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Here and There on the Turf On the Turf. Vexations Form Reversal. Need for Action. Virginia and Breeding. Chacolet for the Dixie. It is too bad that right at the beginning of the Bowie meeting there should have come such a reversal cf form as that shown by R. Benton*s Vexaticn when he was ths winner cf the sixth race Saturday. The stewards should lose no time in making a searching investiga tion of the two races run by this horse and fix the blame for the change in his form. If j j it is found that L. Morris was to blame fori his showing when he was sd soundly beaten | by both Blue Hill and Prince Tii Tii, then I Morris should be disciplined. If the fault isi I further back than the rider, then the guilty; ones should be disciplined. And there is only one way to discipline for such an offence and that is banishment from the turf. The stewards at Bowie, if they do their full duty, can so fill their high office that wrongdrers will quickly understand that they will not be tolerated in Maryland. Every time the cheater escapes, whether he be rider or trainer, he becomes that much bolder and for the fair name of the sport, it is absolutely essential that the stewards rule with an iron hand. Daily Racing Form never has been a common scold and it is the desire to see that everyone has a fair and impartial hearing, but it is also the desire above all others that racing be kept clean and above reproach. Such performances as the two races run by Vexation cannot fail to bring deserved reproach and I unless there is a satisfactory explanation of the running of that horse, and it s?ems impossible, there is sure to be a weakening of public con fidence in the honesty of racing. When that comes then indeed the greatest of all sports has fallen into evil ways. Racing is bigger than any set of men or set of jockeys and those who would play fast and loose must be made to see that there is no i place for them on the turf. Right now, at the beginning of the new racing season, is when this lesson will have lasting effect and undoubtedly the stewards at Bawi? will realiie the importance of action. It is interesting to know that Archibald Barklie wi.l play a more important part in racing this year than ever before. The Barklie colors have been shown from time to time in a modest way, but for 1925 the string that will represent the Philadelphia turfman is both larger and of more importance than ever. Goldstick, the son of Gdden Broom and Cin trella, that won for Mr. Barklie during the Miami meeting, is a three year old well calculated to bring a degree of fame to the stable and he will not lack for racing opportunity. Just now this swift running colt is being pointed for the Chesapeake Stakes at Havre de Grace and that is just a preliminary to his engairement in the 0,000 Preakness Stakes of the Maryland Jockey Club, to be decided at Pimlico on May 8. It is the intention to race him over the New York tracks and he is an eligible to most of the big three year old stakes, as well as the handicaps to which older horses are eligible. He is also in the Dixie Handicap at Pimlico and for that mile and three sixteenths dash he is handicapf ed at 93 pounds. This feather weight was imposed taking a line through his two-year old racing, but, unless all signs fail, Goldstick will be a much better three year old than his two year old racing would suggest. At present there is no intention of dodging imy A them with the son of Golden Broom and I I I i , I many good judges have already predicted that I I he v ill prove the best of the progeny of that high priced sire. It would probably bo more popular with the racing public if the Bowie management would move up the post time for the first race to 2 oclock instead of 2:30, th.* present starting time. With all the improvement that has been made in the handling of the Bowie crowds, it is almost impossible, with the big fields and I big crowds, to complete the days sport and| return the crowds to Baltimore and Washing- j ton until 7 :30 and often later. This makes it a long day for the faithful and there appears to be a general desire for this change. The moving up of post time half an hour would work great convenience to many and it would bo a change that would probably find nothing but approbation. Racing Friday was great for Virginia when six of the seven winners came from that breeding section. These were Cinema, Bother, Monday Morning, Belphrizonia, Clique and Roller. This was something of an accomplishment for the breeders of Virginia and, while the winners were not of really high class, it was! one more evidence that useful thoroughbreds come from that state. The recent purchase of j i Star Hawk from A. K. Macomber by William : Woodward and A. B. Hancock will add another good sire to the section and, while the Belair Stud of Mr. Woodward is in Maryland, it is really in the same general section and his presence will naturally add to the breeding importance. The promised appointment of Marshall Cas-sidy as starter for the tracks of the Canadian I I Racing Associations is a deserved one. This j ] joung official inherited much of the skill of i his father, Mars Cassidy, who has officiated I for so long over the New York tracks. His j starting has been excellent from his first I effort in that important office and he has I been in gTeat demand right through every i racing season. The Canadian tracks are to be I j congratulated on their choice. i Latest reports from Kentucky would suggest that Chacolet, the imported mare that was the winner of the Dixie Handicap last year, has a first class chance to repeat in that rich stake of the Maryland Jock Club that is to be decided at Pimlico May 1. Chacolet is handicapped at 117 pounds this year and there is no prospective starter that has shown better staying ability. She has proved herself on various occasions and her mile in 1 :43% at this time is ample to promise entire readiness for a mile and three sixteenths. With the opening of the racing at Huntington Saturday there begins the long campaign I I I for West Virginia and Ohio. Huntington may readily be considered as a part of the Ohio circuit, for it is "teamed up" with that circuit and horses will have plenty cf employment through that section for the entire racing year. In fact, there is really too much employment. ยป
