The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-04-04

o O@J~AAVM ~ W 4, Vie DeLCer 10
NARRACANSETT
READY FOR BIG
SPRING MEETING
Pawtucket, r. T., April AUST as
fast as they could be unloaded from
the rail siding, horses were pouring
into Narragansett Park over the
weekend in preparation for the
Spring meeting which opens, We'd
nesday, April IL. At the moment
some 400 head are established on
the grounds but few Of the 1900
stalls in the stable area will be va
cant by the time the first bugle calls
the thoroughbredS from the pad
dock.
Many Of the arrivals to date are
regulars Of the New England circuit
and 1t is very gratifying to note
that most Of these horsemen have
strengthened their stables consider
ably during the winter campaigns.
Horsemen that left New England
last Fall with only a few head are
returning this Spring with fifteen
and twenty horses in iowa fact
which pays tribute to the position
New England racing has attained
among professional owners and
trainers. It also indicates that
most Of the claiming that took
place in Florida was done by New
England horsemen.
MilliOnaireSs
A newcomer to GanSett and to
New England will be Mrs. H. p.
Bonner, q lady who made millions
out Of Texas oil and who currently
is in the throes Of q terrific en-
thusiasm for racing. Mrs. Bonner
purchased her first thoroughbred
only two seasons ago, but she has
steadily added to her stable and 20
solid campaigners will carry her
colorS at the Gansett Spring meet
Ing. The string Is headed by the
stake candidates, Defense and Care
less. and there isn't a horse In the
stable Of less value than $500.
A colorful SportsWoman herself,
Mrs. Bonner has chosen an equally
colorful character as her trainer. G.
r. doc" Upton Is the man who
directs the string and as one Of the
very best veterinarians in the
country doc" knows exactly what
is necessary to get horses first I'M
der the wire. AS raconteour and
teller of original racetrack yarns,
Doc Upton has no superior. He will
be q very welcome addition to the
New England circuit.
Other arrivals are Ray Metcalf
with IL head; Johnny Mcdowell
with IA; Sid Trenchar dwith 8; Ed
die Summers with IL; Pete Petrucci
with 10 Joe Camac with ID; Ralph
Lentini with 8; Fred Preece with
10; Mrs. Charles Seldman with 16;
Arthur Gaignard with IL; Claude
Feltner with IL; Frank Mormile
with 8, and many smaller ship
mentS. Already there are almost
200 horse stabbed outside Of the
grounds, hoping and waiting for
stall cancellation that will enable
them to move In to the stable area.
But cancellations this year have
been fewer than ever before and Ty
Shea apparently will have enough
horses on hand to fill his races twice
over.
Buddy Wingf1eld's head man,
Jack Hennessey, checked in this
morning and will commence school,
ing horses from the Puett gate
Wednesday morning.
Lyle Whiting, the Nebraska
rider who finished eighth last
year in the national jockey stand
ings, will quit the saddle this
year and take out trainers
license. Whiting came to New
England last Spring to ride for
w. E. Parker, the New Bedford
insurance man, and led all riders
at the Gansett Spring meeting.
Mr.. Parker has always been fond
of the well behaved Lyle and has
already shipped several horses to
Chicago to give the eX-rider
start In his new profession.
Sid Bernstein, the Lowell, Mass,
automobile dealer who owned and
trained horses on the side prior TO
his induction in the armed services
was yesterday bemoaning the fact
tht his induction cost him at least
$4,000. Prior to being called up two
years ago, Sid had built up fine
pool of used cars to hold against
rising market. But the induction
came quicker than expected and Sid
was forced to sell out at loss.
After serving eight monahs in the
Army, Bernstein was given an hon.
orable discharge on medical
grounds and for being over age
Meanwhile, the used car market
had scared sky high, but Sid had no
cars to sell. The well-liked Lowell
man says he will stay with the
horses.
Among the II hores Ray Metcalf
shipped in yesterday from Florida
was the 4-year-old bay colt Baroque
~ Reign Count Crazy Jane, which
Metcalf claimed from J. p. Sam
my" Smith few weeks ago at Hia-
leah Park. Ray tells the story so 1t
must be true-that Baroque was one
az the batch Of yearlings that were
put on the market by John =.
Hertz. Sammy Smith looked them
all over and finally bought BaroQue
for the account Of Victor Emman-