Evening star., 1955-02-06
700 Horses on Hand;
IA New Gas Heaters
To Keep Fans Warm
By Lewis r. Atchison

Defying the elements and
winking at the calendar, Charles
Town will open its 34-day
spring" race meeting Wednes-
day and prospects are good for a
packed house. Post time will be
/ pm. for the first race.
Open all winter for training,
with the exception of last
Wednesday when frigid tenn
peratures made its use inprac-
tical, the track is reported in
excellent shape. A 41a-furlong
sprint for a $4,000 purse will
feature the opening card. and
Racing Secretary Gil Haus has
a representative field ready.
Special train service. not only
from Washington but from as
far north as Philadelphia and
Wilmington. will be available.
And ii new gas heaters, tried
and found satisfactory during
last weeks cold spell, will help
keep the fans warm.
Baltimore racegoers may take
the train from Camden Station
at 1910 am. There will be a
stop at Laurel at 10:30, with
arrival scheduled for 1915 at
Charles Town, in time to make
the daily double.
100 Horses Now at Track.
The Washington special will
. leave Union Station daily at
10:45 am, Silver Spring at II
am, and Rockville at lilo am.
arriving at the track at 1925
pm.
More than TOO horses already
are stabbed at Charles Town
and Starter Harold Holland ar
rived from New Orleans a week
ago to conduct schooling classes.
Stabling arrangements have been
made for 900 horses, many OF
which wintered at Maryland
tracks. Some will be vanned
in from winter quarters at near
by farms to fulfill their racing
engagements.
Among the improvements is
O heated paddock betting divi-
sion, where IA windows will help
ease clubhouse congestion. BY
summer, track officials also ex-
pect to have a grandstand mez-
canine betting ring in operation.
but the paddock addition will be
. big help.
Weber ]. Runs in Inaugural.
The prospective field for the
Inaugural includes E. G. Waugh's
Weber j., a 4-year-old gelding
that has q record Of nine VIC
tories in 1854, including his first
race of the season at Charles
Town, and his last in December.
"Horses-for- courses" players un-
doubtedly will give him strong
support.
T. e. Gilman's Reddest Red
bird, E. L. Miller's Connie Girl
both trained by Miller-and Art
Rooney's Dancing Harp are re-
ported ready to give Weber j.
a real contest. Rooney. owner
of the Pittsburgh Steelers pro
football team. has good string
of horses at Charles Town under
the wing Of Trainer Jim Markey.
Cutshaw Again Seeks Honors.
The race for riding honors
also promises to be interesting.
Oliver Cutshaw, leader last
December with II winners in 13
days, hopes to resume where he
left of. Tony Russo and Charlie
Clark, who tied for second with
IL winners each, also are ready
for work.
A. r. Winters of Huntington,
: w. Va, veteran turf official, again
will serve as steward, represent
ing the State Racing Commis-
sion. Sam Nuckols and Norman
Charlton, old timers in the sport.
also will serve as stewards.
Only one change has been
made in the officials who were
in charge of last December's
meeting. Willie Garner. for
mer Jockey, returning to his old
post as placing judge in place Of
AL LAWN. Brooke Johns and Joe
Brocator, jr., will complete the
Judges staff.