New England: Switch on Regains Support in Northeast Victory in New London Highly Convincing Opposes Motor Line Again in Rich Special, Daily Racing Form, 1957-05-14

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■ „,, ....,:-, ...j,,v. j i,.:,n-iiijiii ■IwJH New England I By Fred Galiani Switch On Regains Support in Northeast Victory in New London Highly Convincing Opposes Motor Line Again in Rich Special LINCOLN DOWNS, Lincoln, R. I., May 13.— With the shifting of. horses from one area to another, it becomes a little obtuse to identify a horse as belonging ■ „,, ....,:-, ...j,,v. j i,.:,n-iiijiii to to a a certain certain sector. sector. For For instance, instance, to to a a certain certain sector. sector. For For instance, instance, the King Ranch is always regarded as an eastern stable although its huge acreage is in Texas and it maintains another farm in the Blue Grass of Kentucky. Although Switch On deserted these parts after his 1955 season to become one of the top horses of the Florida and New York circuits, he can still be claimed as a New England horse. At At least least the the fans fans in in this this area area re- ■IwJH At At least least the the fans fans in in this this area area re- regard him as such, mainly because he started his career in the Northeast and is owned by Gerry Collela and Jim Forma, both of HaverhiU, Mass. Thus the home town, slightly chauvinistic folk will have a rooting interest in the 0,000 mile and a sixteenth Lincoln Special next Monday. And off his performance in the week ends New London Handicap, Switch On, has a good chance to take the big event. Saturday Switch On carried 126 pounds in a seven-furlong spin, spotting weight in sizeable chunks to his rivals, most of whom it must be admitted were not top drawer, but he carried his impost with ease and won by daylight margin. Switch On, capably ridden by Chilean Jorge Contreras, followed the pace-making Double Bid, snugged in third place behind Motor Line, then made his move nearing the far turn. Collaring Double Bid, snugged in third place behind Motor Line, stayed with him around the turn, then put him away under pressure in the stretch. It was his first victory since he took the Palm Beach Handicap at Hialeah this winter. It was a top race for him and moves him right up with the leaders for the Special, in which he will carry 120 pounds. Favorite Runs Into Trouble The Collela-Forma gelding, despite his impressive stakes record, in which he competed against the best U.S. has to offer, and his heavy earnings record, was made second choice to Mclvor Pricketts Motor Line. The latter, getting 10 pounds from the winner, finished third although he did have an excuse. Going into the far turn, jockey George Gibb ran his mount up along the rail, and was promptly forced to take up and out when Double Bid and Switch On came over as a team to close the hole. The delay knocked Motor Line back some two lengths and when he finally got room through the stretch, he lacked any finishing punch. Whether the mishap cost him the race is debatable, but at any rate Motor Line would have been closer than third. Both horses will meet again in the Special. Johnny Miele, who is handling Switch On here, reports the horse came out of the New London in fine condition. Switch On displayed an eccentric jerky action in his hind legs as he walked out of the paddock and in the ring before the New London. This peculiar action, according to Miele, ■ possibly accounted for . Switch Ons being second choice to Motor Line. "A lot of people," commented John this morning, "must have been scared off betting on him when he walked like that. But he always does it. Whenever Switch On is saddled up, even in the mornings for workouts, he walks in that funny fashion, but he soon comes out of it. What it is, I dont know, but it has something to do with the saddle. Thats why Switch On always carries two big extra rubber pads under his girth, one on top and another underneath his belly. It relieves the pressure of the saddle. But it doesnt bother him when he runs and I think he has a good chance in the Special." There is still only long range guessing as to the probable Special field, nothing definite coming from other sectors on the topweights, but New England will be represented by some stalwarts in Switch On, Mrs. Joe Leones Rockcastle, and Motor Line, whose race Saturday should certainly be improved upon -next week. Newcomer Winless, but Most Enthusiastic He hasnt found his way into the winners circle yet to have his picture taken, but Frank A. Lane is probably the most enthusiastic of the new owners in the sport. Lane, a curtain manufacturer associated with the firm of Bartmann and Bixer, has a half interest in the horses Fast Fire and Shipwreck with M. S.Mathras. Lane became interested in racing through Col. E. P. Bixer, who races on the New York circuit, and just this season enlisted in the owners ranks. A native of Barrington, R. I., he maintains his business establishment in Fall River, Mass. Lane intends to build up his stable, which is trained by Al Dyleski, and it wont be long perhaps until his enthusiasm for racing will displace his yachting hobby. On the ball department. The other day trainer Angel Gonzalez came into an entry booth as steward Norman Charlton was walking through the secretarys office. "I want to see you, Gonzalez," ordered Charlton. "Yes, sir," replied the trainer but Jimmy Picarillo was not to be caught napping. "Just a minute, Angel," said Jimmy, "give me an entry before you get ruled off." Which, of course, wasnt going to happen but around Lincoln Downs all the entry clerks are in the same position as King Richard. Theyd give anything for a horse.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1957051401/drf1957051401_4_3
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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800