Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-03-01
CoIumciI|e Captures
Feature al II 10 /;
Becky's Shirt Wins
By Lewis F. Atchison
Stor Stoff Correspondent


G. H. Fishback's Columcille win
the feature in a thrilling, three
horse photo finish.
1t was a gala occasion for the
little mountain track, which OPP
crates pretty much on a year.
around basis. The Standing
Room Only sign didn't go up,
simply because by the third race
there wasn't any of that left
either, but the good-natured
crowd didn't seem to mind.
The turnout for the first day
of a 28-day spring meeting was
so big it probably hurt the bet
ting. If one didn't get in line
at the pari-mutuel windows at
least Is minutes before the start
of race, it was even-money he
wouldn't get a bet up.
Wagering Under Record.
Wagering totaled $574,022,
well under the all-time record
of $604,079, bet on March Is,
1852. But it was a much more
satisfactory opening than last
March /, when a Snowstorm held
the attendance to 1898 fans, who
bet $259,073.
Columcille, who just missed
winning his last race here in
December, rewrote the script to-
day in scoring by a neck over
the Bills Best. The latter was
a short neck ahead of Scottie
Boy, the favorite. Columcille's
time for the AZ furlongs was
O:5225. The winner was an out
slider at nearly II to l and paid
$3.50, $1,000 and Sc. Bills
Best paid $3.50 and $3.50. while
Scottie Boy returned $500.
Columcille was ridden by
Jockey Fauto Rivera, recent
arrival from San Juan, Puerto
Rico, where he had some Sue
cess. Rivera gave the five-year-
old gelded son of Alaking- To
Let a smart ride, getting him up
with a rousing stretch finish
after a slow beginning.
DR.. w. c. Ensor's Love Lock,
a local favorite, was no factor
in the race but closed stoutly.
Becky's Shirt Easy Winner.
Mrs. Becky Graves Collins
game Becky's Shirt easily won
the sixth race, the secondary
feature scoring by a length and
a half over Publicity Miss in a
sizzling finish. The 3-year-old
son of Top Money Coropette,
trailed most of the way but took
command when shaken up by
Jockey Ben Brady at the top of
the stretch and won handily.
Mrs. Collins took out her
trainers license last spring when
she acquired the colt and the
two have been very successful.
Becky's Shirt, who won the
Maryland Futurity at Laurel last
autumn. also won the support
ing feature on closing day here
last December.
Sammy Palumbo, who mar
rowly escaped serious injury in
a fall later in the day, celebrated
the start of the season by taking
the first race on Spinakeal. A
f1rst-time starter, the three
year-old filly opened at go, but
went off at slightly less than
81.
PalumbO Escapes Injury.
Palumbo was thrown over the
inf1eld fence in the fourth race
when Beacon Bound stumbled
and fell at the first turn. The
rider miraculously landed on his
feet and was only slightly shaken
up. He continued riding. Beacon
Bound also escaped injury.
Starring Joan, piloted by Sol
Chiapetta, won the second race
and paid $11 to- win. The 2-5
daily double combination paid
$62.80.
The crowd, which snapped up
1900 programs, actually was too
big for Charles Town. The Daily
double handle of $31,348 was
better than any day here last
year, but many fans undoubtedly
were shut out at the windows.
The days heaviest betting was
on the fifth race, won by Sizzle
Thru, when $76.591 went into
the mutuel machines. The fans
wagered $71,409 on the sixth
race and only $68,365 on the
feature.
NOTES-In the excitement of
opening day, the horses for the
first race came out on the track
before the recording of Boots
and Saddles" the traditional
bugle call, was played. Nobody
seemed to mind, but the horses
had slightly longer post parade.
Backers of Moon Love, 2-to-1
favorite in the third race, were
disappointed when the horse was
scratched by order of the track
veterinarian while parading to
the post. What fans didn't know
was that Moon Love was kicked
in the eye leaving the paddock
and was bleeding badly.
Angelo Vasil, who was riding
at Hialeah earlier this winter.
has transferred his activities to
Charles Town for the duration.
Vasil's riding engagements are
being handled by Eddie Litzen-
berg, a former saddle star him.
self.
Starter Harold Holland be-
lieves he established a record for
Charlestown when he handled
1913 horses in schooling exercises
at the starting gate Friday morn
ing. Of this number, 81 actually
broke from the gate.
kAn4eh RoNulinn Renine