf last year are on the grounds in Tonight and SuJay Each started 35 times The condition of starter Roy Dickerson now confined to MacNeal Memorial Hopsital Berwyn continues to improve Examination revealed that Dickerson did not suffer a heart attack It was a kidney ailment that laid him low Ted Doyle editor of the Chicago American being introduced to the boys by Ed Sokol his star c 5urt reporter who is known far and wide as Dynamite Fved Craftou has the registration blanks for the Balmoral meeting
