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New England By Fred Gcliani * Local Runners Ready for Lincoln Special Rockcastle Impressive in Week-End Score Morrissey Tells of False Start Rarities LINCOLN DOWNS, Lincoln, R. I., May 6.— For too, too long local horsemen have dejectedly watched the big money pots of the New England circuit invariably be carted off to other sectors of the country by invading horses from New York, New Jersey and elsewhere. But as the saying goes, to the victor belongs the spoils, and they can do nothing by sigh as their charges are beaten by better horses. The first of New Englands fat purses will be the 0,000 Lincoln Special, on closing day May 20, and it has attracted some of the more imposing lights of the handicap world, including Fabius, Midafternoon, Jet Action, Star Rover, Paper Tiger, Switch On and others. But judging from the result of the week-ends feature race, the local handicap brigade this year is not .without some potent war horses. Mrs. Joseph Leones Rockcastle and Mclvor Pricketts Motor Line, who finished one-two in the West Springfield, served notice they will not be lightly handled. Rockcastle, winner of his second straight race on a comeback campaign, looked especially impressive as he overcame trouble to win the seven-furlong race. The huge son of Fervent, who stands over 17 hands and towers over his rivals, was bumped rounding the clubhouse turn and carried out. The momentary setback dropped him back to the rear, but down the backstretch he got back into his ground -devouring stride and by the time they had reached the far turn was back in contention. Warren Lane rode a well-judged, vigorous ride and never had to resort to the whip as he relentlessly wore down Motor I line and Double Bid to score by almost a length. Rockcastle pulled up in good shape and will be all set for the Special. Motor Line Runs Creditable Race Motor Line, who was making only his second start of the year, turned in an equally impressive race. The handsome, well-built son of Bimelech, radiating spendor in the paddock, was hit going into the far turn, then forced out Rockcastle, but George Gibb had him soon in second position. Coming into the stretch Motor Line had dead aim on the pace-setting Double Bid, who drifted out and laid on the Prickett colt. Then again, Motor Line was carrying 122 pounds to 109 on Rockcastle, which, along with his two impediments, were too many disadvantages to overcome. But he was by no means disgraced. Both Rockcastle and Motor Line have competed against the top flight in New York in recent years and not without some success. On their home grounds for the Lincoln Special, they may have a slight advantage. At any rate, the climactic piece of the meeting should be a corking race. With the arrival of the electric starting gates, what has long been regarded as the supreme sinecure has _ been the job of recall man, the solitary chap who stands up the track from the barrier with his red flag and klaxon with which to warn the riders in case of a false start. The recall man probably goes into action about as often as the government cuts taxes. Unfortunately there isnt a recall man as Lincoln Downs, because on Friday he would have had a chance to use his flag. The false start, which took place in the fourth race when a fractious horse sprung all but four of the stalls, was the first in this travelers experience and had many of the regular New Englanders racking their brains for the previous occurrence. Jimmy PicarUlo recalled a similar instance at the Franklin Fair some 11 years ago, while Oscar Foster was positive a false start took place in 1934 at Rockingham. But that was the sum total of the combined memories of all the veterans. Second Experience in 27 Years Starter Johnny Morrissey, who has been in the pagoda for 27 years, was experiencing his second incident in all that time. "What happened was that the inside horse got fractious and rammed through the gate, breaking the circuit on all of the stalls but three. I didnt even have the button in my hand," he said. "I started yelling No Go! No Go! Some of the boys heard me and began pulling up, outrider Georgie Schreiner waved some of them down while Ernie Mower was a big help in yelling to the other riders to pull up. The only other false start I had was at Detroit some five years ago and it happened the same way. A fractious horse broke through and caused a failure in the circuit. The only difference was that that time there was a horse just coming into the gate when the others left. But it was like the other day, none of them went too far. "Some funny thing can happen at the gate," went on John. "One time at Santa Anita the starter sent away a field from the six furlongs chute. And it was a perfect start, except for one thing. He didnt see George Woolf on his horse down at the five-eighths pole. He hadnt got to the gate yet. Well, George just took one look at the field, swung his horse around and went with them, he won the race, too, but of course, they took his number down." While false starts are as rare as whooping cranes, they can be expected. Where Continue on Page Fori On* NEW ENGLAND By FRED GAXJANI Continued from Page Six electricity and mechanical devices are in use, there is always the chance of breakdown. As Gordon Morrow remarked, "Its electrical. Motors stop in planes dont they? Thats why I dont think youd ever get me up in one of those one motor jobs." But even though only seven in the 11-horse field came out, what did flashed out on a line, so it was a perfect false start at that. Larry Adams, who was in the outside post said, "I heard Mr. Morrissey yelling No Go and started to pull up but then I saw a couple of guys on the inside of me riding away so I said to myself Id better get going. I didnt know for sure whats going on. Then I saw the outrider wave us down and its good he came up with me because my saddle had slipped and was up around my horses neck. Outrider Schriener was right on the ball. He knew it was no start because there was no bell and went into action immediately. He deserves the Lincoln medal with Dario clusters. Thats one thing about Lincoln Downs. You can always count on something extraordinary to happen during a meeting.
