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f .! J.;.;. « — , Connors Corner Here Is Proof of Old Adage That Honesty Is Best Policy By "CHUCK" CONNORS JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., May 1. — This week is one that a member of Lou Walgers totalisator force, a cashier named Messina, will remember for years to come. It seemed that on Wednesday Messina was "one hundred" shy in the damper and did not need the pink slip from the cashiers domain to remind him of the deficit. Anyway, the follow- ing day, Thursday, a stranger walked over to Messina and after expressing the usual courtesies of the day, wanted to know how the man, back of the grillwork, balanced the day before. The cashier failed to recognize the man who was doing the talking and remarked in dismal tones that it was not so good. He reached into his cash drawer, drew out the pink slip, and showed it to the stranger and then said that he worried through the night and offered prayers to his favorite, Saint Jude. The stranger looked over the card, found that the amount of the shortage tallied with what he had been overpaid and then remarked, "never mind fellow, your worries on that score are over." He then tendered a crisp 100 dollar bill. Messina, relieved and excited, wanted to know the strangers name so that he might write and express thanks not only for himself but his family. The stranger waived the thanks aside and then as an afterthought said the next time the cashier prayed to his favorite, Saint Jude. to say a few paternosters for him. Included in His Prayers Yesterday, during lulls between races, the stranger again came back and struck up a conversation with Messina, who told him that he had included him in his prayers. The honest punter grinned in a sheepish manner and remarked evidently that he had. He then said that the parable about bread cast upon the waters was all too true for since his good deed he had accumulated a little more money and displayed a handful of tickets on a horse -that had won the day before and returned box car figures. Johnny Breen, of the local secretarial forces, lost one of his favorite conversational topics on Wednesday. A two-year-old from Sunshine Park, Bally Ache, established a new track record and at the expense of a juvenile named Red Sonnet, who raced under the red and blue silks of Mrs. George D. Widener. Red Sonnet sped the 5 furlongs distance in :58 on April 24, 1942, with Breen doing the riding. Bally Ache sped the identical distance in :57% on Wednesday and thus Breen has no track record left to boast about . . . Johnny Mooney, he rode Black Gold to victory in the 1924 Derby, arrived yesterday from Miami. He and Mrs. Mooney are visiting their son Donald, who is attached to the local staff. Jockey Eldon Nelson will go to Pimlico on May 9 to ride in the Dixie Handicap . . . Trainer Lloyd Tate arrived from Keene-land with a draft of horses including the filly Fiji. The latter, a stakes winner last .fall, is being trained for stake offerings for her own age and classification at Belmont Park . . . Trainer Yorkie McLeod reported the arrival of the English-bred Peridon from Montreal, Que. The alien is owned by Vernon G. Cardy and following his arrival at the Canadian city from England was rested for several weeks. Cohen Recites on Crafty Skipper Charley Cohen, never at a loss for words when it comes to his champion, Crafty Admiral, recited some facts and figures. When Crafty Skipper won the Jamaica Handicap, Crafty Admiral had five offspring on the program. Two proved winners, two finished second and one third. "Look em up, were his parting words . . . Jockey Dave Erb will go to Garden State Park Saturday for a series of engagements. He is due back here on Monday. Trainer Jimmie Hastie shipped in 15 horses from Gulfstream Park. They are owned by the Brae Burn Farm and others. Due to the acute stall shortage, seven were transferred to an adjacent farm . . . Jockey Mike Sor-rentino goes to Garden State Saturday to ride Mystic II. in the Valley Forge Handicap. Word was received today that Admiral and Mrs. Gene Markey will be at Jamaica Saturday to root for their starter, A Glit- Continued on Page Forty -Two | i ■ [ ] CONNORS CORNER I By CHUCK CONNORS Continued from Page Six ter, in the Bed o Roses Handicap. The Markeys later will sail for Europe on a lengthy vacation . . . Mr. and Mrs. Harold Polk of Alexandria, Va., are en route from their home to cheer for their Mile. Dianne in the Bed o Roses . . . Eddie Yowell will saddle the miss . . . Horsemen in this area expressed sincere regret of the death of Frank L. "Red" Leatherbury of Mobile, Ala. Leatherbury was a recent Jamaica visitor and at that time appeared in the best of health and as jovial as ever. In addition to his part ownership of the Clearwater Stable, his business interests at one time prior to its sale was the Waterman Steamship Company.
