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dtl New England By Fred Galiani Sechrest Finds Success on Yankee Circuit Tells How He Once Doubled a Daily Double Judge Pappas Heads New Electronics Firm SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., April 30 — Trainer Randy Sechrest, who has raced in practically every part of the North American continent, is back on the New England scene for the second year. Last season, his first extended campaign in the Northeast, proved such a success that he vowed he would return. He did and has started off on the winning side, sending out two victorious horses already. Its a long season up here, but its a good bet that Sechrest will be found frequently in the winners circle, unless, of course, his stock all breaks down. His early success has Sech- rest in an elated mood these mornings. The other day, one when entries were extremely slow in filling, Sechrest recalled with glee how he outfoxed a jockeys agent at Bowie earlier this year. "It was back in February." chuckled Randy, "and there was a dead heat to win in the first race. After the second race I had two tickets on one of the winning Daily Double combinations. I was standing there with Ai GE-ry, agent for Ronnie Fisher, and he said to me, looks like youll get a pretty good double.* I took a look at the board and said, no chance. Garry asked me if I would take 00 for the tickets. I said yes. Then he asked if I would take 5. Sure I told him. Now all he had was 5. So he turned to a friend of his and borrowed 0. I gave him the two Daily Double tickets. Know what it paid? 5.60. He got just a little bit over 0 for 5." Sechrest is still laughing. No comment from Garry. Enterprising Track President Judge John C. Pappas, who in addition to guiding the destinies of Suffolk Downs and countless other business enterprises, has launched still another major operation. His latest endeavour is Topic Inc., of Natick, Mass., one of the numerous electronic manufacturing / companies that is making Massachusetts the nations capital in this field. Pappas is chairman of the board of the new company. In a consolidation of two existing electronics manufacturing companies, Pappas said the talents and the processes of the Norcross Manufacturing Co. of Natick. and the Dunleavey Electronics Corp. at Stoughton will be combined in Topic, Inc. The new firm will specialize in the contract manufacturing of precision tools, dies, fixtures and special devices for the electronic industry. While this may not have much to do with horse racing, it merely points out how diversified the judge spreads his talent and business affairs. Most of his ventures are highly successful, and he brings to Suffolk Downs the same talents as he does to his businesses. Which is why the Boston track is the outstanding thoroughbred plant in this section. Bill Sullivan, of the noted printing firnv was recently named an assistant attorney general for Massachusetts and was sworn in last week by Gov. Foster Furculo. Bill managed the printing operation at Monmouth Park when he was a law student. . . . Jockey David DeRoin, who was considering a Chicago campaign this summer, decided against it and is back on his familiar local scene. The big factor in his decision was that his home is in Beechmont, a furlong or so from Suffolk Downs. . . . Major Harold Reilly arrived from a winter vacation in Florida and has resumed his duties on the Boston Record and in the press box. Reilly Rejoins Press Corps Sammy Steele, the former crack jockey now valeting, is optimistic about the future of the new track at Can-andaigua, N. Y. Steele maintains a farm in Bethany Center, not far from the cite of the new plant, and winters there during the off season. He attended the public hearing held by the New York Racing Commission this past winter, when a permit was granted, and said that support was overwhelming in favor for the new track, except for the expected oppositioon of the Protestant clergy. While the Canandaigua track appears to have rosy prospects, already there is some concern in these parts about the effect on racing in New England. It is most certain that a number of horses who race here will take a shot at the new meeting. And, at best, there isnt too much good stock around here to be spared. Trainer Charlie Hernandez will leave over the week end for Havana, Cuba, to visit relatives in the Island Republic. Hernandez raced at Oriental Park this winter, but wound up getting rid of most of his horses. He went there with 24, but weeded out 15 of them before returning to the U. S. He reports that Fernando Fernandez, one of the top jockeys of all time, is now a steward at Oriental Park. . . . George Munsell, who is building up a reputation of a longshot rider gets back into action tomorrow after finishing out a 10-day suspension. . . . Milton Kite arrived from Gulfstream Park with a quartet of horses, consisting of Fast Figure, Joannie Z., Forky and Peckerwood. . . . Sam Robidoue Jr., of Warwick, R. I., has taken out his trainers license and will start off by conditioning two of his mothers horses. The 33 -year-old lad will train Deep Thought and Jungle Gem.
