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Here and There on the Turf End at Culver City. Fleischmanns Return. Stanwix Quality. . E. R. Bradleys Good Work. Culver City closed its gates Monday. It was inevitable that such a fate would befall the second attempt to conduct a "betless" meeting near Los Angeles. The promoters of this ill-advised venture failed to see the "handwriting on the wall" when even Tanforan with the prestige and unlimited financial resources of a number of the foremost breeders of the country behind it failed to "pay" its way, though in every other way it was a big success. Tanforan was a real ; effort to bring back th2 sport on a high plane, to create a favorable sentiment for the revival of what was also a popular recreation for the horse-loving Cali-fornians. Culver City had no such lofty purpose behind it. Tanforan accomplished its purpose, though it cost money, and lots of it. Culver City faited because it depended abne on the "gate" and there is no "gate" at a "betless" meeting. The hope of all interested in the revival of California racing is that Culver City has not undone the good accomplished by the fine sportsmen behind Tanforan. . The return of the Fleischmann silks to racing will be welcome next season. Some seasons back these silks played an important part on the turf, and the return promises to be an adequate one. With this return there also comes, back to racing "Tom" McCreery, who was also well known to the sport some years ago when he successfully campaigned a considerable string for Frederick Johnson. McCreery did his bit in the Worlds War and since the war was attached to the remount end of the army. A finished horseman, he was of great value to the army in the selection of horses and, an accomplished rider, he helped take down many a blue ribbon for army horses in the various horse shows. With McCreery to make the selection of horses and also to train them, it is assured that the return of Julius Fleischmann to racing will be a worthy one. Several foreign purchases havebecn made for the stable and it is the intention to campaign a considerable string, both on the -flat and through the field. One of the two-year-clds of last year that came to the front of his age division with a rush during the fall was the Rancocas Stables Stanwix. This good son of Ballot and Miss Crittenden went into winter quarters one of the best of the three-year-old prospects. This fellow is a brother to Lord Brighton, and he should go on to better things than that good horss under the guidance of that master trainer, S. C. HUdreth. Stanwix was one that did not come to hand early, but he arrived in ample time to prove his worth, and his victory in the first division of the Walden Handicap at Pimlico on November 10 helped along considerably in his money-earning record. Stanwix will surely run farther than would Lord Brighton and at this time he looms up as one of the Preakness and Kentucky Derby possibilities. Hildreth will surely be represented in both of these rich races and, while he has other likely material in his two-year-old division, the son of Ballot and Miss Crittenden seems to be best equipped for such races. Edward R. Bradley has done a good work for the bettering of the jockeys in the community house at Latonia. This, besides being a recreation hall for the boys about the stables, will offer a liberal education to these same boys. At least once a week lectures are to be given by prominent veterinarians on the anatomy of the horse as well as instruction on the ills of the thoroughbred. This will be of great help and it is an institution that cannot fail to work a great good. As a matter of fact, it would be well if some of the men who at present enjoy licenses to train would attend such a school. The issuing of licenses to train is under even a more lax method than the licensing of riders. With the rider no license is asked unless the boy has at least ridden often enough to suggest that he might win a race. With the trainers there is no requirement beyond the endorsement of two other trainers. He need know nothing about the horse, and too many of them dont know the foretop from the fetlock, yet they are licensed to train. Just as the boys who seek licenses to ride should bs able to show a year of education about the stables, the men making application for licenses to train should be made to show a knowledge of the calling. There should be a board of examiners for every applicant for a license to train. There would be fewer licenses issued, but there would be more thorough going horsemen entrusted with the fitting of horses for the races.
