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" . .- . I llll.l.l. .Ill ■■!■.■■.■. Sportsmans Park By J, J. Murphy Bassett States Shoemaker Mistake Honest One Wade Foresees Excellent Sport at Hazel Park Good Distance Horses to Race at Balmoral Meet SPORTSMANS PARK. Cicero. 111.. May 9 —Today we have a few quotes anent general race doings from some prominent men of the turf, so without further ado here they are: Says Ike Bassett, chief of the central division of the Jockeys Guild, about the Shoemaker incident in the Kentucky Derby: Should a jockey be suspended for making an honest mistake? Willies error in judgment in the Kentucky Derby was certainly an honest one. Perhaps we should have a separate set of rules for the Derby." . . . Says Horace Wade, director of racing at Hazel Park, where the sport gets under way May 24: "Our meetings have been becoming more and more successful each season and we look for the best this year. We will have many top thoroughbreds from other meetings, plus a splendid array of newcomers." Wade, former racing secretary at Sportsmans Park, was conferring with Robert P. McAuliffe, present racing secretary here. .Says Marion VanBerg, the Columbus. Nebr.. man. who is one of the nations foremost owners and trainers: "I intend racing my stock on three, and possibly four, fronts this summer. I will take some to Hazel Park; Kenneth Kepler will handle those remaining in Chicago, and my son, Jack, will campaign a few at Omaha." . . . Says Jess Byrd. trainer of J. Kel Hous-sels successful racing stable. "I intend shipping all the Houssels horses from Sportsmans Park to Omaha. That track is right on the way home. May race a few at Centennial, Denver, or at Phoenix later." Baird and Meaux Speak Up Says jockey R. L. Baud: "What i.s all this about you stating that I am old enough to be Clarence Meaux father? I am only 36 and he is 20. Aside from that, I feel like a two-year-old." Personal to Baird. my father was only 17 years old when I was born. . . . Says Clarence Meaux, leading rider at the meeting: How long has this been going on? I never thought I would be so successful here, and no matter where I ride this summer, I will be back for the fall meeting at this track." . . . Says Fred Burton, racing secretary at Balmoral: "We know the fans go for longer races. We have some good distance horses in the higher claiming brackets in from the South this year, which will help fill those races." . . . Says Lou Diamond, Sportsmans Park publicist: "This has been a highly successful meeting due in part to the publicity we have received. " No shrinking violet, Lou. Paul Blair, agent for jockey John Heckmann. sent word that the hard-riding New Orleans lad. who turned in the most noteworthy performance ever witnessed on a major track in the United States when he won with seven of his eight mounts at Hawthorne last October, would be on hand for the opening of the Balmoral meeting. Heckmann finished fourth on the nations riding list in 1956. . . . Dave Stevens, who will be the pari-mutuel manager at Balmoral, arrived from- his California home about one week ago and has his department all ready for the opening. ... A scientist in England has advised patrons to listen for the heartbeats of horses and play those with the long throbs. Thats a new system. If one can get close enough to a horse, that is. . . . Owner-trainer Felix Aime will ship his runners to Hazel Park, as will trainer S. W. Shap-off. . . . The runners in the Glenn Corbet stable are going to Omaha. It will mark his first appearance at the Nebraska course in eight years. . . . Trainer Claude Bourland Jr. is shipping to Detroit. Ditto trainers Dave Holstein, John McDowell and E. G. Mahoney. Bishop Leaves Void in Local Sport Mrs. A. R. Thomson, of Joliet, inquires as to the whereabouts of William Hal Bishop. Hal has been bucking strong headwinds in Maryland and New Jersey. This session marks the first time that Bishop has been absent from a Sportsmans Park meeting in over a decade, and they could have used him and his horses during the first 10 days, when the filling of entries was • rough. In former years, Hal had a horse for almost every type of race and was willing to enter, sometimes running as many as ssix or seven in a day. He also had a persuasive way about him when it came to convincing other trainers they should name their horses. . . . A new member of the board of officers here this season is Billy Bidwill, who is assistant treasurer to his mother, Mrs. Violet Wolfner. Billys older brother, Charles Jr.. is assistant secretary and a director. . . . Jockey Willie Carstens, who was to have been here this week end to ride Tussle Patch in the Sportsmans Park Handicap, has changed his plans. Wired his agent, Yummie Allen, to cancel his mount on that horse. It may be that he will go direct to Pimlico, where he will have the mount on Federal Hill, the Kentucky Derby pacemaker, in the Preaknsss. He will be seen in action of. Chicago tracks later in the season.
