Classic hopefuls and Maryland-breds Cojak and Princely Game headlined the stable trained by Hubert "Sonny" Hine, a former espionage agent who once worked for the FBI and State Department. Zelda Cohen's homebred Princely Game was 4-for-5 to start his 3-year-old season, winning three stakes, while Entremont runner Cojak, a winner of three stakes at 2, finished second by a nose in the Swift Stakes-G3 at Aqueduct in his sophomore debut.
With all Hine's successes, the twists and turns of his life were equally compelling. When asked how he wound up in the spy business, he replied: "Actually it was a combination of being flat broke at Charles Town and knowing J. Edgar Hoover well enough to talk."
Hine was 17 when Hoover got him a job with the FBI in 1948. Hine became a full-time trainer in 1957, launching a Hall of Fame career highlighted by Hall of Famer Skip Away. Cojak ran in the 1976 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, finishing sixth and fourth, respectively. Princely Game was sidelined by injury and missed the classics.
Robert G. Leavitt retired as general manager of Shenandoah Downs, ending a 44-year career in racing and an 18-year association with the track. Leavitt took over Shenandoah when it was still under construction, and opened it on May 1, 1959, as the first night Thoroughbred track in the Mid-Atlantic. In addition to night racing, Leavitt introduced area Thoroughbred fans to other innovative ideas, including so-called exotic betting, with the Big Bonanza in 1960.
Lianga, a daughter of Dancer's Image (who stood at Maryland's Glade Valley Farm when she was conceived) was honored as England's 1975 filly/mare sprint champion. Bred in Maryland by Pennsylvania horsewoman Diana Donaldson, Lianga was foaled at Sagamore, where Alec Wildenstein (son of owner Daniel Wildenstein) picked out the filly as a likely prospect, subsequently purchased her and shipped her to France in December 1972.
Not only was she a multiple Group 1 winner, Lianga became an influential broodmare. Among her descendants are Kentucky Derby-G1 winner, champion and major sire Street Sense, top sprinters and sires Vekoma and Mr. Greeley, and multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Paradise Woods.
Two-time Maryland-bred champion Christopher R. was off to a quick start in the new season, winning a stakes a month. Sent to Aqueduct, he edged fellow Maryland-bred North Call in the Sporting Plate Handicap, and was back at Bowie to score in the Native Dancer.
Mary Hirsch McLennan, among the first women licensed as trainers in the U.S. and the first woman to saddle a Kentucky Derby starter (in 1937), died at 63. She was the widow of racing secretary and handicapper Charles J. McLennan and daughter of Hall of Fame trainer Max Hirsch.
