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on the Turf i Santa Anita Work Progresses Church Sees Brilliant Meeting Gordon Believes in Sir Thomas Black Helen for Saratoga I ,..._.__.. Woik on the construction of Santa Anita _ark, which when opened on Christmas Day wii! mark the revival of racing in Los Angeles, • ifa progressing most satisfactorily. This message comes from Norman Church, who has but recently arrived from his California home to give Plucky Play and his other horses moral support in their races at Arlington Park. Just a week or so ago, the western sportsman had -occasion to drive by the million doBar J lant?being erected by Dr; Charles H. Strube. andj associates ab Arcadia: and wfiat *hV saw there left the impression that Los Angeles is to have a first class race track. The track proper has been completed, Church reported, and at least three stables, each accommodating sixty horses are ready for use. ..The grandstand is_ beginning to "take shape with much of the steel and concrete ajready. in position. Santa Anita Park is certain to be completed long before the scheduled opening, the California sportsman said, especially if- the present rate of construction is continued. Although he is not financially interested in the new course. Church hopes and believes it will be highly successful. He pointed out that Santa Anita will not be compelled to depend on tourists and vacationists for its patronage, but that it will cater to nearly three million persons living in Los Angeles County alone. Church also emphasized the fact that these people are distinctly sport minded, as was proven in the case of the Olympic games a year. ago. He believes that Los Angeles will take the prestige of being the countrys best winter — — | — | r r, — rr — ■—» ■ ■ j ■ ■« Continued on ninth page. I ] i I . , . , | , . i , I I , . f r 1 HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF [ Continued from second page. J racing town away from Miami, basing his prediction on the greater number of people | available to support a meeting calculated to attract many of the nations best stables and horses with a program of stakes and purses headed by a 00,000 handicap. Church hopes very much to be the first J winning owner of the 00,000 special, even though his prospects at the present time are not particularly rosy. Age has taken away much of Plucky Plays ability and Gallant | Sir, winner of the last two Agua Caliente Handicaps, is having trouble in the liga- J ments of one leg. The veteran son of Sir Gallahad III. and Sunspot will not be called upon to train for the remainder Of the summer season as both Church and his trainer, E. L. Fitzgerald, are placing their dependence on time and nature to heal the wound. If Gallant Sir comes around in the fall, he will be pointed for the Los. Angeles event, otherwise he is headed for stud duty next spring at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. Plucky Play also is going there. Alex Gordon had Sir Thomas on the track the other day for a slow and short breeze, J but as he expressed it, "the colt. was working for the veterinaries." After consulting with the medical men, Gordon has about reached the conclusion that undue pressure . has been asserted on a nerve in Sir Thomas shoulder, caused by the wrench received by the colt when he was knocked almost sideways during the running of the Belmont Stakes. The veteran horseman Still holds the highest respect for the son of Sir Gal-lahad III. and believes he would have beaten Peace Chance in the Belmont if it had not been for the accident. Gordon has no immediate plans for his three-year- i old protege, but hopes to have him back in trim for a charge on the several rich specials dotting the autumn program. Owners of Arlington Lassie candidates feel very happy because one Black Helen is not among the eligibles for the 5,000 race, which is to be run Saturday. E. R. Bradleys filly, which can just about get into the pony class, once more demonstrated that she is the most sensational juvenile of either sex of the year when she vanquished several leading Lassie prospects in track record time Tuesday. The daughter of Black Toney and La Trojienne is said to be included in one of Mr.- Bradleys subscriptions for the Saratoga Special, and if that is the case Black Helen may be able to capture an im- portant event after all. Horsemen at Arling- ton are agreed that Black Helen is about the smoothest running proposition now be- fore the public, while one expert went so far as to proclaim her superior to Top Flight. With Black Helen out of the Lassie, the dash of six furlongs shapes up as an open contest. Eastern horsemen sing the praises of C. V. Whitneys Motto, but western train-, ers wish to be convinced. The East also will be represented by the Belairs Vicaress, Mor-I ton L. Schwartz Good Gamble, and possibly one or two others. Mrs. Roy Carruthers Bye Lo promises to lead the western divi-j sion in quest of the Lassie, and she will be supported, perhaps very ably, by the Warm Stables Mid Victorian, Mrs. John Hertz Royal Duchess and Twoaday, and Elmer Dale Shaffers Joybird. Juvenile fillies have been racing at five furlongs so far this season, and the added furlong of the Lassie probably will make considerable difference to some of the candidates, helping some and hurting others.
