Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-02
Night Racing
Hailed Success
AtShenandoah
ny DICK OBRIEN
star stan writer

/ 49, - - = 49,
CHARLES TOWN. W. va.
May Alright thoroughbred
racing was being termed a sue
cess today BY ofiiciais Of shen-
andoah Downs who watched q
crowd 1854 pass through the
turnstiles last night and wager
sS4S.l70 on the nine-race In
aueural program.
The crowd fell bit short OF
the advance estimate by the
management, which had pre-
dicted a turnout of between
10000 and 1880.
Technically the operation was
q smooth one. all things being
considered. However, there
was some difficulty keeping the
time schedule for the races.
The final race started at 1920.
as against the advertised l0:45I
| =. m. deadline. Ofiicials brushed
|it of as q minor detail that will
be corrected without any diff
Guilty.
Handle Predicted
The mutuel handle of $343,-
lie indicated that the track
was OF to an impressive start.
This figure was in line with off,
Gals prediction prior to the
opening.
TrafIic moved smoothly into
the track until about 10 min
utes before the first race when
automobiles backed up for some
distance. Police said the brief
snarl was created by the heavy
fiow Of trafic through Charles
Town from Winchester and the
Apple Blossom Festival to
Maryland and Virginia points.
The track had other troubles
besides the traffic and the run
ming of its races. Some of the
clubhouse patrons were irri-
tated by prolonged waits for
their meals at the table and in
one or two instances some
were never fed.
The special race train from
Washington carried 361 fans to
the track and the special from
Baltimore handled SIS patrons.
Two buses frGm Washington,
one from Baltimore. two from
Hagerstown and one from Mar
tinsburg also helped swell the
crowd.
Racing conditions were ideal,
and the weather was perfect.
The horses behaved well under
the lights. and betting improved
with each race climaxed by a
handle OF $46,28 wagered on
the Governors Purse. the eighth
race.
Sand Boy Wins
Sand Boy won the Governors
cup, toying with a field Of five
other challengers. The fans
made George w. Parker's Son
of Colony Boy an overwhelming
choice in the betting, paying
$3.50. w. T. Leatherbury's
Eastern Hobo finished second,
beaten by three lengths. Peter
Vischer's Arch Rival was tir-
ing third. Sand Boy, handled
by Joe Servis. went the 6 fur
longs in 1:l35.
The times for the running
OF the other races we're slow.
The best time at 5la furlongs
was turned in by William D.
Groves Compass in 1909. Al
fred williams Tonnia, a g.
year -old son Of Pavot, turned
in the best time over a mile |
and-a-sixteenth. going the dis
lance in 1::50.
Gov. Cecil H. Underwood of
West Virginia presented the
trophy for the feature event.
Five of the horses starting
from the No. 2 post won. in
GLIDING the double. The double
payof of $154.40 was run up
when Sawai. $3.50, took the
first race and Compass, 1880.
the second. After that, Reward
Girl paid $62.40. Tonnia, $3.50
and Sand Boy $3.50. All started
from the No. 2 post.
The tracks feature tonight
is the $4,000 Apple Blossom
Purse which lists a field of
seven sprinters including
Golden Dodie, Good Bit, Poor
Shah's Dish. Snobby Cuantos,
Turna. Matinee d and Party
Shows.