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Sportsmans Park By j j Murphy 1 1George George Ellis Thoughts Travel to Derby Rode in Famous Race on Eight Occasions On Winner of First Carded 1 00000 Race RaceSPORTSMANS SPORTSMANS PARK Cicero 111 May 3 On this the eve of the Tunning of the eightythird Kentucky r roibv oibv the thouehts of at least one man with thorough ¬ breds at this course traveled back down memory lane to the days when he occupied a spot in the turf limelight similar to that held by Arcaro Hartack Shoemaker and the other riders having mounts in the classic event this season That man is George Ellis a somewhat pudgy fellow of 52 who during his career as a jockey had eight Kentucky Derby mounts His greatest regret is that although he rode winners of many of the nations greatest races in his salad days not one of his charges ever graced the winners circle after the running of the Blue Grass feature Closest he came was to finish third with G H Bostwicks Mate in the 1931 renewal That was Twenty Grands year and Mate and Twenty Grand were arch rivals in the threeyearold ranks Following the Derby Ellis beat Twenty Grand with Mate in the Preakness but Twenty Grand again turned the tables in taking the Belmont Stakes to wind up the champion of the Triple Crown series However Ellis a top rider for 10 years or more was a hero in a number of other important stakes He won the Hopeful in 1928 with Jack High who beat Blue Larkspur who was the Kentucky Derby favorite the following season and was unplaced in the race taken by Clyde Van Dusen Ellis also rode the winner of one of the first 100000 added races ever run when he steered Victorian to victory in the first Caliente Handicap in 1930 Ellis received 20000 for winning with Victorian VictorianAuto Auto Accident Ended Saddle Career CareerDuring During his career Ellis rode for some of the coun ¬ trys most noted stables He was contract rider for Greentree Stable at one time Ellis was still a leading jockey in 1934 when a freak accident not on the turf but while riding in an automobile on a Florida highway virtually put an end to his saddle career A car driven by a fellow jockey Eddie DeCamillas careened off the road turned over and Ellis neck was broken in two places He was forced to wear a neck brace for several years during whicnHime he was periodically a hospital patient Always a chap of considerable courage Ellis became a steeplechase rider when his neck had mended After having been away to a good start with the timbertoppers and winning several races Ellis took a spill that spelled finis to his career During his riding days Ellis suffered many broken bones but he came out of it frisky as a kitten is now hale and hearty and says if he had a choice he would try it all over again againFollowing Following his retirement from the saddle Ellis im ¬ mediately took up training and in the early forties was engaged to handle the horses of a wealthy Mexican sportsman He journeyed to the Mexico City course and did not return to the United States for eight years At one time he had over 50 horses in charge for various Mexican owners He is currently conditioning the horses of the B H Stable at this meeting The star of the outfit is Rock Pilot who will be a starter in the Thomas D Nash Memorial Handicap here Saturday Ellis orig ¬ inally came from Idaho a state that has produced many fine riders He still has some property in Twin Falls One of his fondest memories aside from his appearance in top races is his close association with the late great George Woolf Woolf was a youngster just coming up when Ellis was a seasoned veteran and ihe two spent many hours discussing the problems of their profession As for this years Kentucky Derby aside from sentimental reminiscences Ellis has no particular interest in it May the best horse win he says adding that his greatest concern Saturday will be in the per ¬ formance of Rock Pilot in the Nash NashMcLeod McLeod Shipping Large String to Chicago ChicagoAn An old friend is returning to Chicago racing next week in the person of trainer Norman Yorkie McLeod He has sent word that he is bringing two carloads of racers from Maryland Some of the runners are owned by Mrs Vernon Cardy wife of a former Canadian hotel tycoon whose Levee was adjudged the second best threeyearold filly of 1956 Levee won the Coaching Club American Oaks and the Beldame Handicap both run at Belmont She is expected to be among those thoseMcLeod McLeod is bringing along Horses owned by Charles CharlesT T Fishers Dixiana stable have arrived at Washington Park for the Balmoral meeting in charge of trainer Jack Hodgins They are 19 in number numberDashing Dashing Squaw a twoyearold who has won two of her three starts was a 500 yearling purchase proving that some men can pick up a bargain at those Keeneland sales The Blossom Stable whose run ¬ ners won 10 races all last season have reached half that total in less than two weeks at Sportsmans Park Have accounted for five purses They are trained by Neil Glass Burnt Child who sprung a surprise in trimming some good ones at Washington Park last year is training well here A music publisher has sent publicist Lou Diamond a record of a jingle called the Daily Double Hop that he wishes to substitute for Boots and Saddled in calling the horses to the post for the opening race each afternoon
