A Roundup Of The Sports Information Of The Week

AUTO RACING—NATHAN OSTICH, 52, became one of the only men who has ever walked away after a 331-mph automobile skid. The Los Angeles doctor calmly popped the parachute brake on his jet-powered racer when it threw a wheel across the Bonneville Salt Flats, and rolled to a safe stop. The accident happened during his 13th trial run, forcing him to give up, for a while, his attempt to break the 394.2 mph world land speed mark.

BOATING—AMERICA'S CUP TRIALS showed a surprising shift in personnel just before the deciding series of observation races at Newport. John J. (Don) McNamara, a helmsman and the articulate promoter of Nefertiti, was given the heave-ho, replaced by Bradley Noyes, an old sailing buddy of Commander Ted Hood. George O'Day, the 1960 Olympic champion, was relieved of his command on Easterner and Designer Ray Hunt took over. O'Day immediately appeared on board Weatherly, as did two sacked Columbia crewmen.

BOXING—GEORGE BENTON, struggling for a comeback in off hours from his regular factory job in Fairless Hills, Pa., was awarded a unanimous 10-round decision over Joey Giardello in Philadelphia after battering the NBA's No. 2-ranked middleweight nearly senseless.

Flornetino Fernandez had little trouble with another come-againer, Portland, Ore.'s Phil Moyer, who once retired shortly after losing a crushing bout with Fernandez. The Cuban middleweight ended things with a TKO in the seventh round as nearly 10,000 turned out to watch Eugene's first professional fight in 15 years.

BRIDGE—PHILIP FELDESMAN, New York diamond man nicknamed The Arab by bridge associates, successfully defended two championships in the Summer Nationals in Minneapolis—the Men's Pair and the Life Masters Pair events (see page 54). His partner was Ira Rubin of Fair Lawn, N.J. The Women's Pair title went to Mrs. Clarice Holt of Fort Worth and Mrs. Greeley Warner of Pampa, Texas. The Mixed Team Championship was won by Eric Murray of Toronto, Charles Coon of New York, Mrs. Agnes Gordon of Buffalo and Mrs. Helen Portugal of Los Angeles. The Masters Knockout Team event was taken by a team led by Edwin Kantar of Los Angeles.

GOLF—ARNOLD PALMER, ignoring a bee sting and his opposition, led all the way to win the $50,000 Firestone tournament in Akron, and boost his money winnings for one year to a record $80,198. In taking his eighth victory of 1962 Palmer broke his 1960 record high of $75,262. He was never in trouble, swinging to an easy five-stroke victory over Mason Rudolph. Finishing with a 276, he said he had never putted so well.

HARNESS RACING—PORTERHOUSE ($32.40) turned on the steam in the $50,000 American Trotting Championship at Roosevelt Raceway, blazing through the final sixteenth of the mile-and-a-quarter distance to win with a world record time (for a half-mile track) of 2:32[2/5]. The victory, which earned an invitation to this week's glittering Roosevelt International, surprised an impressive field. Among those left behind by Porterhouse and Driver Earle Avery were Duke Rodney, in second, and the highly-favored Su Mac Lad, fourth.

HORSE RACING—FIRM POLICY ($7.70) paid an unexpected dividend in the $57,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga, the historic race for 3-year-old fillies, by running down the favored Cicada in the stretch and finishing an easy length and three-quarters ahead of Lincoln Center. Cicada, who had set the pace for most of the muddy mile-and-a-quarter distance, faltered into third, 5� lengths behind Lincoln Center, barely maintaining her record of always finishing in the money.

Royal Patrice ($6) won her first big race, the $61,800 Pucker Up Stakes, at Arlington Park. The Harbor View Farm entry, maneuvered smartly through the 10-horse field by Ismael Valenzuela, pounded ahead in the stretch to beat Darby Dan Farm's Polylady by a length.

HORSE SHOW—ITALY carried off the top prize of the Royal Dublin Society's Horse Show, the Aga Khan Trophy, by a mere point. The U.S. team, leading with a faultless first round, took a four-point penalty in the second when Sinjon, ridden by Captain Bill Steinkraus, barely nicked a water jump. But the 30,000 onlookers who disconsolately watched the Irish team slide into fourth place found a little to smile about. The Italians rode to victory on Irish-bred mounts.