Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-11
BOWIE
NOTES
BY JOSEPH B. KELLY
Star Raeine Editor

BY JOSEPH B. KELLY
star Raeins Editor
I'm convinced now that the
temperature is the deciding
factor which controls the size
Of our crowds rather than
whether it's clear and sunny" y
Don Lillis. Bowie's weather.
gambling president. says in an
alyzing the increased gate and
betting figures for the current
meeting.
Formerly. I thought racing
fans would turn out regardless
Of the cold as long as skies
were clear. but this year proves
that the size Of the crowds can
be predicted accurately by the
thermometer" Lillis declares.
AS long as the temperature Is
in the 40s with no danger Of
freezing roads, the fans are
here, even II 1t rains"
In sharp contrast to last
years weather-blitzed meet
ing. the temperature during the
afternoons at Bowie this season
dropped below freezing on only
one day-February 20. That
days high mark was IS de-
grees. For most Of the q pro-
grams run of to date, the tenn
perature has lowered near the
50-degree mark during racing
hours and there has been
plenty Of sunshine.
TITS a strange thing, too. IS
Lillis added, some Of the same
people who told me should
junk these dates last year. are
now telling me I was right to
hold on to them"
Throughout the bleak days
last year Lillis blamed poor
attendance on freak weather,
and argued that the unusual
winter would not be duplicated
in another 20 years. Instead
Of retrenching. Lillis this year
opened his track a day earlier
than in 1858.
Lillis says he is planning
earlier February dates at Bowie
in 1860. and. by way of argu-
ment for winter racing days.
points out:
when you race against New
Jersey. you know you cane
possibly average much above
$500. 900. However. by gam
bling with the weather, it's
possible to reach the million
mark"
Unless Bowie's weather does
q sharp reversal during the re-
naming II days. the wagering
average will be substantially
above the 81 million mark.
Attendance figures also will be
the highest in the tracks his
tory.
Karl Korte was the latest
Bowie rider making plans for
a To-day vacation at the in
sistence Of the stewards. Mary
lands leading rider on the
major tracks last year. who has
been of to a slow start this
season. has been penalized for
his ride aboard Guardian II on
Monday.
Guardian II has been dis
qualified in his last two starts
after finishing first and is the
same horse Arthur Chambers
rode when he received a 10
day suspension. Last week the
stewards said Guardian II bore
In. and last Monday he bore
out to cause interference in
the late stretch.
Korte begins his suspension
tomorrow and will be ground
ed through TO March 81.
In all. there have been eight
disqualifications at Bowie in
the last II racing days. Set
down earlier and serving 10
day suspensions are Robert
Corle, william Liddle and
Chambers.
The latest disqualification
happened yesterday when Royal
Spy. who beat out O'Keegan
after a game drive, was dis
qualified and placed second.
Jockey Joe Regalbuto rode
Royal Spy and he is awaiting
the stewards decision on
whether he will join the other
jockeys in the ranks of the
temporary unemployed. 1t APP
peared that Royal Spy drifted
out slightly through the stretch
but that OKeegan could have
gone by the leader II he had
had any energy In the late
stretch.
Jockey Arthur Sherman, who
has won three Of Bowie's stakes
with Tinkalero at the current
meeting. win be aboard the out
slider. Wesley Smiley, in Satur-
days $25, 900 = added Bowie
Handicap.
Snow In the New York area
held Bowie's gate to $3.50 yes
terday. The total handle was