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Here and There on the Turf Vested Powers Reversal Stewards Again Consistent Betting Convenience Needed Chicstraw Comes to Belmont Thus far the saliva test at Jamaica as far as has been reported has only uncovered one horse to which a drug had been admin ¬ istered That one was Transgressor and the drug disclosed by an analysis of the saliva was strychnine And strychnine ac ¬ cording to an eminent authority during the winter racing in Florida is not a stimulant except in ils tonic quality It is not used for the stimulation of horses except in con ¬ junction with some other drug drugIt It is not known just how many horses have been subjected to the saliva test at Jamaica though probably many have been sent to the testing box There is never any occasion to tell of these tests unless some ¬ thing is found to bring action by the stew ¬ ards ardsSome Some of the winners have shown form re ¬ versals that would warrant the saliva test or some other investigation investigationOne One of the most glaring form reversals was in the last race Wednesday when Vested Power from the Ascot Stable simply romped along in front of his field all the way to be the easiest winner of the after ¬ noon The same gelding under a pound less weight and racing a mile and seventy yards against the mile and a sixteenth of Wednes ¬ day was beaten just fortyone lengths That race was run May 4 and in five days it would seem utterly impossible for a horse to show much improvement naturally naturallyThe The conviction is forced that the race of May 4 was not an honest effort effortIt It might be argued that he was dropped down from a valuation of 2500 to 1500 for the Wednesday running but even that dropping down would not account for such a startling change in form formThen Then there was another angle to the two races that had a bad look and an angle that should demand some sort of investigation In his bad race Vested Power was quoted at 20 to 1 and was not in demand Wednesday he was the hot tip of the field and after being as good as 5 to 1 went to the post at just half that price Trjere were some who were extremely confident the revrsal of form was to come about aboutWhen When horses are as cheap as Vested Power it is expected that they will not be as con ¬ sistent as those of higher quality but with the cheapest some degree of consistency must be demanded if public confidence is to be held in racing racingIt It is not known that Vested Power had any help from a stimulant in his winning effort but the race was one above all others that have been run at Jamaica that merited the saliva test Then should no stimulant be disclosed in such an examination some question should be asked Haas who rode him when he lost as well as those in any way connected with the stable stableThe The changed track condition could hardly be offered as any good excuse for the changed form In his bad race the going was muddy while Wednesday the track was fast but Vested Power on other occasions has shown a liking for a soft track and last fall at Laurel running a mile and sev ¬ enty yards he was an easy winner over Pompoleon Surety and Uncle Donald In another race at Pimlico when the track was slow he was a close second to Below Cost and later at Bowie he was just beaten by Stroll Along and as good a horse as Carbon finished back of him In those races he was valued at 2500 and 2000 2000It It is such disgraceful upsets as these that ruin public confidence in racing and they should never go unquestioned by the stew ¬ ards The investigation is doubly imperative when a horse is backed with such confi ¬ dence when recent form accords him no remote winning chance chanceWhile While the running of Vested Power was so glaringly inconsistent Wednesday the stewards were at least consistent when once more they refused to permit the waiving of the apprentice allowance on a proposed Continued on fifteenth page HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page starter This one was Little Lie The filly was to have been ridden by Haas and when that apprentice was suspended the day be ¬ fore an effort was made to have a jockey substituted and waive the five pounds This was refused and the filly was scratched scratchedThis This robbed the first race of a starter that on paper appeared to be the most eligible of the field With the apprentice allowance Little Lie would only have taken up 106 pounds but even with the 111 pounds that would have been required with the waiving of the allowance she would un ¬ doubtedly have been the public choice for the runing That was inevitable by reason of her recent form formThe The stewards could not be expected to waive the allowance after the ruling made in the earlier case when Joe Jacobs could not fill his engagements and a like request was refused to bring about the scratching of four horses horsesIt It would be well on some occasions if the stewards would rise above precedent and establish some hew ones for the good of racing With the open betting gradually becoming more familiar to the crowds at Jamaica and a general trend for better days of racing there remains complaints and requests for better conveniences for the patrons Much has already been said of the lack of betting facilities in the club house enclosure and now women who desire to make wagers have their complaint complaintThe The women as the betting is conducted are not permitted in the betting enclosure and that is a good rule but they want better opportunities to make their wagers Now there are various messengers employed to take care of the wants of these fair pa ¬ trons but at best it is not what is wanted Of course in the old days of racing this was considered an ample provision for women players but there are more of them now and a vast majority of them know nothing of the old days and its methods methodsIt It has been suggested that a book be established at some convenient place in the grandstand to afford women the opportunity to make their own bets but it is doubtful if any such move will be made As for the clubhouse it is a problem that will work its way out but until it is worked out that highest priced enclosure of the race track will lose much of its old time appeal appealTwo Two maidens started at Jamaica Wednes ¬ day that have distinguished brothers These were Jack Low and On Hand Jack Low is a brother to Jack High which raced so brilliantly a few seasons back for G D Widener while On Hand is a sister to Tick On another that made his mark under silks This is in no sense unusual but will always be disappointing One of the most notable cases of an unworthy brother was that of Playfellow a brother to Man o War This one largely on his relationship to the cham ¬ pion was heralded as another that would sweep all before him but he failed dismally In fact so convinced was as shrewd a judge as the late Sam Hildreth that he gave James F Johnson 100000 for the colt to add him to the Harry F Sinclair stable stableIt It is remembered how the sale terminated in a lawsuit and eventually Johnson had to take the colt back and return the purchase price Many another case of unworthy close relatives could be cited but Playfellow is one that will never be forgotten by rea ¬ son of the court action that followed the sale saleBlood Blood lines are the first importance but after all it is up to the individual and blood lines alone never earned a championship championshipAfter After the running of the Preakness at Pimlico Saturday the interest in the three yearolds will fccus on the Belmont at Bel mont Park and the American Derby to be decided at Washington Park in Chicago The American Derby will be run June 2 and the Belmont Stakes on June 9 9Bob Bob Smith will be able to go after both prizes with his worthy pair when Cavalcade winner of the Kentucky Derby will be sent to Chicago while High Quest will start in the Belmont In the meantime George D Wideners star Chicstraw has been moved from his winter training quarters to Bel ¬ mont Park and the son of Chicle looks ex ¬ ceedingly well Joyner has done much in conditioning the colt and the Belmont Stakes will be his first big objective though he will undoubtedly be shown before that running He enjoys many engagements at the big course of the Westchester Racing Association
