Evening star., 1962-02-11
14,775 See
Mare Win
First Stakes
BY JOSEPH b. KELLY
Star Racing Editor


Vir-Marie, a vastly improved
mare who won her last outing
on closing day at Pimlico last
year, made a smash 1862 debut
by capturing the $8,825 Burch
Handicap against a crowded
| field of Is rivals in cold but
sunny weather at Bowie yester-
day.
Concern about road condi-
tionS in the wake of Fridays
snowstorm held attendance to
14,775, well below a normal
week end at Bowie when there
is no competition in the east.
Bowie's track crews tossed
off Fridays snowfall with ease,
however, and the fans who
braved temperatures in the 20s
and biting winds, had no diff
Guilty negotiating roads and
parking lots.
The fans were treated to a
rousing race in the five-and-
half furlong Burch, first of
Bowie's eight stakes. Vir-Marie
and War Council battled
through the stretch well ahead
of the rest of the pack. With
Jockey William PaSsmore get
ting a late burst Of speed in
the final sixteenth, Vir-Marie
slowly inched away in the
sloppy going to register by
three-quarters of a length over
the longshot War Council.
Claimed for $4,5OO
The 6-year-old Vir-Marie,
who was claimed by her pres
ent owner, Mrs. Ada B. Eklof
of Baltimore, for $4,000 back
in 1859, was part of a three
ply entry saddled by Harry
Eklof, husband of the winning
owner. Duck Hill and Adorette,
who never were in contention,
were the others in the Eklof
entry.
Backers of Vir- Marie, who re-
lied on her mud running ability,
collected $1l, $5.40 and $3.50
across the board. War Council,
owned by Montell Stewart, re-
turned $3.50 and $11.60, and
Mr.. Egotist who was third, a
head behind War Council and
another head in front of Tus-
can Spy, paid $3.50 show.
The Burch was a washout for
the favorite hackers. The crowd
sent Vital Force, a Florida
invader off as a 3.S0-1 choice.
Vital Force, who had been in
the money in his last two races
at Hialeah, turned in a dull
effort, dropping back steadily
after the break to finish last
in the field of Is.
Moonshot, carrying topweight
of 122 pounds, IL more than
the winner, wound up fifth.
Moonshot was not helped by
the fact that he and Adorette
were the two horses forced to
break from outside the start
ing barrier which Accommodated
only IA horses.
Family Celebration
Vir-Marie set off a family
celebration for the Eklofs. Not
only was Vir-Marie winning her
first stakes race but it also was
the initial added money tri-
umph for Eklof. He said after
the race that Vir-Marie would
pass up next Saturdays South
ern Maryland Handicap and
wait for the $20,000-added
Barbara Fritchie Handicap on
March 3 at Bowie.
Supplying the excitement be-
fore the Brch, was a $787 20
daily double, collected by back
ers of 6 and IL.
The crowd hardly had settled
when Babylon News popped
home at $122.2O straight with
Charlie Baker of Washington
in the saddle. What It Takes,
a favorite, rallied to win the
second at 81. Only SO win
ming So double tickets were sold.
There were five $40 winning
tickets.
Longshots dominated tn e
nine-race program, including a
$72.20 return on Rico Beau in
the fifth race. The failure of the
favorites did not help the wag-
ering which totaled $1,186, lot.
There was a slight hitch, as
usual, in the Bowie operation
today when one of the special
race trains from Philadelphia
carrying 551 fans, developed
engine trouble north of Balti-
more. The train did not arrive
at the track until 2:35 pm