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. ,. i JMlk % Jamaica I— By Bob Horwood Belmont Will Open May 29 on Schedule High Time Handicap Inaugural Feature Champlain Renewal Results in Thriller JAMAICA, L. I.. N. Y., May 16.— It seems as though everyone you meet, horsemen or members of the wagering public, is convinced that Belmont Park will not be ready ready to to open open as as scheduled scheduled on on . ,. ready ready to to open open as as scheduled scheduled on on May 29. Leave it be said here and now that the largest track in America, still a mile and a half in circumference, and still dissected by the Widener Course, but infinitely more accessible, will definitely open as scheduled. The work remaining to be done, as a personal inspection indicated this morning, is largely cleaning up of debris and painting. Otherwise, the the course course could could open open tomorrow. tomorrow. the the course course could could open open tomorrow. tomorrow. Of course, the racing public will not observe many of the changes once they are in the park. If anything, there will be more races on the Widener straightaway than in past years, there being no steeplechases or turf-races to vary the monotony and the alterations in the grandstand and clubhouse, while vital and fundamentally important, are hardly likely to attract the notice of the casual observer. Other than the escalators, a profusion of which will make it easy for patrons to "get high" without visiting the Stevens Catering Company bars, and a questionably artistic job of interior decorating, it remains the same "Beautiful Belmont," which is, to say the least popular with the general public " track in America, just as its inspiration. Long-champ, has for generations been the least popular track in France, and for the same reasons. These are size, a feeling of coldness and an unpopular straightaway course. Overnight Event to Be Featured Incidentally, this writer is unable to recall another major track, apart from Gulfstream and Tropical parks, in some years, opening its meeting with an overnight feature. Americas greatest race track, it says here, will intrigue the public on its opening day with the 5,000 High Time Handicap, an overnight six-furlong test for three-year-olds. There is some debate as to whether this race is named for the grandsire of Sara-zen. or because it is generally felt that it is high time that something was done to make thoroughbred racing more attractive to the uncountable and devoted New York public. In past years, the Belmont spring meeting opened with the Toboggan Handicap, which is at the same distance, but on the straight course, so many persons will approve the change. As a matter of fact, the High Time could be a good race, attracting. such as King Hairan, Cohoes and Missile, who could use the sprifit as a prep for the Peter Pan at a mile and a furlong, and. if they prove to have the "bottom," for the Belmont Stakes. Ralph Lowes statement to confrere Judge Charley Hatton that trainer Johnny Neruds reputation was at stake in connection with whether or not Gallant Man appeared in the Preakness was more than a little astonishing to his many readers. In the first place, Neruds reputation was established before he ever took over the Lowe horses last summer. Secondly, to bring that son of Migoli, a small, short-striding colt, back from the "miseries" to a moral victory in the Kentucky Derby is hardly a feat to damage any trainers reputation. And thirdly, but perhaps more important, everyone en the race track knows that Neruds horses are almost always there or thereabouts, regardless of their class, or who they belong to. To suggest that the Nebraskans reputation depends in any way on the future career of Gallant Man. or on anything else than his more than 20-year success, is absurd. Little Pache a Big Disappointment Yesterdays Champlain Handicap turned out to be a thriller, with Happy Princess, Jet Girl and Tarquilla finishing within a yard, but it proved no more than could have been expected of a six-furlong stake for fillies and mares, four-year-old or older. The winner, a well-bred daughter of Princequillo. from Too Sunny, by Sun Again, was winning the second stakes of her career and was apparently much the best at the weights as she tried to belt almost from the start, losing and regaining the lead three times. The disappointment of the race, of course, was Ellis Farms Little Pache. who made up about five lengths in the final furlong while racing on the outside, but could finish no better than sixth. Trainer Frank Cundall, who has been nicknamed "Fatso" since he has been winning so many races this year, though his "corporation" is almost invisible, cried bitterly when the daughter of Apache was assigned 126 pounds for the dash, and jockey Conn McCreary made the same lament after the raee. Actually, Little Paches impost was only two pounds more than she had carried in her last winning race, when she was not approached, and it hardly seems that racing secretary "Jimmy" Kilroe can be blamed for her defeat. The "horse to watch" in the Champlain. from this writers post, was Mrs. Vernon G. Cardys Levee, who finished a half length behind Little Pache and was getting five pounds from that mare. However, Levee, who won the Coaching Club American Oaks last year, has never been a true sprinter and was "absolutely" at the quarter pole, making up something like eight lengths in the final quarter. "Yorkie" McLeocfs charge will undoubtedly be heard from at Belmont Park, a track that she has proved she likes.
