Evening star., 1934-03-18
S0MERV|LLE HORSE
Wins AIKEN EVENT
Noel Laing, Virginia Rider,
Comes in First in
Two Races.
BY ROBERT b. PHILLIPS, Jr.,
staff Correspondent Of The Star.

AIKEN, S. c., March 17.-Mrs.
Thomas H. Somerville'S brilliant
young timber topper, Oliver c., won
the Aiken Cup here today in a sur
prise victory over the favored pair
of T. w. Durant's Fugitive and Little
Dan. Topping off a gala day for Noel
Laing, the Virginia rider who has
risen to great heights in the past
three years. Oliver C. proved capable
of following the terrific early speed
Fugitive always shows and won
handily.
1t was the second straight victory
for Laing, who had ridden Mrs. YER
ner 2. Reeds Our Friend first under
the wire in 22 mile brush race pre-
ceding the feature event. Before
5000 sports loving spectators,
gathered from 13 States to witness
the debut of the Aiken Steeplechase
course, Laing provided two thrilling
rides on horses he trained himself
The first test of the afternoon was
a runaway for Rigan McKinney's Sill
verskin, which was out in front all
the way and never was put to a drive
to finish 10 lengths before Laing's
Fairy Lore. Mckinney was running
close behind Our Friend in the second
trial when his Bolero turned over
with him at the twelfth fence.
Unbeatables Drop Out.
Prospects Of the amateur racing
season in Virginia and Maryland TOOK
a new turn with the settling of scores
at this meet. Fugitive and Little Dan
were rated as two unbeatable horses
over moderate sized courses. but to-
day the latter fell over the first
Jump, was remounted by Charlie
White and came down again at the
eighth. 1t was at this fence that
Laing passed Fugitive, which he had
been following closely TO the astonish-
ment Of the crowd. Little Dan was
knocked out by the second fall and
his rider well shaken up but no seri.
Gus injuries resulted.
Sllverskin might not have had such
an easy route to the winners circle
had not Mrs. Ambrose CIark's Snee
spilled HarraWay, her English jockey,
at the last jump of the first event.
The Clark horse ran stoutly through
out and seemed ready to close on
the winner before misfortune de-
scended upon him.
Nevertheless Rigan Mckinney could
write it down in his book that he was
never headed and came home with
plenty to spare.
Our Friend in Front.
Our Friend also ran a front race.
clearing the stiff brush obstacles
without bobble and galloping to
the wire in hand.
Oliver c. went into the timber con-
test today with one race behind him
and in that start he knocked over
fences at random, but the speedy
Somerville hope showed improved
jumping form. Whether he will prove a
successor to Mrs. Somerville's famed
Troublemaker is still a question. but
at least he will never be regarded
lightly in the forthcoming Virginia
meets at Middleburg and Warrenton
and Maryland's little grand national
or hunt cup if ne is sent there.
Before the major attractions this
afternoon. two fat races were run at
the Whitney track, about 3 miles
from the newly constructed steeple-
chase course. S. A Warmers Baltaz-
zlS White Lightning made a show Of
the field in the first division of the
mile and one-sixteenth turf trail.
beating out Jim Ryans Aughrim Bow
by several lengths. In the second
section, Mrs. Somerville had her
initial winner of the day in Brat
famous, I'd, which Carroll Bassett
brought home handiIy despite Raw
Woolf's determined drive on The
Staff.
Results Of Day.
Results Of the day follow:
First Race, first division-Won bv
s A. Warmers Baltazzi's White Light
nlng, ridden by Bobby Davis second,
James Ryan's Aughrim Boy. Raw
Woolf' third, Noel Laings Kanem,
owner.
Steeplechase Races.
First Race-Rigan McKinney's Sill
verskin, ridden by owner; second Noel
Laing's Fairy Lore, owner; third,
NorthWooo Stables Argonaut, w. Ball.
Time, 3:19:4.
second Race-Mrs. Werner z. Reeds
Our Friend, Noel Laing; second. Dog
wood Stables Greatorex. Bobby Davis;
third, Northwood Stables Indigo, J.
A. Ball. Time, 1922.
Third Race, over timber and brush
Mrs. Thomas H Somerville's Oliver
c, Noel Laing; second, T w. Durant's
Fugitive. Burling Cocks: third. Ernest
L. Woodward's Sunset End, M Macy.
Time, minutes fiat.