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—__ — __ Connors Corner By Chuck Connors I One More Week, Plus Summer Meet at Jamaica Reports Persist Track Doomed After That Claibornes Dunce to Be Sent to Belmont JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., May 2— On Monday this racing ground enters upon its final full week of the spring meeting. However, Jamaica will reopen in July for 18 days starting on Monday, July 13 to Saturday, August 1. Beyond those dates, the future of this racing ground which opened in 1904 is a matter of conjecture. It is understood that no final decision as to the future of the track and grounds has been arrived at by the directors of the New York Racing Association. Rumors persist that in the not too distant future the property will be turned over to the city and ultimately become the site of a civic housing project. The rumors, according to some sources, are by no means idle ones, for construction work has already started on two such huge projects, south of the Long Island Railroad. The new developments, known as the Baisley Park homes, are on New York Boulevard and are included in the low cost housing classification. Jamaica race track is on a direct line, a mile or so distant from the project and the acreage available here is much larger. Jamaicas days as a racing ground are numbered and when the announcement will be made is a matter of time. Jamaica, for its final springtime session, presents the remaining fixtures of the 12 offering schedule, namely the Comely and the Grey Lag. The latter is down for decision on Saturday while the two-year-old offering will be contested on Wednesday. Belmont Park, unlike Jamaica, will carry out the tradition that has been in vogue for years. The opening-day feature, as usual, is the Toboggan Handicap, an offering inherited from old Morris Park where it was inaugurated. The name Toboggan was derived in a natural way. Morris Park had a straight course which at its beginning sloped down hill. The course reminded some of the horsemen of an old-fashioned toboggan slide, and the description and name were accepted by all concerned. The race run over the course in 1890, was known as the Toboggan Slide Handicap. Officials finally decided that the word slide was too vivid a reminder of a winter vacation and had no place in the good old summer time. The word was omitted and thats all. Ryan Back From Farm Visit Freddie Marshall came on from Miami and reported that the town, as far as racing men was concerned, was deserted. Marshall has a couple of horses in training stabled here. . . . Trainer Jim Ryan returned from a one-day visit to Delaware where on the farm owned by Mrs. John R. H. Thouron he inspected a draft of horses which is to be shipped to Belmont Park later. . . . The travelers to Louisville for Derby business are due back here on Monday to participate in racing business at this track. . . . Elliott Menaker was on hand yesterday looking as chipper as ever. He reported that he was confined to the Church Hospital in Baltimore for 10 days under observation for a heart disturbance. The medics, however, pronounced him okay, following the rest, and discharged him with the admonition to take it easy in whatever activities he pursues. . . . Roy Hunt came up from Baltimore to witness his color-bearer start in the Bed o Roses. The first issue of the overnight condition book for the 48-day Belmont Park meeting was distributed yesterday. Trainer Moody Jolley related that Dunce, owned by the Claiborne Farm, will be shipped to Belmont Park following the running of the Derby. Jolley had no further comment on the future plans of the three-year-old. . . . Trainer Allan Hulst, with the main division of the H. P. Headley Stable, is due at Belmont Park the latter part of the week. The shipment coming on from Louisville will comprise eight horses. . . . R. E. Vogelman, who races Hoosier Honey, arrived from his Maryland home fo* the week end. . . . The first schooling class for steeplechasers was held at Belmont Park this morning. The course was pronounced good. . . . Jack Parr, the itinerant one, he ranges up and down the Eastern coast in quest of the sun, arrived yesterday. He reported that the trip from Miami by jet was monotonous. . . . Trainer Max Hirsch reported that the recent arrivals consigned from the King Ranch are blood relatives to some of the better ones bred at that nursery. Virginian, Maryland Chasers Arrive Jimmy Kilroe reported this morning that with the departures for Garden State, several van loads of steeplechasers arrived from Maryland and Virginia and others are due later. . . . Trainer Johnny Theall deferred his initial appearance at Jamaica until Monday. He had planned to come out today but the weather interferred with his plans for the running of the Bed o Roses, three of the starters were saddled by volunteers. They were Big Effort, Hope is Eternal and A Glitter. . . . Trainer Morris Dixon, who motored down to Garden State to saddle Mystic II. for C. Mahlon Kline in the Valley Forge will return to these parts after the running. The colt will be vanned back here on Sunday. . . . Seven jockeys are missing from the local quarters and five of them are in Kentucky. Dave Erb and M. Sorrentino are at Garden State while Pete Anderson, M. Ycaza, E. Arcaro. S. Boulmetis and W. Boland work the Derby.
