New-York tribune., 1920-05-15
Billy Kelly Is
Picked to Win
The Paun1onok
Attractive Gard Arranged,
Despite Probability Tha,
Track Will Be Heavy
By w. ]. Macbeth

The metropolitan racing season will |
hs usnered in this afternoon at the !
Jamaica track of the Metropolitan |
Jockey Club. New York's countless
lovers of the thoroughbred have !
waited patiently through the cold, wet /
months since last October for this /
Gala occasion and doubtless will be on
hand in multitudes to welcome back the
sport of kings.
Not even the elements can -dampen
.he ardor of the metropolitan turf
enthusiasts, at least such has n-ver
been the case in the past. And while
every one is pulling for bright sun
shine to-day the capacity of the stands
should be taxed even if the rain con-
tinues its torrential fury for few
DAYS more.
The rain has done about all the
damage it possibly could to to days
particular list of attractions. The
racing clientele knows we'll enough
how to get out of the wet. But track
IS always more or less helpless in a
food. Certainly it should be great
day for the mudlarks. The track will
he muddy enough to suit the most
fastidious. even though its somewhat
sandy composition is one that dries out
more quickly than the average.
Bad Weather a Handicap
Racing Secretary w. c. Edwards has
heen able to arrange an attractive
opening day card, despite unusual
handicaps. First, it must beremem-
bered that he has been up against
q siege of the most provoking weather.
Save in the cases OF rich stakes, when
70 ho
over muddy going. horsemen seldom
relish the idea of sending their thor
oughbreds out in bad weather and over
treacherous track. Yet Secretary
Edwards has been able to interest an
unusually fine entry for the six events.
This testimonial to the secretary's
popularity can be the more readily ap-
preciatcd when it is remembered that
no fewer than four tracks will be oper-
ating Tomorrow The Pimlico meeting
is to extend into the middle of next
week, and a conflict between courses
of such close proximity is always felt.
The Canadian circuit has cut in at
Montreal, and, of course, Churchill
Downs is running full blast.
The American turf has so far re-
cuperated from the i'll effects of the
anti-betting laws of more than q de-
cade ago that there are more than
enough high class thoroughbreds in
training to supply four tracks. 1t al
ways has been the custom to winter
a great many stables at the New York
tracks and prepare the horses for the
Maryland meetings. SO backward was
the weather this spring that few OF
the good horses wintering about Ne"
York we're sent on to Maryland. They
have been prepared here instead; {
fact which would seem to guarantee
felds of pretention in spite of the few
days conflict with Pimhco.
Two stake races will feature ia
naica's opening day card. The more
important one. fourth on the pro
gram, is the Paumonok Handicap OF
$1,000. for three Eear-olds and up This
is a dash of six furlongs. In spite OF
the certainty that the track will be
muddy or very heavy, a dozen well
to accept the issue.
Commander J. K. l.. Ross's sensational
Billy Kelly, two year-old champion OF
1878, should perhaps be favorite. Il
S his distance and he has shown he
can do himself justice in tho mud
But Sam IIildreth has a strong hanc
in Lucullite, Lord Brighton and Valor
Handicapper Nosburgh regards Lucul
lite so we'll that he has placed him a
even weights with the Ross gelding
Two Capable Entries
Lord Brighton and Valor. at tn,
weights. are both capable of lending
some he'll TO Lucillite in pinch. Blu
If must be remembered that Bill,
Kelly has been tightened up by actua
competition i'm Maryland. while Hill
dreth's horses have vet to 90 TO th'
post for the first time this season.
a lot Of ralibirds familiar with The
work of thoroughbreds around New
York tracks this spring will have NOR
than sentiment riding with Mr.. Clark
Dunhoyne The Futurity winner o
1918 IS said to be showing wonderful
speed I'm hls works. Dunboyne Gu
little figure as Il three yoar-old, as HI
broke down early last year, but he u
aid to be tight as drum i'll his under
rlnning again. Tieklsh, which wol
last time out. and the veteran cam
paigner, Old Rosebud, are liable an,
time TO show an effort that would hus
Tie anything i'm the field.
The Suffolk Selling Stakes, with 81,
800 added, for -year-oids Is the sec
ondary feature Thirteen have beei
named for this scramble of five fur
longs, and scramble it Is likely to be
as ten of the thirteen Juveniles hav
not yet been TO the post. Anothe
dozen maiden two year olds will con
Test the closing race at five furlongs
OF the dozen Runatrix is the only on
that has faced the starter in actua
competition.
There seems to be a wealth of thor
oughbreds Of the older classes alread
on hand for the Eastern season. N
iewtr than twenty-six have been enterc
m the selling race at five and d hal
lurlongs, which will be the secon