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,i 1 Here and There on the Turf o I Looking over the probable field for the American Derby, to be decided at the Washington Park course at Home wood, there a • ms to be little chance for invaders from the East to carry the rich prize back to New York. There likewise seems to be a real chance for Clyde Van Dusen, the Kentucky Derby winner, to add this big prize to his other notable victory. The son of Man o "War has been coming up to the race in a way to suggest that he will be ready for his best and he should hold Naishapur, Karl Eitel, the Fairmount Derby winner. Dr. Freeland, winner of the Preakness, and the various Others perfectly safe. Naishapur failed in the Fairmount Derby, but there is every reason to expect that he Will run an entirely different race should the going at Washington Park be fast Saturday. Dr. Freeland pulled two of his plates in the running of the Belmont Stake and, of course, that race does not count against him, and any colt that has the Preakness to his credit must be seriously considered. Then Karl Eitel proved his worth at Collinsville, when he was winner of the Fairmount Derby. The meeting of the winners of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Fairmount Derby alone would make the American Derby a notable contest, and there are others of the promised field that surely belong in the company. African, third in the Preakness, and a close second to Blue Larkspur in the Belmont Stake, would have his best opportunity should the going be muddy, but that is a condition that at least would be no handicap to Clyde Van Dusen. Then thera Is Windy City, which, at present, is at the top of his form. He must be given serious con-aideration. Minotaur, which was second to Dr. Freeland in the Preakness, is another that has trained magnificently for the American Derby and, barring accident, he will be a sure starter. Should Clyde Van Dusen be returned the winner it will put him on top of the heap as tar as actual performance this year is concerned. He will have whipped the winners of both the Preakness and the Fairmount Derby, while In the Kentucky Derby he took the measure of Blue Larkspur, subsequent winner of both the Withers and the Belmont Stakes. There waa no surprise when Joseph E. Widener made announcement, before sailing ! for France, that the Australian starting gate r would not be used again at Belmont Park. The unfortunate accident, the last day of t the Belmont Park meeting, made that deci-i aion well nigh imperative, though other 1m-I perfections that had been discovered had i just about settled the question before that r race. In which E. Watters waa so seriously 1 nuit Mr. Widener had every reason for trying trot the Australian gate at Belmont Park , after he had seen how admirably it worked | ftn the starting of races abroad, but actual nse convinced him that it would not do for American racing. Now there la to come a brand new barrier and the invention of that veteran starter Mars Cassidy. He has been working on a barrier for a considerable time and he has it perfected at this time. There was a recent practical demonstration of this machine and It so pleased various horsemen, as well as officers of different racing associations, that Richard T. Wilson decided to put it into operation at the Saratoga Springs meeting. Three of the machines have been ordered for the August racing. While thla Cassidy starting barrier is pronounced as a big improvement over any of the barriers ever used in this country, it is not a stall device. That is, the horses are not placed In stalls at the starting post. It bus many improvements over the other barriers in the promptness of its release, as well as other devices calculated to bring about a better starting. In the meantime the stalls are giving satisfaction at the Aqueduct meeting and in this connection Mars Cassidy is to be commended on various occasions for be has objected to the use of the stall device, yet he id using every care at Aqueduct to show the Wait gate at Its best. With his long years of experience in starting. Mars Cassidy should surely know the machine to bring about the best results, and •very wish for the success of his invention la offered. While thera was every reason for the going at Aqueduct being fast for the opening day Facing, It was remarked that the time made ! an the various races was decidedly slow. This would suggest that the racing atrip has a greater amount of top soil than It had for other meetings, or that the track had been permitted to go off since it was last used. This seems possible from the manner In which the other physical property of the Queens County Jockey Club has been neglected. In a fighting finish and only carrying ninety-seven pounds, Comstockery was victor of the mile of the Queens County Handicap in 1 :39%. Last year Kentucky II. was winner of the same race in 1 :38%, with 115 pounds up, and in 1927 Light Carbine was winner in 1 :36t. As a matter of fact it was the slowest time hung out for the race since 1914, when Flying Fairy was winner and the racing strip has been entirely changed since that running. The track record for the mile is 1 :36 and it was hung out by John P. Grier, sire of Jack High, way back in 192L It is unfortunate that the Ak-Sar-Ben meeting at Omaha should have been halted by court order. This Omaha racing is an important link in that western circuit that affords racing opportunity for a number of horses that are always campaigned throuph the mountain circuit. It is racing that has been built up to a degree of importance an I there were high hopes that there would be other extensions of the circuit to make it still more attractive. The patronage at Ak-Sar-Ben would indicate that the sport has a big public appeal and that it is doubly surprising there should be the legal clog of the courfeo.
