view raw text
Balmoral By J. J. Murphy First Grass Stakes of Chicago Season Tomorrow Swoons Son May Meet St. Vincent in Continental Blue Choir Works Fast Six Furlongs for Event WASHINGTON PARK, Homewood, 111., May 30. The first grass stakes of the season will be decided at this course Saturday, and frorfTall indications it should be a humdinger. It is the Continental Turf Handicap at one and one-eighth miles, and the thing that makes it more exciting than usual is the fact that a number of thoroughbreds with a certain claim to fame are eligible. St. Vincent, who was adjudged the grass champion of two years ago and who is now in the process of coming back after having been sidelined for some time; Swoons Son, the Chicago champion three- year-old of last year; Mahan and Sir Tribal, who rated close up for honors in the distance handicap division in 1956; Blue Choir, who was third in the last two runnings of the Continental; Summer Solstice, who defeated Sir Tribal in the affair last year; Speed Rouser, the handicap star of New Orleans racing during the winter; Akbar Khan, who recently took Pimlicos Dixie Handicap from a good field, and Platan and Bryn, who have performed rather sensationally on the greensward in the past, are just a few of those among the 26 nominations for Saturdays 5,000 added race. However, the real element of suspense is the appearance of Swoons Son and St. Vincent in the line-up. Can Swoons Son carry his weight and speed against such opposition on the grass? He twice beat pretty fair three-year-olds on the inner course at this track last year. He has tried the mile arid furlong distance twice, each time on a fast dirt track. He was beaten by Tussle Patch at Hawthorne last fall and won from Bern-burgoo, Mister Black and Hasseyampa at nine furlongs in his last race of last year. St. Vincent, who did not race at all last year due to injury, has staged a pretty good comeback. He has started six times this year and won the Washington Birthday Handicap at Santa Anita. His last outing was in the Dixie, in which he finished fourth. Blue Choir was third in. that race. No Word From Akbar Khans Camp Blue Choir really "cut the mustard" at this course this morning, spinning six furlongs on the turf in 1:12. He appeared sluggish in the stretch in the recent Hawley Purse here, but evidently was willing to work today. Sir Tribal went five furlongs easily on the turf, and Swoons Son, trying the main track, was not called upon for speed. . . . Nothing has been heard from the owners of Akbar Khan, who beat Blue Choir and St. Vincent -in the recent Dixie. . . . Indications that Bernburgoo will be a starter in the Continental were given when jockey Ralph Borgemenke was engaged to ride the colt. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Allie Reuben, owners of Hasty House Farm, are the largest nominators for the Saturday feature with five in the field. Ike Bassett, head of the Jockeys Guild central division, has been released from Oak Park Hospital, where he was treated for a stomach ailment. . . . Barry Whitehead, the West Coast racing secretary and for many years an official on Chicago tracks, got in from California for Sundays SNARO meeting. . . . Humphrey Finney, the golden voiced auctioneer, was a surprise visitor Wednesday. Came to conduct a sale that did not materialize and returned to New York. . . . Jack Johnston, the Sportsmans Park vice-president, came in from Tulsa. Reported that the recent storms in that area damaged his property, to the extent of about 50,000. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Damm passed up the Memorial Day auto races at their home town of Indianapolis to see some horses run at Washington Park. Their stock here is trained by R. Harold Raines. . . . Owner Harvey C. Fruehauf arrived from Detroit. . . . Vance Longden came in from California to saddle St. Vincent in Saturdays Continental Turf Handicap. He announced that Larry Gilligan would have the mount on the turf star in that race. Mister Jive Here for Chicagoan The good three-year-old Mister Jive, owned by John A. Martin and trained by George Carter, got in from the East to train for the Chicagoan, to be run one week from Saturday. Mister Jive, who trimmed some good three-year-plds in the Gotham at Jamaica, was accom-" panied by On Top and Red Rhythm. . . . Trainer W. H. Bradley stated that the next start for the three-year-old filly Dales Delight would be in the Cleopatra at Arlington Park. . . . With Lois Cook under suspension, Harrel Bolin will handle Lori-El in Mondays Acorn Stakes at Belmont. Bolin will return to this course Sunday. . . . -Jockey Kenneth Church has been engaged to ride Supreme Joy in Wednesdays Honeymoon Handicap. . . . Elmer Heckel, who has some horses here in charge of Dan Howell, arrived from St. Louis to take in the holiday racing. Henry Maggio and J. J. Gregory have split up their racing partnership. Tom W. Kelley will handle those horses owned by Maggio, including Tussle Patch, Kopes Hope, Suthern Accent and Gala Dance, all good runners. Elmer Kalensky will continue as trainer for Gregory. . . . John F. Beck, who recently lost his last horse, will vacation at his farm at Mt. Vernon, HI., for the time being. . . . Jockey Willie Carstens paid a hurried trip to Florida to bring his family and trailer to Chicago. . . . Dave Erb has been engaged to ride the Continued on Page Fifty-One I BALMORAL By T. J. MURPHY Continued from Page Five two-year-old Lincoln Road in the Joliet Stakes on June 12. . . . Montenegrin has been transferred to George Gerbers Farm at Streator, HI. . . . Trainer Larry Thompson went to Kansas City to attend his daughters graduation. . . . Owner M. J. Lorino is visiting from Houston. . . . Jockey John Adams, making a quick "recovery from his recent appendectomy, was expected to visit the track Thursday. . . . Norm Miller has taken over the engagement book of apprentice Jimmy Preston.
