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Connors Corner Conflict in Renewals of Two Established Stakes Deplored By C. J. CONNORS JAMAICA. L. I.. N. Y.. May 7. — This Saturday two well regarded handicaps, the Grey Lag here and the Dixie at Pimlico. conflict. These events are over a distance of ground and each carry a substantial endowment. This la the second time this spring that two such big features clashed and as a result was detrimental to each. However, in the drawing up of stakes and handicap specials, racing centers at different tracks are not only fighting the calendar but are. as it were, caught in the switches to avoid conflicts. While these situations are to be deplored, racing managements apparently make no efforts to avoid such clashes and as a result the handicap ranks, which are at the moment deplorably thin, are spread thinner and thinner. There is one assured fact this season, neither stakes offering will attract the top stars of that division for these fellows were not named. The defections from the Grey Lag include Needles. Fabius and Bardstown. The Dixie is on the turf while the Grey Lag is onhe dirt. The switch from one surface to the other at the moment annears to favor the Grev Las in the matter of overnight entrants. While on the subject of turf races, there will Ice no such presentations in New York this year. Belmont Park is now in the process of remodelling and the turf course used last year is torn up. However, this fall some steeplechase races will be presented at the Nassau County course. In-* eluded in the plan for Aqueduct is a real honest to goodness turf course plus a steeplechase course in the center field. This is a replica of old Sheepshead Bay, which by the way. had the best turf course at that time in America. Hampton Court won the last grass race contested for Sam Hildreth on the final day of Sheepshead Bay racing history. Mrs. Frank C. Rand planed in from Santa Fe. N. If., for a .one-day visit. She later returned to the New Mexico city . . . Elliot Menaker came up from Baltimore, Md.. and stated that he was prepared to stay through the remainder of this meeting and the Belmont Park session . . .. Mrs. Ann Clare, track superintendent at Saratoga Springs. N. Y.. came down for a few races. She reported that work on the racing strip was started yesterday. The strip will be given a thorough going over and the topsoil screened and if needed new soil will be added . . . Several jockeys and agents have petitioned Belmont Park officials to set aside a plot of ground at that track for a trailer park. The petition is signed by several riders and something similar to those at Chicago tracks is deemed desirable. Cassidy at Belmont Marshall Cassidy was a Belmont Park visitor this morning . . . Peter Fuller has three horses in training at Aqueduct, namely Helianthus. North Passage and Mountain Holly. They came from Lincoln Downs . . . Trainer James Fitzsimmons plans to ship several horses to Pimlico for engagements at that track . . . Tony Del-loso arrived at Aqueduct with three two-year-olds intended for Belmont Park racing . . . Jerry Brady returned from Louisville, Ky.. where he witnessed the Derby . . . Starter George Cassidy reported that schooling exercises at the gate were extremely heavy this morning. The majority of the scholars were "standers." That is. they stand around in and out of the stalls but do not break off. This is all part of their barrier education. Trainer Woody Stephens arrived at Belmont Park from Louisville. Kjr . with the Kentucky division of the Cain Hoy Stable. In the lot was Red God. who went amiss last winter at Hialeah. The colt is a highly regarded member of the menage and was named for the Triple Crown events. He Continued on Page Forty-One | ! [ j 1 | i ! j j I J j I i | i j I j i CONNORS CORNER Bj CHUCK CONNORS Continued from Pago Three *as placed back in light training at the farm following his recovery Trom a foot injury . . . Jimmy Kilroe. racing secretary and handicapper. indicated that the Grey Lag would be a local affair. That is, he expects no invaders from Maryland or "New Jersey. Johnny Nerud. while in Kentucky, ac- Quired a two-year-old by Condiment from Doug Davis. The terms were private. Nerud also stated that the trip to the Derby with Gallant Man by plane required six and one-half hours from his Aqueduct stall to his stall at Churchill Downs. He came back by train and this required 31*2 hours. However, Gallant Man slept the better part of the way. When he returned to his Aqueduct stall the first thing the colt did was lay down and turn over and stretch out. Nerud said that he noticed that the colt loading on the plane was as quiet as a church mouse but when the plane took off and started to climb he be- gan to quiver slightly. This ceased when the plane straightened out for the flight and everything was quiet. Nerud also said the same quivering returned when the plane started its downward drop at the airport at Louisville. However, as soon as he was back on the ground the quivering stopped and he was okay. Nerud is of the belief that the quivering, both in the ascent and descent, is due to altitude change and pressure on his ears . . . First Served, owned by John Crowley of New York, will start in the Grey Lag. Should the colt come out of that engagement in good physical condition he wffl be shipped to Lincoln Downs for the Special at that track on Monday. May 20. closing day . . . Trainer George Poole is at Pimhco to prepare Maharajah for the Greentree Stable in the Dixie.
