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Mr. Bee of Maumee At 00,000 Mark Veteran 12-Year-Old Runner Still Going Strong in Last Year Before He Will Retire MAUMEE DOWNS. Ohio, May 5.— For the ageless thoroughbred Bee Lee Tee, life certainly has begun at 40. Bee Lee Tee is a 12-year-old chestnut gelding, sometimes like 55 years of age in human terms, whose important race now is one against Father Time. For Bee Lee Tee. whose 11 years of campaigning span 228 starts with 44 winners and total earnings of 00,315, reaches racings limit age of 13 this coming January. Code of the sport will end his active days then and he will be turned out to pasture to live out an equine s "golden years" on a Florida farm. But Bee Lee Tee will retire on many, many press clippings. In soaring his earnings over the 00,000 mark he took company with a select group of horses which have reached the coveted mark. He went over the top last March 14 at Sunshine Park when he finished fourth in a cheap race — his winnings of 0. His most recent campaign at Toledos Maumee Downs has added an additional 5 to his account. In fact, Ohioans will be seeing "Mr Bee," as he is affectionately called, in action for the last time during the current Maumee Downs meeting which comes to a close on May 21. His consistency is borne out by a study of his record. In 11 years of racing, starting 228 times, he has won 44, was second 42 times, and third on 43 occasions. A further breakdown reveals each time he popped out of the starting gate he earned an average of 34. Earned 8,800 in 1951 Bee Lee Tees best year was 1951. He won five of 30 starts, earned 8,800. And as recently as 1958 he was winner of four events and 0,130. Mr. Bees owner, Jim Pitt of Safety Harbor, Florida, describes his pride and joy as "an old fellow with a lordly grace. "You cant hurry him. He sometimes takes an hour to walk from his stall to the track, stopping along the way to sniff flowers. "But once on the track, hes all business. Let nothing get in his way." Pick adds. Pitts charge has run . on all kinds of tracks, big and small. Moreover, he holds a soft spot in hearts of horsemen and jockeys alike who look upon him as something above the ordinary cut of horse. This January wont signalize the first retirement for Bee Lee Tee. Once before he was turned out for a rest. Says Pitt: "I put him on a farm and darned if he didnt i spend his time racing trucks that passed the farm." Its a good bet "Mr. Bee" will resume that sort of chase once his days on the track are finished. Its in his blood. Bee Lee Tees complete racing record follows: Year. Age. Sts. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Amt. Won. 1949 2 7 3 0 1 $ 1,775 1950 3 20 6 4 5 7.695 1951 4 30 5 5 5 18.800 1952 5 30 1 2 7 5.915 1953 6 12 0 3 1 2.505 1954 7 18 3 7 1 10.225 1955 8 28 6 5 4 14.540 1956 9 18 7 4 5 12.975 1957 10 34 7 7 6 13.980 1958 11 22 4 4 6 10.130 1959 12 9 2 12 1.875 Tot. llyrs. 228 44 42 43 00,315
