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■F i " m Chicagoland By Teddy Cox Register Rock Pilot for Racing at Sportsmans Completes Season at Stud at B and H Farm Name Georgeff to Arlington-Washington Post SPORTSMANS PARK. Cicero. 111., May 5.— The last time we wrote of Rock Pilot reference was made to him being retired to the stud as a hopeless cripple. Thus, you can imagine the surprise when the big, black stallions name was registered by Georgie Ellis this morning, along with others owned by the B and H Stable. Rock Pilot has been holding court at the B and H Farm, owned by J. W. Burns and H. E. Holder. Apparently he has completed his stud duties for the season and an attempt will be made to get him back in action. Rock Pilot was one of the most popular horses to compete in the Middle West in recent years. He confined most of his activity to Sportsmans Park and Detroit. At varied times during his victory-packed career he beat such horses as Bardstown, Sir Tribal, Bernburgoo, Dogoon, Tenacious, Racetracker and Petes Folly. He was the winner of 22 races and the sum of 19,538. He is now seven years old. It was his present trainer, George Ellis, who originally developed Rock Pilot, and it was for the former ace jockey that he won mst of his races. However, he was eventually taken from Ellis hands and placed under the charge of various conditioners, a factor that most certainly did not contribute to his longevity as a campaigner. In any event, it is good to see this fine team back together. Ellis was one of the finest riders of his day when he often held his own with Earl Sande, Laverne Fator, Sonny Workman, and a host of others who probably would make most of the moderns "jump off" their horses. Staff Member Returns to Tracks Phillip Georgeff, who was a member of the editorial staff of the Chicago edition of Daily Racing Form for the past 12 months, has returned to the Balmoral-Washington-Arlington operations. Phil, a young man of 28, lives in Chicago and is chock full of talent and versatility. He has been selected to replace the veteran announcer Harry Henson as track announcer during the three meetings. This undoubtedly will come in the form of a surprise, for Phil will be making his bow in the announcing field. However, he has been well trained for the post through handling narrations for TV motion pictures of races. He was chosen by Benjamin F. Lind-heimer after emerging from rigorous tape recording tests with much higher marks than other aspirants. Phil also will aid in the publicity operations. He is a graduate of Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism and was introduced to the world of thoroughbreds as an attache of the publicity departments of Arlington and Washington Parks in 1953. So far as this observer is concerned, Phil has a fine career in the varied facets of racing in front of him. Jack Drees, who formerly served as head of the radio and TV departments at Arlington and Washington, has purchased a radio station in Mobile, Ala. He will retain his present commitments, however, in both radio and TV as one of the top sports announcers of the nation. Incidentally, it was the same Drees who recommended Georgeff for the above-mentioned position after coaching him in many of the delicate angles of calling races over the horns. Bert Thompson, managing director of the Jockeys Guild, checked in from the Derby and reported that he thought that the stewards made the only possible decision in allowing the original result to stand after the bumping melee between Tomy Lee and Sword Dancer through the stretch in the classic event. Thompson headed on toward Portland Meadows, Portland, Ore., where he will visit and then will return for a few days to his home at La Jolla, Calif., for a change. Bert, taking over as the managing director, has spent most of his time the His in the on airways. ace - - - hole, Len Stroud, handles the Guild affairs in the Chicago area and also at the other midwest tracks. Local Patrons Sought Sword Dancer Speaking of Sword Dancer, who loomed as the winner in the Derby until he folded in the money, both Jack R. Johnston, of the Joe-Anna Stable, and Mrs. Ethel Haffa were interested in obtaining the colt last winter when it became a known fact that the three-year-old could be bought. Another who toyed with the idea of going up to 00,000 was Jack Hogan, of the Jacnot Farm. . . . Many of us associated with Chicago racing were saddened by the news of the death of Catherine Doyle. She was the mother of John F. Willis, a well-known mutuels clerk, and was also the sister-in-law of Margaret "Mickey" Meredith. Mrs. Meredith has long been associated with Chicago racing. . . . Robert P. McAuliffe is passing out stall applications for the Atlantic City meeting. H. D. Maggio reports that the stallion Tiger Wander has successfully covered 15 mares this :-ear, that he is one of the most "sure" stallions with his mares he has ever seen. Maggio is the owner of the wonderful broodmare prospect, Suthern Comfort, who was one of the fastest fillies in the Middle West during her career as a racer. . . . M. B. Armer sent the filly Leisure Lady to the farm, near McLeansboro, 111. . . . Commissioner Edward E. Voynow, who owns the North Star Ranch in partnership with Stanley E. Hubbard, introduced his new trainer and a winner at the same time. Melvin A. Duhon saddled the victorious Palisade II. for the stable and won in a common gallop.
