Evening star., 1952-08-05
Rich HambIetonian
Tomorrow Likely 10
Require Three Heats
By the Assoeiatad Press

GOSHEN, N. Y, Aug. 5.-Old-
timers on harness racing'S Grand
Circuit speculated today that for
the first time since 1947 it might
require three heats to decide the
rich Hambletonian Stake tomor-
row.
Sixteen 3-year-old colts and
fillies are entered for the 27th edi-
tion Of the trotters' Kentucky
Derby. And there is speed to burn
in the lineup headed by the Duke
Of Lullwater.
Perhaps another half dozen
were scared away from posting the
final $500 starting fee after the
blistering workouts turned in by
several contenders last week.
The last four Hambletonians
have been won in two straight
heats.
The first horse to put a pair to-
gether tomorrow will get $47, ,236. ga
from the $87.637.55 pot. This
makes it the second richest Ham
bletonian. Last year when 81
started. the purse crossed $685.
263, and a 25-to-1 shot-Main-
liner-hauled in $51, ,347 for Ralph
Kroening Of Milwaukee.
Lost Heat, Broke Record.
Going back to 1947. the winner
was Hoot Mon. which set the stake
record Of 200 fiat after losing the
first heat to Rodney. Hoot Mon
wrapped it up with victory in the
third heat. Eight Hambletonians
have required three heats, and in
1882 and 1884 they had to make
four trips before getting a winner.
Duke Of Lullwater, the 1851 two
year-old champion and winner of
IA Of 16 starts last year as he
piled up the biggest earnings on
record for juvenile, is listed as
the S-to-1 choice. The Duke has
won three Of five this year.
Usually they pin this race down
TO one heavy favorite, with two
or three others conceded a chance.
But this time, there are about
eight other likely contenders in
addition to the Duke-owned by
Walter T. Gambler Of Decatur, Ga.
Foremost challenger seems to
be Hit Song, property Of E. Roland
Hartman and E. T. Gerry of New
York. and L. B. Sheppard, Han
over. Pa.
Beat Favorite 4 Times.
Hit Song, listed at 4 to 1, is
the only horse that has beaten
Duke-twice last year and twice
last month. All of the Dukes de-
feats occurred here in Goshen.
Others considered capable of
grabbing the big prize include
Sharp Note. owned by C. w. Clark,
Dearborn. Mich; Crystal Hanover,
Dave Johnston. T. w. Church and
p. j. Baugh, Charlotte, N. c.:
Hardy Hanover. E. j. Baker, st.
Charles, H.; Diplomat Hanover,
L. E. Lake, Colfax, Ind; Lu Peck,
Q. L. Mears. Toledo. Ohio; Dallas
Hanover. Ed Dougherty, Hacken-
sack. N. j.: Theme Song, Hayes
Fair Acres Stable. Du Quoin. Ill,
and Scotch Victor. s. A. Camp
Farms, Shafter, Calf.
Also entered are Peter Nibble,
Dunbar Bostwick, Shelburne, VT;
Epicure. G, w. Phellis. Greenwich,
Conn.,; Excellent Colby and Volo
Colby, from Leo McNamara's Two
Cats Farm. Carmel, Ind; Leath-
erwood Day. Samuel Huttenbauer,
Cincinnati, and Triumph Hanover,
A. D. Knapp, Jackson. Mich.
+ There are two fillies in the line
up. Lu Peck and Crystal Hanover.
Duke Of Lullwater is to be driven
by Johnny Simpson, who at 80
could be the youngest driver to win
the Hambletonian. Dock Parshall
won with Lord Jim in 1894 when
he was 81.
Harry Pownall. who drove Titan
Hanover to victory in 1945, will
handle Hit Song, who worked out
IN 2:01As last Thursday. Only
two Hambletonians have been
raced faster.