Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-24
Calumet Star
Gets Revenge
In Wdener
BY CHARLES M. EGAN
Sports Editor Of The Star


Sports Editor of The Star
MIAMI, Feb. 23.-Calumet
Farm and the Jones boys did
it again at Hialeah Park this
blustery, showery afternoon as an
amazing gelding named Bards-
town ran away from four rivals
in the goth running Of the
$l19.400 Widener Handicap.
Only a few hours before, a
widely circulated rumor had
Bardstown due to be scratched
because of the off track.
While a weather oblivious
crowd Of 30,657 yelled itself
hoarse, Willie Hartack, the coun-
try's No. jockey, got Bards-
town away from the starting
gate on top and kept him out in
front virtually every step of the
mile-and-a-quarter grind.
Pulling away from the favored
Summer Tan in the stretch, just
as Mrs. John w. Galbreaths big
horse had done to him in the
McLennan Handicap two weeks
ago. Bardstown, the second
choice at II to 10, won by a
widening Az lengths. Summer
Tan. who made one big move
coming around the bend into the
home-stretch when he got within
two lengths of the flying leader,
faded badly in the drive and
wound up the loser in a photo
with Switch On for third money.
Mr.. First Closes Fast
The Castle Rock Farms Mr..
First. a 14-to-1 shot, flew past
Summer Tan and Switch On
nearing the finish line and at
the end was length and a half
ahead of the Formella Stables
ungainly Switch On. Summer
Tan. backed down to II to 20
because of his McLennan victory
over virtually the same field.
finished a head behind Switch
On in fourth place. Is lengths
in front of Rockcastle. the 81
to-1 outsider who wound up last
IN the smallest field that ever
went to the post in the rich
Widener.
Despite top weight of 1913
pounds. two more than Summer
Tan. Bardstown covered the mile
ana a quarter in 1908 over A
track that was variously labeled
SLOW and good" Whatever it
was. it was anything but fast
after several days of intermit.
tent rains.
1t was the fifth Widener vic
tory for Calumet, who had
scored previously with Bull Lea
in 1899. Armed in 1916 and le47.
and Coaltown in 1949. However.
today's triumph was the first for
Mrs. Gene Marley. widow of
Warren Wright. founder of the
fabulously successful stable. II
also was the first Widener win
for Jockey Hartack and for
trainer H. A. (Jimmy) Jones.
The other Calumet winners had
been saddled by his famous ia
Their, Plain Ben Jones.
Triple for Hartack
/ The Widener victory was the
third of the day for Hartack.
who had won with Mt. Olivet
SID in the second race and
Candle Wood ($7) in the fourth.
The three wins sent the Penn
sylvania-born riders total at
Hialeah to 46. He needs only 10
more for an all-time record here
and has seven days in which to
accomplish it.
Two weeks ago in the McLen-
nan. both Bardstown and Sum-
mer Tan were odds-on in a field
OF four-the Calumet 5-year-old
going of at 8 to 10 while his
great rival was 10 to 90. About
$4,000 was wagered on each
OF them at the win windows.
/ 1t was different today. but
there was still another pari-
mutuels oddity as Bardstown
paid $5.40 to win and a fantastic
$4.l0 to place. Because of the
small field, there was no show
betting. Mr.. First. who finished
surprising second under Char
ley Burr, returned $8.l0 to his
place hackers.
OF the $259,77l wagered on
the race. $l04.924 was on Sum-
mer Tan to win. with S6l.52S
put on Bardstown at the Straight
windows.
Showers Hold Crowd Down
I Because of the frequent show
ers and windy weather. the
crowd was far below the record
AZ 1866 which turned out to watch
Nashua win last years thrilling
Widener. But the fans bet pretty
freely as a handle of S2.473,607
shows. The record of S2,7S3. 676
was set a year ago on Widener
Day.
Bardstown, who frequently has
! See WIDENER. Page C.e