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NEW ENGLAND . . . . ... . by Fred « SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., May 8.— Turf racing, which began this week over the greens- "ward, moves up into stakes company Saturday with the second running of the Suffolk Downs Turf Handicap. This is the first of a trio of added money events over the grass, climaxing with the 5,000 Macomber Memorial at about iy2 miles. Since tomorrows #race is the first of • the trio, the distance has been reduced from last years about 1 1-2 miles to about 1 1-16 miles. There are 13 slated to face starter Buddy Wingfield for the 5,000 added prize. With the topweights all out of action, or declining the issue, weight should not be too great a factor in the decision. When all had been winnowed out, the starting topweights wound up. in Brookwood arid Camarista n. with 115 pounds each. Incongruous as it may seem, the probable favorite will be a horse who gets in with only 111 pounds* and has not won a race in two years. Holding this dubious honor is W. A. MacMillen Jr.s Prince Willy, a New Englander who was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Bayard Tuckerman Jr. Although he was winless in seven starts last year, Prince Willy managed to knock out ,515 in purses. This year he has been unsuccessful in two starts. While his record is not awe inspiring, he deserves the favorites role, because of his competition. Last year, Prince Willy ran with-some of the top grass performers in the East. Indeed, he finished second to the smashing Hindu Festival in the 1958 Macomber Handicap. His opposition tomorrow poses nothing like Hindu Festival, nor anything approaching it. With the .exception of Admirals Joy and Greek Star, the rest of the field are graduates from the claiming ranks, or are being ambitiously tried. Prince Willy will be handled by Conn McCreary another point in his favor and with any racing luck should get. the job done. 13 Slated to Vie in Suffolk Turf Handicap Prince Willy, Winless in 58, Looms Choice Greek Star and Goulash Seen Main Threats Sidney Bartons Greek Star and Peter Fullers Goulash appear the main contention in this field. Greek Star was second to the surprising War Signals last week in the Puritan Handicap over a muddy track. War Signals, incidentally, will try the grass for the first time in the Suffolk Turf Handicap. Greek Star has had a few flyers over the turf, without too much success, but his workout here the other day was impressive. He went over the course with ease and appeared to show a liking for it. Capable of running close to the pace, he should be in a contending position early and not * suffer from any interference. Goulash will be working-in opposite ways. He doesnt start running until the last part of a race. This will mitigate against him because of the sharp turns and the short stretch. But if there is a lot of speed in the race, the field may come back. All in all, Prince Willy is the horse to beat. Horses for courses and longshot players might take a second look at Saratoga Pete. Although he has been no worldbeater of late, he has a distinct fondness for the Suffolk green strip and each year manages to come up with a win, sometimes at startling figures. Now somewhat on the ancient side at the age of eight, he might feel surprisingly youthful tomorrow afternoon — after all it is spring — and come up with an upset. If any of the other lightweights m the field manage to win, the tote board will be ignited as much as when War Signals posted a 6.00 mutuel last week. There will be further equine activity on Sunday when the second annual horse show of the Professional Horsemens Association of New England will be held at the Estate of Larz Anderson in Brookline, under the direction of Arthur Maguire and chairman Tommy Moran. The show will consist of 32 classes, including hunters, jumpers, open horses and registered ponies. Some newly arrived Irish hunters are expected to par- ticipate. An added attraction will be a drill of the Boston mounted police under the supervision of Capt. John McArdle. The Anderson estate is not a new home for horses. In fact ifwas here that Battleship, winner of the Grand National, was quartered at one time. Frank Reilly, one of the veterans of the sport who goes back to 1903 and the days of Sheepshead JBay, Brighton Beach and Gravesend, arrived from Florida after an absence of several years. Reilly has been on the ailing side for sometime and was in and out of Veterans Hospital in Coral Gables the past two years. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Culp are the proud parents of a newly arrived daughter, who was christened Cathleen. Mrs. Culp is the former Carol Hall, one of New Englands leading equestriennes and an accomplished horsewoman of all sorts. At one time, she was considered the best "exercise boy" on the track. . . . Terrence Dunlavy, the English-bom rider who recently lost his bug, will be at darden State Saturday to handle Argonne Stables Grand Wizard in the 5,000 added Delaware Valley Stakes. Francis P. Smith, better known as Pete, is secretary of the Lincoln Downs track and president of the Standardbred Owners Association. He is also a Rhode Island state senator, serving his fifth term, and president pro tern of the upper legislative body. There has been a political row in the Rhode Island senate and the Providence Journal and its sister paper, the Evening Bulletin, the most powerful papers in the state and often referred to as the "conscience of New England" endorsed Smith in no uncertain terms. They termed the 56-year-old senator astute and highly regarded. The two Providence papers never pull any punches and their backing of Smith is praise of the highest order. . . . Russell "Sabu" Sabbey, the self-styled king of the hotwalkers, used to work for Charley Reynolds some 20 years ago. The other day "Sabu" met Reynolds in the track kitchen for the first time and yelled, in all seriousness, "Charley, you used to be sucha beautiful man. What happened? You lost all your hair." ,
