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— I On the Trot 1 Br MOKKIE KURLANSKY 1 III Fortune Befalls Wagner Stable Queens Egotist/ Clara Colleen Lost Riegle Arrives from Winter Quarters MAYWOOD PARK, Maywood, HI., May 7. — The worst break of bad luck befell the stable owned and trained by E. F. Wagner of Springfield, 111., during the last few -days. While Ray Wagner, one of the sons of the well known horseman, raced the older members of the stable here since opening night, E. F. stayed in Springfield to train the younger stock. Although such veteran campaigners as Theodores First, Fox De Luxe, Miss Lady Pine and others were not able to win a race yet, Wagners colts and fillies trained splendidly and it was hoped that the colts and "fillies would do more than make up fouthe disappointing showing of the aged horses. On more than one occasion, trainers like Dee Stover, Bob Parkinson and Mel Harmening, who also keep a number of colts at the Springfield Fairgrounds, reported that the Wagners should have a banner season with their younger horses, the way they were going-through morning workouts there. However, two weeks ago, two horses in the stable, Miss Goldie G. and Lee Hope, the latter a- winner of three races at Magnolia Park last fall, suffered training mishaps of a serious nature and had to be turned out for good. The four-yearrold pacing- colt, Queens Egotist, apparently was headed to become the Wagnors best horse this season. Only lightly raced as a three-year-old, the Spencer Tell son broke his maiden at Magnolia, then was laid up for the rest of the 55 season to be given more time to grow and develop. Last Friday, Wagners patience with the colt was rewarded when " he worked a mile in a splendid 2:05 over the Springfield half-mile oval. Sunday morning, Queens Egotist and Clara Colleen, a promising trotting mare, were loaded in a trailer and shipped to Maywood, when Queens Egotist was slated to make his seasonal debut in an early-closing event Tuesday. Near Williamsville, a farmer saw the trailer ablaze and flagged down the truck driver. Ifc was too late, however, Queens Egotist and Clara Colleen already had succumbed in the flames. It was a tragic blow for the Wagners, one that might possibly force them out of the race horse business the family has pursued for generation. Stover, president of the Illinois Harness Horsemens Association, has not been reached for comment relating to whether his organization will be able to alleviate the .long-time Illinois owners great; loss. Nathan Allen, president of the May-wood Park Trotting Association, following Joe Harbutts sudden demise, appointed Mat Harbutt, son of the deceased, as track superintendent, while James "Swede" Olmstead, for .many years assistant t o Harbutt, was promoted t o superintendent of maintenance. . . . Bob Parkinson flew to Rosecroft Raceway to drive Brightside Farms two-minute pacer, Hundred Proof, in the opening night feature at the Maryland half-miler. . . . It is doubtful whether Martin C. Alwerts fast pacing gelding, Peter Vangundy, will get another start at this meeting after Saturdays rain-out as the Howard Hanover son is staked at Buffalo Raceway for a weekly series of 5,000 events. Harmening, like Parkinson, will leave the bulk of his stable here and make flying trips to drive Peter Vangundy in his eastern engagements. ... A division of the Peter Pan stable shipped to Detroit to participate at the forthcoming Wolverine Raceway meeting. Gene Riegle, popular trainer-driver with local fans, arrived here with his public stable from winter training quarters at Greenville, Ohio. At the conclusion of the recent Santa Anita meeting, Victor and Morris Zeinfeld of Maywood decided to split their stable and sent their two trotters, Ethan Morris" and Victor Morris, to Roosevelt in charge of trainer Clint Hodgins, while Red Scott came here with the pacing division of the stable. It seems their decision was a wise one. Both Ethan Morris and Victor Morris already have entered the winners circle at the Long Island track. Victor Morris last week triumphed in 2:04%, which puts him in a tie for the seasons record for aged geldings with Lanier Hanover. When Parkinson scored an upset victory with Jamie in the S25,000 American Trotting Championship at Roosevelt last June, the Brightside Farms trainer-driver followed a race strategy mapped out for him by Floyd Milton. Jamie had drawn the seventh post position in the bulky field and Parkinson originally intended to use his trotters great early speed to go for the lead from the start. Milton, who raced his stable at Roosevelt, advised Parky to drop Jamie in on the rail and wait with his move until the final quarter. Miltons idea of how the race would be run proved correct. There was so much early speed in the one mile and a quarter event that the tiring: leaders became easy prey for Jamies stout finish. The Darnley stallion came close to Floricans world record when he was timed hK2:33?g, just three-fifths of a second off the standard. i
