Here and There on the Turf, Daily Racing Form, 1930-04-23

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1 Here and There on the Turf ,h I Almost every time that Gallant Fox shows a worthy trial for his engagements in the Preakness or the- Derby, Gallant Knight comesialong with one that matches or beats -the showing of the son of Sir Gallahad III. Gallant- Fox is being trained by James Fitz-sirhmons at Aqueduct on Long Island, while Gallant Knight is being conditioned by Kay Spence at Churchill Downs, where the Derby is to be decided. The most recent move of the soil of; Brave Knight--a mile and a quarter in2:09i is the smartest move over the distance that has yet been recorded by any of the- candidates. Of course, the time is almost at hand when all of the trainers with eligibles will be send- -ing them along both fast and far,, but at this time public reports would indicate that Gallant Knight and Gallant Fox may be further advanced than any of the others. Crazy Coot and Swinfield have raced recently, as has Fortunate Youth. Crazy Coot gave an impressive performance, even though it was only a sprint, while both Swin- field and Fortunate Youth were beaten, but their races were run through particularly trying going and it was a race that told little. Then there is the gelding Ned O. He showed under silks that he has progressed nicely in his preparation for the Derby and it.is safe to promise that, before he isthrough in. Maryland he will have improved "over his first outing. Racing will eliminate many before the Preakness and the Preakness will eliminate others lhat are named for both "classics," but there is reason to expect, that both of these ?50,000 features will see. both large and representative fields under silks. Announcement has been made that the stationary starting stalls will not be used for the summer meeting at the Agua Cai-iente course but will give way to another stall starting device. This is, a bit surprising for it was Marshall Cassidy, the Agua Caliente starter, who invented the stationary stalls, and the big Mexican .course was constructed for their use at a considerable extra expense. As is known, to use this starting device means the construction of starting chutes at the various poles. This was all done under the direction of Cassidy, and when they were built from the outer rail it was generally agreed that the last objection to their use had been overcome. Now it appears from the recent announcement that they have not been entirely satisfactory and that portable stalls for the starting of the races will take their place. It is under Marshall Cassidy that the stationary stalls have had their best trial and on various occasions they seemed to have solved the starting problem. When they were first introduced at the Bowie course they gave satisfaction, but it was soon discovered that when the starting chutes were built from the inside rather than the outer rail, a mistake had been made. It resulted in the piling up of horses as they left the stalls. For that reason the change, was made at Agua Caliente and the device was afforded every opportunity to prove itself. If it has failed to come up to every expectation it is natural that it should give way for some other starting machine. Much has been learned in the construction of starting gates since the first barrier made its appearance and doubtless there are still changes to be made before a machine is discovered that is ideal in all its workings, but there seems to be no doubt that when such a machine comes along it will be a stall device of some" character. Various of the race course managers have been slow in adopting the stalls but a majority of them have only been awaiting a thorough trial of those in use before making a selection. They realize the benefits of sending the horses away from the stalls but they must be convinced of the desirability of one oyer the other before making a selection. It is predicted that before many years the old barrier will be considered almost as antiquated as the old method of the drum and the recall flag. But with the inevitable coming of the stalls into general use, it is the part of wisdom to move slowly in the adoption of any one of the new stalls until it has thoroughly proven itself. Possibly such a machine is in use now but mostqf them are notfar eyondthe experimental "stages. Stailsfiaveg6ne beyond" that .stage in the, protection,, that is afforded Jiorses feandUie tstaH f and rftc.ebvTt tljef ktn.dqfjstall to be used is still a problem. : .


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1930s/drf1930042301/drf1930042301_2_6
Local Identifier: drf1930042301_2_6
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800