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New York By Bob Horwood Biggest Belmont Meet Ever Opens Monday Value of Stakes Are Substantially Increased Expected to Lure Top Horses in Country JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., May 9.— What is modestly and accurately announced as the biggest meeting held at Belmont Park since the huge track opened on May 4, 1905, starts on Monday. Most of the score of stakes to be run during the 54-day span have been substantially increased in value and -are expected to attract horses worthy of the more than a million dollars in added money that is being offered. Unhappily, neither Tomy Lee or Silver Spoon, the reigning king and queen of the three-year-olds, will be on hand. However, it might be remembered that 10 of the last 13 winners of the Belmont Stakes, which this year has been increased to 25,000, was voted best of his age group at the end of the season, regardless of where he finished in the Derby. It might also be worth remembering that one of those, King Ranchs High Gun, didnt start in the Derby, but came into his glory during the Belmont meeting. The same stables Black Hills will have the chance to do the same thing this year. In the same period, C. V. Whitneys Counterpoint was lost in a cloud of dust in Count Turfs Derby, but won the Peter Pan Handicap and Belmont Stakes and became the champion of 1951. Native Dancer, Nashua and Gallant Man all finished second in the Derby and won the Belmont in the absence of their conquerors at Churchill Downs. At long last, New York will have a 00,000 handicap at Belmont Park this year, in fact will have two of them. The Metropolitan and Suburban, which have • long been two of the nations most important handicaps now have purses worthy of their significance. A third 00,000 handicap, the Brooklyn, will be run at Jamaica during the last stand at this relic in July and Vertex will be trying to emulate the feat of Whisk Broom n. and Tom Fool and become the third horse to win all three. No More Widener Chute There will be no noticeable difference in the grandstand or clubhouse at Belmont Park this year. The new Belmont is still about three years away. But there is a change in the racing strip that we believe meets a popular demand. The Widener straightaway has been seeded with grass and there will be no more juvenile races with 28-horse fields charging through the infield. This year, the two-year-old races and Mondays Toboggan Handicap will all be run on the main track. That means that there will be no more races at 4JA furlongs. The 5 furlongs races will start at the 5V2 furlongs pole and finish at the sixteenth pole. The steeplechase and hurdle courses have been retained and devotees of that sport will have a race to their fancy almost every day but Saturday. We could wish that these races, except the stakes, were offered as the ninth, but doubt that that will come to pass. Large fields are in prospect for both stakes during the first week at Belmont. These are the 5,000 Toboggan Handicap at 6 furlongs on Monday and the 0,000 Acorn Stakes for three-year-old fillies "at a flat mile on Saturday. The 7 furlongs White Pine Purse, to be run on the turf course on Saturday, is also expected to attract a stakes field with Capt. Harry F. Guggenheims Bald Eagle and Carleton Palmers Tharp slated to make their 1959 debuts. Recent training suggests that this pair are potentially two of the best turf horses in the country. Greentree Stables Cohoes heads the Toboggan and indicated that he is in the best form of his career in his sparkling seasonal debut last Monday. However, he will know he has been to the races after meeting such as Claiborne Farms Nadir, Irving Gushens Bumpy Road, Howell E. Jacksons Tick Tock and whichever one of Harry Z. Isaacs pair of Isendu and Itobe goes postward. Ussery to Ride Quill in Acorn At this writing, 11 fillies are considered probable starters in the Acorn. Trainer Lucien Laurin reports that Reginald N. Websters Q.uill came out of her race on Thursday kicking and playing. She will be ridden by Bob Ussery on Saturday in place of "Peejay" Bailey, who is serving a 10-day suspension. Though almost certainly a trfile "short" on Thursday, Quill was full of run and all but pulled Baileys arms out in the run down the backstretch. These tactics, according to Laurin, were not his orders. James McCues Shirley Jones, the rather lucky winner of that race, will be back, along with Mrs. H. C. Phipps High Bid, who was probably best in the race, and Mrs. M. Schencks Cobul, who saved ground along the rail and was beaten inches.
