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New England l By Teddy Cox = Columbia Gem Nominated for Hartford Cap Venuti Holds Faith in Royally Bred Colt Dario Gives Reason for Date of Fixture FixtureLINCOLN LINCOLN DOWNS Lincoln R I May 9 John Venuti Sr started the royally bred colt Columbia Gem frequently last season and there were occasions when it seemed that the beauti ¬ fully molded bay would in a re ¬ mote sort of way justify his pedigree The son of Oil Capitol Columbiana by PeteeWrack traipsed down to Atlantic City and closed with afi impressive rush to finish third to Lil Fella and Chance it Tony in the Worlds Playground Stakes and once or twice generated a trace of spark on Yankeeland soil but for the most part he most cer ¬ tainly wasnt a credit to his blueblooded heritage Venuti who trains the colt and is part owner with the breeder Charles E Buckley has in no measure given up hope He has him listed among the nomina ¬ tions for next week ends 25000 Hartford Handicap a mile and 70 yards jaunt for sophomores who hardly rate joining with Tim Tarn Jewels Reward Noureddin and Silky Sullivan in the more valuable Preakness at Pimlico PimlicoTo To digress B A Dario says he purposely booked the Hartford to conflict with the great Maryland special but he hopes to lure some of the threeyearolds who are not quite ready to compete with thoroughbreds in the upper strata of the division And apparently the idea has worked out fine says the colorful Lincoln Downs chief executive Weve got 30 horses nominated and were expecting a capacity field made up of both local and representatives from New York Jersey and Maryland Mrs Graham has a couple of her Maine Chance horses in ± he race and there are Sir Robby Backbone Nisht Amool Nala and a lot of others whod command respect at almost any other rack rackProved Proved Adverse to Handling HandlingBut But to return to Venuti and Columbia Gem The little man from Arlington Mass is of the opinion that the colt has a chance to eventually take a place near the top of the list which is quite an ambitious observa ¬ tion in view of the horses sorrowful record We brought him out here at Lincoln Downs last year and he looked the part of being a grand individual both in his early training and on his conformation says Venuti There isnt a better looking horse anywhere and there isnt a pimple on him But once he started to race my troubles began He simply would not allow himself to be handled and hed invariably do everything but climb over the inside rail Worst luggingin horse Ive ever seen He showed us he could run with the best when he was third in the Worlds Playground and that made our task all the more exasperating Took him to Florida and had him looked over by several vets and they decided he was deficient in Both calcium and protein Since then we have had him on a special diet and it has worked wonders His coat now gleams all of his hair is in the right place and lie seems to be finally ready readyuBut uBut once we set him down in his trials he con ¬ tinued to attempt to lug in By this time we were convinced that there was nothing physically wrong with him for his legs are like iron and as I mentioned he had been built up over the winter Finally we had him rigged with a special blinker that extends like an arm in front of his eyes This may be the answer for the kid hisvson and stable rider John Venuti Jr handles him like a child Worked him the other morn ¬ ing with one of the best horses in the stable and he simply toyed with him Were quite excited about the new type of blinker and were looking forward to the Hartford Handicap And were also looking much fur ¬ ther ahead and were hoping hopingFamily Family Success in Business and Sport SportThe The Venuti family operates one of New Englands finest restaurants Janes at Cambridge Mass Brothers Pat and John toiled there to build the business for many years but now John and his son confine all of their time to the racing stable Last season they came up with one of the bargain claims of recent seasons when they haltered the fine campaigner Hare Raising for 6000 He often beat the best in this area and for a time shopped about the East in quest of big stakes John owned horses for about five years during which time he was a student trainer on the backstretch He took over the direction of the unit about five years ago and has done quite well Program Scribblings Max L White president of the New England Division of the HBPA reports that his organization has completed all details for the Scar ¬ borough Downs meeting He recently went into session with Robert A Verrier who has agreed to make the minimum purse at the Scarborough Maine track 1000 instead of 800 which was the tops last season Verrier is general manager of the track J E Virginia Robertson is quite impressed by the grand recent ef ¬ fort shown by Little Rhody Farms Jackies Comet and he intends to start the three year old in the Hartford Veteran reinsman Willie Passmore headed for Garden State Park where he will ride ChalMar Farms Wise Guy in the Delaware Valley Stakes Wise Guy was a galloping winner against inferior competition here in his most recent start but the stable is high on onContinued Continued on Page FiftyNine NEW ENGLAND ENGLANDBy By TEDDY COX i Continued from Page Six Sixhim him Following the Delaware Valley en ¬ gagement Passmore will return to Lincoln Downs and on May 17 will travel to Bel ¬ mont to handle Pine Echo in the 25000 added Toboggan A new rider made an appearance when the apprentice Joe Ga brielle of North Providence R I accepted the mount on Vista Lee Gabrielle is 23 He was recently discharged from the army Carl Chapman shipped a division of his horses to Old Woodbine Toronto for racing at that point They were Maid of Cotton Mr Mark M Check the Det Charge It Up Pama Gosh Grunion B B Bosh and Staffield Incidentally the Cox entourage is also headed in that direction See you at Old Woodbine
