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ThistleDown By Fred Galiani Paul Ward in Quest of Exceptional Record Top Rider Here for Three Years in a Row Clarence Meaux One of His Chief Rivals THISTLEDOWN, North Randall, -Ohio, June 4. Paul Ward, a blonde, sharp-featured, light-skinned youth of 22, is gunning for an exceptional record. For three straight years he has reigned undisputed as leading rider at the ThistleDown sessions and is well on his way to keep his control. Ruling the roost is not an uncommon experience for Ward. In his fledging yelar in 1952, he shot into prominence by becoming leading apprentice rider at the Delaware Park session. He seldom has relinquished the spot in five subsequent years in riding through Ohio, Kentucky andNew Orleans. Ward, a farm boy from Seymour, Ind., was brought out by C. H. Everitt, but since June, 1954 has been free-lancing. He regards Timely Tip, astride whom he won the Ohio Derby here, as the best horse he-ever rode. Among his other stakes conquests were the Governors Handicap at Narragansett on Little Imp and the Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs on Peu-a-Peu. Ward has never been in any bad spills, so he has been fortunate in that respect. A natural lightweight, he whips with either hand, although by his own admission, "I dont raise much hell with it." Now, however, his stranglehold on the title here appears in jeopardy from a couple of fellows; one jockey Clarence Meaux, and the other a much stronger rival, Uncle Sam. Paul has passed his physical for militaiy service and has been notified that he has been accepted. He has not been given any date to report for induction, but he knows his days are limited. " Hot Saddle Duel May Develop If Ward does happen to finish out the meeting one of his chief contenders should be Clarence Meaux, another fellow who has made it a practice to be on the top of the heap at the end of meetings. Meaux is a dark-haired, swarthy, brown-eyed Cajun, hailing from Ab-beyville, La., which is 150 miles from New , Orleans. Meaux started riding, at least on . the thoroughbred tracks, two years after Ward. Like so many "mud bugs" Meaux started early, piloting quarter horses in the Louisiana area. The switch to thoroughbreds comes easy for those chaps. In 1954, under contract to F. J. DeMary, he left the farm and was sent to New Orleans, vthen to Fairmount Park. He broke his maiden on June 3 there and from then on it was "get the dough with Clarence Meaux." He rode 81 winners at the subsequent Cahokia meeting to be top man, stnd for the next three years was the leading rider in Southern Illinois. This spring he was oh the top of the list at the Sports- . mans Park spring party. Meaux stands five feet, one inch, and does 109 pounds. This is the first time Clarence is riding in Ohio, and as a matter of fact, this is his initial shot at what may be called the "big time." He has given first call to trainer E. B. Shipp, who has a hard-knocking stable, and will be picking up mounts quickly when he demonstrates his ability. Thus, in addition to the better class of racing presented here, Ohio fans should see a spirited jockey, battle with Ward, Buck Thornburg and Meaux all there, not to mention a couple of other steady riders who will make them- selves heard. Bits of Thistle: Burt Rose, who was in the theatrical field before turning to the jockeys agent profession, brings the old ballyhoo of the Kleig lights to the race track. Now handling Palmer Domenico, Rose passes out printed cards with the slogan: "Have no fear, Domenico is here." And not only that, he carries a scrap book of his write-ups with him, which is available for inspection any time. Rose paraphrases the old slogan: "Have jockey, will travel." . . . Dixie Mitchell, outrider here last year, is back in the jockey fold again. He rode a few two-year-olds in Florida this winter, races in which he didnt have to get too light, and the old lure proved pretty strong, so hes taking another shot at riding. Hell be all right as soon as he can whittle down the poundage. . . . Another horse pilot who should see plenty of action this season is Smokey Anyon. The Smoke accepted only a few mounts at Ascot Park, then waited for this session. George Reece Pays Occasional Visit George Reece, who was associated with Clem McCarthy a few years back making tape recordings of various races, is now on the staff of WJW here, on which he has a daily sports and news show.. He still finds time, however, to make the races as often as possible. . . . Tony Lallo, track superintendent at Randall Park, just has to walk across the street to take in Thistles races. He reports that the main entrance at Randall Park has been widened this year and new admission booths set up. . ; . A number of horses from Sportsmans Park have made the trek here and are stabled at Randall. Their quarters are known as "Little Chicago." . . . Johnny Birbiglia has received a letter from Ike Bassett, in which the Midwest manager of the Jockeys Guild reports that he is coming along, fine since being discharged from the hospital. A first, at least according to our knowledge, is a special window for Daily Doubles at which "wheels" can be made. A wheel, to the unitiated, is taking a single horse in either the first or second race and coupling him with everything in the other race. The separate window is a good idea. Those who like that kind of action can get it without holding up the other patrons who indulge in buying only a few of the bargain basement specials. . . . Jockey Ernie Supiran, the California apprentice, and his wife Beverly became the parents of a six-pound, eight-ounce daughter the other day. Anita Louise, the new arrival, checked in at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron. . . . Trainer E. E. Russell shipped 10 horses in from Chicago for S. C. Handelman. It should be a poignant homecoming for Russell, who saddled his first winner as a trainer atThistleDown in 1928 and then hasnt been here since.
