The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-11
NARRAGANSETT SPRING MEETING
 OPENS APRIL 12
More Than $25O,OOO in Purses to Be Won By
 May 10

Pawtucket, R. T., April 1i-Tomor- row afternoon at 2:l5 Narragansett Park ofiicially opens its eighth sea- son of thoroughbred horse racing. It's hard to put new twist on the annual debut of 8 sport that needs no ballyhoo to keep 1t in the fore- front of the popularity polls. So, beyond filling its barns with horses of quality seldom seen in New Eng land, hanging up purse money in sufficient quantity to assure well filled starting fields and offering a rich stake as the opening day fea- ture, tomorrow's inaugural, from the standpoint of racing, will not differ too greatly from the usual Gansett presentation.
 The spring meeting which gets underway tomorrow will run for 25 days, through May 10. During this period stake and purse money total ing over $250,0 900 will be distributed with five stakes, run on successive Saturdays, four of them for $5,000 added and one, the Rhode Island Handicap, for $l0,000 added. Mini- mum purses will be q 900. with plen- ty of opportunities for better class horses and with worthwhile over- night handicaps and allowance races scheduled as mid-week fea- lures.
 Able Jocks On Hand
 Close to HOO horses are already on the grounds and as the stable capacity is just 100 more than this figure, late arrivals will crowd every available stall. The jockey colony has begun to assemble and already custodian Jimmy Ferris has as- signed lockers to 48 riders. Walter Lee Taylor, leading rider at Gansett last year, and runner up to the late Earl Dew for the national crown, is here with his contract employer, Mrs. V. Wyse, Don Meade is due here to ride for George Odom; Eddie Connolly, the New England product who rode sensationally in the south this winter is here with the horses of B. A. Dario; Tommy Luther, vet eran whose wizardry with 2-year- olds Is the admiration of every ap- prentice, is here to ride the classy Juveniles in the stable of Samuel b. Riddle, making its first spring ap- pearance at 0ansett with a power- full string numbering 8 head.
 Few of the Gansett regulars are missing along the back stretch mornings as preparations are rushed for the opening. Jack Whyte, Bill Hodson, Lonnie Copenhaver, Jimmy Stewart, Fred Harmon, John Brouse, Wag Collins, D. W. Carroll, Red Berry, Fred Wyse, Dune McDermid, Joe Valli, Jimmy Webb, Lyman Bru- sic, Phil Mecklenburg, Harold Young and Harris Brown-they are all here waiting for the opening bell.
 Completely overhauled during the winter, GanSett will present Q new and prettier picture to It's patrons tomorrow. The new Terrace Club is perhaps the most impressive added feature, although there are plenty of other Improvements which would rate major mention If taken by themselves. Big Jim Linnehan, the new general superintendent, has turned on some of the energy he used to display on the football field for Boston College and working in close harmony with Judge James E. Dooley and James H. Connors, chair mar, of the board of directors, has performed Herculean task in get- ting everything ready for opening tomorrow.
 There are no changes in Gansett's official family but the states super vision will be in new hands. John D.. Martin, Providence business man, succeeds Louis c. Gerry as state racing administrator and Edward J. Hap" Fenelon, former state senator and racing commissioner. will serve as state steward succeeding Judge Frank Bryan. :.
 Harry I. Days Eye in the Sky" camera will again call the close ones; the Puett electric starting gate, with several Improvements VIII send them off all in line. The Gam sett Flyer again runs direct to the park from South Station, Boston, and the four lane highway will con- tinue to provide easy access to New Eneland's most accessible race track. Oh yes--post time is 2:15 and the Daily Double windows close at ? D. m.