view raw text
, **-m±-im Balmoral By J. J. Murphy — Beehive of Activity on Morning of Opening Trotsek Talks of Queen Hopeful, Delamar Trotter, Carmichael Among Early Workers WASHINGTON PARK. Homewood, 111., May 13.— A very foggy atmosphere prevailed at this course this morning, but happily it did not permeate the minds of those those responsible responsible for for getting getting the the , those those responsible responsible for for getting getting the the session away to a good start. It seemed as if the thick haze that obscured most of the track so much that dockers found it next to impossible to time the horses, added pep to the hirelings and .there was much bustling about in all departments as time for the first race of the, meeting drew near. Upon entering the track, the first group of horsemen with which which we we came came in in contact contact were were which which we we came came in in contact contact were were **-m±-im queued up adjacent to the Illinois Racing Board offices to have their licenses checked and okayed. In that group was the noted trainer, Harry Trotsek, who gave forth with some information anent several Hasty House stable runners, particularly a few of the distaff type who. during their campaigns in this area, made local turf history and are now retired to continue to serve the sport as matrons. Trotsek informed that the great stretch-running mare, Queen Hopeful, now six years old and winner of over 60,000 in her career, had been bred to Oil Capitol and that Delamar, fine filly who climaxed her brief racing career at this meeting last spring when she went wrong, had been mated with Hasty Road, who was one of the nations finest runners as a three-year-old when he won the Preakness and was second to Determine in the Kentucky Derby. Another bred to Hasty Road is Alspal, who was prominent in stakes hereabouts. It was just a step or two to the racing secretarys office, and the action in that vital department was terrific at the time. Horsemen were crowded around the entry clerks, filling out their blanks for the Tuesday sport, and racing secretary Fred Burton was too busy to say hello, although his assistant, Tom Trotter, did manage to find time to extend a greeting. Trotter just recently returned from Phoenix where he served as racing secretary at Turf Paradise and is happy to be back in Chicago. This is his fifth year in this territory after having cut his eye teeth as an official on New York courses. The majority of horsemen were much too busy to be interviewed, but we managed to assemble a few odds and ends to be added here later. Swoons Son to Defend Local Crown The next move was to the press box, where we were surprised to find John P. Carmichael, sports editor of the Chicago News, on the job so early. John was taping some recordings of interviews with a couple of prominent trainers and we bent an ear. One of his subjects was Lex Wilson, who has charge of the conditioning of -that fine twosome. Swoons Son and Dogoon, as well as a number of others. We learned that Swoons Son came out of his winning race in Kentucky in good shape and is ready to defend his championship as Chicagolands outstanding runner. Next in line was hefty Rollie T, Shepp, who has charge of the 1956 champion sprinter. Decathlon. Shepp said that the four-year-old son of Olympia, who won 10 of his 17 outings last year, might need a race to put him on edge. Decathlon and Swoons Son are expected to meet at six furlongs some time during the meeting, and Sun Davids three-quarter mile record of 1:09 willsurely be endangered in that one. Talked with publicist Harry Sheer and track announcer Harry Henson, the latter just in from his home in Seattle. Sheer pointed out that the meeting would obtain considerable more coverage on TV this year. One of the mediums of transmitting the running of the races to the public will be the Sports Unlimited show from Chicago that will devote much of its half hour on Monday evenings to the showing of Balmoral races. In addition, other stations will handle various phases of the sport during the week, while the feature stake every Saturday will be shown. Henson, acknowledged as one of the most capable announcers in the nation, will make the calls during the running of those events as well as describing every race every day to the patrons in attendance. Craig and Basile Move to Hazel Jockeys Howard Craig and Mike Basile departed tor Detroit. Basile is waiting out a suspension and will ride at Hazel Park when it opens. . . . Trainer John x Wozneski, who brought some horses here from Kentucky, is returning to Louisville to pick up the others and bring them to Washington Park at the conclusion of the Churchill Downs meeting. ... In order to speed up the races during the Balmoral meeting, past parades will be limited to 10 minutes from the time the horses leave the paddock. . . . President Russell Reine-man entertained a party of about 40 at luncheon in his quarters opening day. Guest of honor was Jack Dempsey. . . . Trainer Bob Cramer arrived with 13 head owned by Darwin Loveman of Cleveland. . . . Charles Gormley in from Kentucky to take over his duties as paddock judge. Shepp, trainer of Decathlon, had charge of Best Seller when that horse won the second and third runnings of the Equipoise Mile. . . . Plans called for jockey Willie Carstens to leave for Pimlico Monday evening in order to exercise Federal Hill, the Preakness Continued on Paqe Forty Fivo f i BALMORAL By J. J. MURPHY 1 Continued from Page Five candidate, at that course Tuesday morning. . . . Jockey Clarence Meaux, who easily took jockey honors at Sportsmans Park, says he will remain here for the entire meeting if he can get off to a good start, If not, he will go to Cahokia Downs, where he is somewhat of a hero. . . . Harold Won- nell, the TRPB man who was recently appointed manager of a furniture company at Birmingham, Mich., will report to his new job Friday. 1 j i s i 1 1 |J
