Split race doubles the pleasure

CALGARY, Alberta - Stampede Park racing secretary Russ Armstrong received 14 entries Wednesday morning for a $30,000 claimer and made the decision to split the race. The races offer fans a glimpse of some of the better claimers on the grounds and are carded as races 4 and 8. All nine races on the card are slated for six furlongs.

Griffin's Wake is out to make amends in the first division after encountering traffic problems in his seasonal bow. A 5-year-old gelding, Griffin's Wake was away a step slowly in a half-miler on April 9, rallied the turn for home, and just missed to Saw Grass Sabre after lacking a clear path in midstretch.

Fussy's Kid heads up the second division, and will have to deal with Sweet Drummer, who has a conditioning edge coming off a fourth-place finish in the Saw Grass Sabre race.

Fussy's Kid, a 9-year-old gelding with some back class, won his opener here last spring and has trained forwardly for trainer Janet Wig.

Sweet Drummer, trained by Floyd Arthur, drew the outside.

Alberta's annual Night of Champions takes place following the races.

* Sixteen older horses were nominated to the $50,000 Stampede Park Sprint Championship, slated for April 29, and 18 fillies and mares were paid up for the $50,000 M.R. Jenkins Memorial, to be run the following afternoon.