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Connors Corner ■ By Chuck! Connors Jamaica Meeting Entering Its Final Stages Scene Will Then Shift to Belmont Park Many Changes at Big Nassau County Plant JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., May 11.— This racing ground is entering the late stages of its long spring meeting and then the scene moves over to Belmont Park. The 1Y1G massive ccno Nassau Moccon pAiinfw County nmifcA 1Y1G massive ccno Nassau Moccon pAiinfw County nmifcA course, now undergoing a face - lifting, will present some novel features to New Yorkers. Belmont Park was erected more than a half-century ago and was modeled after some of the English racing grounds. The original plant comprised a clubhouse, grandstand and a field stand. The latter, believe it or not, is part of the so-called clubhouse in use today. Belmont Park had its share of I trials and tribulations, including fire. Several major changes in the overall picture were made, the abandonment of the English way of running and late the building of the Widener Course, which bisects the center field, replacing the old straightaway which paralleled the grandstand with the finish line down near the clubhouse. The racing public had a real close view of the horses as they raced down the straightaway. However, during its early years of operation, racing men insisted that Belmont Park was all wrong. The grandstand faced the north, which in their opinion was wrong, especially during the spring and fall when the weather is not at its best. The present long stretch of grandstand resulted from a fire which partly destroyed the original field stand. There was a stretch of open ground between the grand and field stand and, when the debris from the fire was cleaned out and contracts let for rebuilding, the directors decided to make it one long stand, the two structures were joined together. Anyway, Belmont Park now is in the hands of the rejuvenators and when the work is completed, the plant will be easily recognizable by the regulars. The work being carried on outside, roadways, entrances and such, is moving along steadily and beginning to take shape that can be deciphered by the layman. Marshall Cassidy, in discussing the additional dates granted by the recent legislature, stated that the matter had not been brought up officially by the GNYA committee. The dates will be discussed during the Belmont Park meeting and also the stakes agenda for the fall. Several new stakes will be added. Collins String Going to Delaware Park I. J. Collins, the Lancaster, Ohio, patron, was on hand for a few races. He stated that he will ship his horses to Delaware Park for that meeting. . . . Pete Peroni relayed word from his Prince Quest Farm, near Miami, that he will be here soon. Evidently Pete has been reading the New York weather reports. . . . Trainer Tommy Root paddocked several sets of the Barclay Stable horses during the morning hours. . . . Phillip Godfrey was on hand to witness his Ginger Brown graduate from the non-winners ranks. He reported that the name Incitatus he selected for his Alsab two-year-old was for the champion horse of ancient Rome in the reign of Nero. The colt was idolized by the ancients and was upon his retirement classified as a god and as such was revered. Horsemen were advised that the following stakes are to close on May 15: Carter, Peter Pan, Acorn, Metropolitan and Shevlin. . . . Trainer Cary Winfrey reported that Dedicate, owned by Mrs. Jan Burke, is coming along steadily and will make his New York debut in the Carter Handicap at Belmont Park. . . . Commissioner and Mrs. A. T. Cole were early arrivals to greet his new associate, Edmond Hanrahan. . . . Danny Arnstein entered a local hospital for his annual check-up. He will be back in the fold by Tuesday. . . . The claiming boys have been at it hot and heavy in the first six weeks of the meeting, averaging better than one claim a day. The total for the first 35 days of the session showed 42 claims for a total of 55,000. Naturally, the biggest benefactor in this trading of horseflesh is the city of New York, which cuts in for 3 per cent in the form of a sales tax on each claim. Cole Has Black Eyed Susan Mount B. A. Tompkins, administrative president of the GNYA, was on hand for the Saturday card. ... J. J. Crowley came down from Westchester County to see his First Served compete in the Grey Lag. . . . Jockey Sidney Cole leaves for Pimlico Tuesday to ride in the Black-Eyed Susan. He will remain there for the Friday renewal of the Mr. Fitz Handicap, when he will have the mount on Mr. Fitz* Grey Phantom. . . . S. A. Peck entertained a party in the clubhouse dining room before bundling up to finish the day out in the box section. . . . Racing secretary Jimmy Kilroe plans a 5,000 overnight handicap for the opening day at Belmont Park. The six furlongs race will be for three-year-olds and will be named the High Time. ... A disgruntled trainer, shrouded by fog so is unidentified, said about one of his horses: "Hes a real nice horse. All he needs is racing. But now that I think of it, what he really needs is selling." ■
