The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-04-14
Whiting, Plesa First
 Day Riding Stars At Narragansett

Pawtucket, R. l., April l4.-The two boys who won two-thlrds Of the races between them on opening day at Narragansett Park Saturday were riding for the first time in the east. but have had closely interlocking careers at mid-western courses.
 Lyle Whiting, contract rider for the Mt. Desert Stable of w. E. Parker, and Eddie Plesa, here with the SIravo and Petrucci stable, pt- loted three winners each as the New England racing season was inaugu- rated. Whiting came here widely heralded, despite the fact that he had never been closer to the East before than the Fairmount track ar Cleveland. Plesa, however, was vir- tually unpublished and completely unknown to New England fans.
 The two lads have mnay things in common. Both were born in Neb- raska--Whiting at Shelton, Plesa at Omaha. Whiting finished third in the race at Ak-Sar-Ben, in Omaha, in which Plesa broke his maiden. The lads have ridden against each other at numerous mld-western courses. Both signed contracts with their respective stables at the close of the recent Oaklawn Park meet ing. Both think New England Is mighty nice" and are growing to like 1t better every day. They found this section "kind Of cold" when they first arrived. And both. Of course. rode three winners Satur- day in an impressive introduction to eastern racing.
 Three Up, Three In
 Whiting, who took the featured Spring Handicap on Mt. Deserts Par Avion and also won on Topee and Merry Glow, has raced under two Narragansett officials before. He rode most of the winter at New Or leans under Steward Norris Roydne and rode a few days at Hot Springs under Steward San NuckolS. He says "the riding here is much clean CT than 1t was at many Of the tracks where Eddie and have ridden a; least 1t was on Saturday. We've been out where it got mighty rough sometimes"
 Whiting says that 1t is hard fol him to compare the class of horses here with those at middle-westerr courses, as there are many stables at Gansett that he has never heard of before, since their activities have been restricted to the east. his tt the west. Lyle got to know Trainer Mo Dowell of the Mt Desert Stable be- cause both own rather luxurioll' trailers and often parked them sidt by side at lots near mid-westerr courses. Although he signed witi Mcdowell before the close of Ho' Springs. he rode his first race under contract to Mt. Desert on Saturday
 Plesa is a I7-year-old, i05-p0und- CT. and he might never have coms to the tracks if his family hadn't had a laundry man named Smolen. ski. Sm0lenski had a son named Walter who was lightweight hke Eddie. Walter became an exercise boy and then jockey for Morton Whitebrook at AK-Sar- Ben. He per. suaded Eddie he should take up the profession of aaddlesmithing. then persuaded WhitebrO0k to hire him
 Plesa has been riding little mors than a year, beginning his careei at Hot Springs in the late winter ol l042. He broke his maiden at Omahf on a horse named Anna Grand. nm der the silks of "Chick" doif.
 Plesa'S father is a commission man ln tine Omaha stockyards.
 Flrst Love
 Eddie says the best horse he hai ridden thus far is probably Cherr! Trsfie. but that even if he gets t riding a horse like Whirlaway. hi fayorite thoroughbred win aIway be Snobeedo, now dead. SnObeedI was thrown out of active treinini when he was il years old. and ] the horse on which Eddie learne' to ride.
 He was . gentleman" says Plesa He knew I was punk and mayh' scared and he was gentle with m until ] learned the way around tn track"
 On Saturday at Oansstt PIesl rode home on Memphis Lad, aBld ! luck and Lady Orchid.