view raw text
1 Piet Captures Toboggan Over Olympia As Belmont Opens Meet Before 33,234 Markey Racer Gains Third Win in Row While Capot Is Withdrawn From Stake By BOB HORWOOD BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 6. — Peter A. Markeys Piet drew out at the end of the 57th running of the 0,000 Toboggan, inaugural feature of the Belmont spring and summer meeting today, reaching the end of the six furlongs two lengths before Fred W. Hoopers favored Olympia. Spring Hill Farms Nell K. finished very fast to be third, just a head back of the favorite and two lengths before William Helis Salmagundi. Jim Nichols rode Piet, who was scoring his third victory in as many starts this year, and making tils first attempt on a straight course. The Grand Slam stallion paid 3 and stepped the three-quarters in 1:10% over a track that was officially good. Actually, parts of the Widener Course were fast, while the sections where it was crossed by the main track and training track were* muddy and there was a slow section just above the eighth pole. The Toboggan lost some interest when Greentree Stables Capot was withdrawn. The "Horse of the Year" developed an abcess in his mouth, just where he takes the bit, shortly after noon yesterday. Trainer John Gaver said that he had been told by the veterinarian that it was caused by some wild oats getting mixed with his feed and owner Jock Whitney now wants to know who has been sowing wild oats around his barn. If Capot is unable to take a bit in his mouth it will set his training back seriously, as the colt is on edge for a race, Whitney added. A comparatively light crowd of 33,234 turned out in hazy, but pleasantly mild weather for the inaugural of the 31-day meeting. Celebrities were conspicuous by their absence, the majority having journeyed to Kentucky for the running of the Derby. Two Belmont Park track presidents saw their colors triumph at lucrative odds during the afternoon. George D. Widener, the incumbent; won the fourth race with his two-year-old filly, Sungari, who paid 3.40, while his predecessor in the post, A. G. Vanderbilt, won the fifth race with Novice, a three-year-old filly, who returned 0.90. Sungari was a bebutante, while Novice was maknig her first appearance of the season. Glen Lasswell, who returned to action yesterday after serving a 20-day suspension, and Jimmy "Muje Train" Nichols, scored riding doubles. Only 10 went postward in the Toboggan, Royal Blood, Myrtle Charm, Renown II., Le Var, Yankee Hill and Delegate being withdrawn, in addition to Capot. * Guillotine went to the front at the start of the Toboggan, far up the chute and barely visible through the haze, with Piet close at hand and Olympia coming out very fast on the inside. Piet couldnt keep up with Guillotines early pace, in which he sizzled the first quarter, and Olympia began to move out into better going in the Continued on Page Three : „ , Toboggan to Piet As Belmont Opens Markey Racer Gains Third Win in Row While Capot Is Withdrawn From Stake Continued from Paste One middle of the track, about a length and a half behind the Futurity winner, with Up Beat, Salmagundi and My Request following. The ultimate winner was in sixth place at this stage, while Nell K. was a length behind him. As the field neared the stand, Guillotine continued to lead, but Olympia was lapped on him and Up Beat was dropping back, while Salmagundi made a brisk bid that carried him into third place. Nichols went to work on Piet at this point and the Grand Slam colt responded immediately. In a few strides, he had moved past Salmagundi and Up Beat and was lapped on Olympia, who was rapidly cutting down Guillotine as the Greentree colt began to run out of wind. Takes Lead at Sixteenth Pole Piet took command at the sixteenth pole and drew away rapidly, though Olympia held on for a few strides under his top impost of 128 pounds, 10 more than the winner, while Nell K. finished fastest of all and would have been second in another stride. Salmagundi ran a good race under a feathery 103 pounds. My Request was fifth, two lengths "off the board." George D. Widener was gratified by the victory of his homebred Sungari in the fourth event. The brown juvenile daughter of Eight Thirty — Swabia, by Blenheim n., raced very greenly and Emil Flutie had his troubles keeping her from putting Green-tree Stables Ruddy over the outside fence, but she drew away at the end with authority. Claiborne Farms Escondida finished very fast to be third before Walter M. Jeffords Mischianza, who tired at the end of the four and a half panels on the Widener straightaway. Sungari, who was making her debut, was largely ignored, as her training had been on the slow side, and she paid 3.40 after getting the distance in :52% over a rapidly drying track. Ruddy, who was also making her debut and might have been closer with a little better luck, is a shapely half-sister to Blue Border and Guillotine, by Devil Diver. JOCKEY JAMES NICHOLS — Rode two winners on Saturdays opening program at Belmont Park, including Piet in the Toboggan.
