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Chicagoland By Teddy Cox Round Table in Perfect Physical Condition Money Champion Pointing for Balmoral Turf Molter Hopes to Have Shoemakers Services SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111., April 30.— Horse-of-the-Year Round Table is in perfect physical condition! He has been galloping for more than 40 days in workout periods and is now ready for his more serious moves, which are slated to begin late this week. Bill Molter, who has been on hand with Round Table and some 39 others at Washington Park, provided this information this morning. "I dont think he ever looked better," says the personable and cooperative Molter, who in recent years has become a rival of the notable Ben Jones as the "news- I papermans friend." "You see, he had a slight quarter crack. Didnt amount to anything. But when we ran him in the Washingtons Birthday Handicap he grabbed his other good front foot, and the injury was quite serious. It was necessary to abandon all signs of heavy exercise for more than 50 days. This meant we had to start all over once his ailments had healed. "You might say it was Mother Nature who forced his well-earned vacation, which he needed. As you know, we had decided to give him a long rest just before the Hawthorne Gold Cup last year, then reconsidered and sent him here to Chicago for the race. Guess hes gained about 50 pounds and he really looks good." Molter revealed that most of Round Tables training would be done on the grass this year. "Matter of fact," he says, "we did most of his training on the grass at Santa Anita before he seriously hurt himself. It seems to me that Round Table takes more kindly to racing on the grass and it is less severe on his legs." The Shoe Fits Best Molter says he hopes to have the services of Bill Shoemaker on Round Table in all of his races during the year. In his 20 starts last year, the five-yeir-old son of Princequillo — Knights Daughter, by Sir Cosmo was ridden mainly by Shoemaker, but because of conflicting engagements and other reasons, Molter and owner Travis Kerr were forced on occasions to employ Willie Harmatz, Ismael Valenzuela, Willie Hartack and Eddie Arcaro. "Naturally, Id prefer to have a lone rider do all of the riding on our horse," says Molter. "And I think Shoemaker fits him best. It is my understanding that Mr. Kerr has some sort of arrangement with Shoemaker for the entire season, but I dont know the full details." Round Tables initial objective on his comeback trail will be the 0,000-added Balmoral Turf Handicap, to be decided on the grass at Washington Park on May 30, at a mile and one-sixteenth. "Thatll be drawing pretty close, though," says Molter. "Well have to possess a lot of luck wfth the weather and track conditions to make this race in this space of time. You know, were just beginning to breeze him. Getting him ready for a mile and one-sixteenth in a matter of 30 days isnt an easy job. We take things on a day-by-day basis and see how everything goes. Its going to be a tight fit to have him ready, though." The very appearance of Round Table on Chicagoland soil is a tribute to racing in this state. Molter could have made several of many decisions, but he selected the track at Washington Park as the site of his important training for his comeback. Recounting the stallions marvelous record seems to be superfluous at this point. The fact that he is the worlds leading money-winning thoroughbred with a bankroll of ,336,364" makes him the turfs No. 1 attraction. Proctor Endures Dark Day Program scribblings: Toni De Bow, an extremely attractive blonde owner from Detroit, and her mother, Mrs. Amy Condon, are on hand and will remain throughout the meeting. Mrs. Condons horses are trained by H. Jimmy Pitt. . . . Willard Proctor had one of his bad days Tuesday. In the third race, Karens Pal, whom he trains for S. C. Taylor, fractured a foot, while E. L. Smarts Mighty Ace was caught in a bad jam at the start and was virtually eliminated, even though he finished second. Smarts Treaty Stone, also trained by Proctor, was nipped in the final strides in another race. . . . Probably the most popular gathering place for turfmen in this area is Nickys MGM Restaurant in South Cicero, 111. Nicky almost nightly plays host to the leading owners and trainers here. Mrs. Grace Kosiba, who has been occupied with her breeding farm in Michigan and the publication of the Michigan Thoroughbred, was an arrival. She has a large stable here and plans to remain on for quite some time. Mrs. Kosiba is a well-rounded turf lady, a trainer in her own right, owner and breeder. . . . Al Horton took over the thoroughbred, Bay Boy, who had been racing in Florida under the supervision of Lyle Dilger. Horton originally developed the horse. . . . Gene Cilio lost little time in getting started after arriving from Florida. He took over the horses, Double D. Gal and Yadurn for H. D. Depson. . . . Jimmy Woodruff arrived from Florida with Agoura Belle, Big Winner and My Treasure, owned by Robert Cutro. . . . Unique was purchased from E. F. Lovelace by the Triple X Stable. A. M. Taylor Jr., is the new trainer.
