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----------------------------t Here and There on the Turf ; Vast Interest Centers in Wood I Crowd Should Jam Jamaica Race May Produce Derby Win- j ner ! I ; Downs to Have Good Race Sat- ;; urday - -- -- -- -- -- -- .--.---- - - .4 What is Pimlicos loss is Jamaicas" gain, but the Baltimore course actually hasnt missed anything in placing the Preakness after the Kentucky Derby, instead of preceding Americas most popular horse race and the Metropolitan Jockey Club is much better off with the Wood Memorial Stakes serving as the most important preliminary to the Blue Grass classic. Not since the WTood Memorial was inaugurated has it attracted as much interest as Saturdays renewal and with bright skies and a fast track Jamaica should have an attendance of record proportions. Very few New York racing enthusiasts are in a position to make the trek to Louisville for the Derby, but those who give thought to such matters will be at Jamaica Saturday in the hope of seeing a preview of the Churchill Downs attraction. And it can very well be just that with Bold Venture, Granville, Ned Heigh, Tintagel, Bright Plumage, Hollyrood and Teufel among the outstanding Derby hopefuls using that mile and seventy yards fixture with a purse of 0,000 as the qualifying test for the Louisville race. In five of its last six runnings the Wood has been used to good advantage as a Derby trial, two of its victors journeying to the Blue Grass to gain international plaudits. Gallant Fox and Twenty Grand won the ,Derby after capturing the Wood, while High Quest went from the Wood to take the Preakness by a nose over his stablemate Cavalcade, which had been successful in Kentucky. Last season Omaha ran third in the Wood after being in trouble in the early 1 stages and he ran over his opposition in the Churchill Downs event. In 1933 the iWood came after the Derby, but the previous year Economic finished second to Universe and then placed to Burgoo King at Louisville after the latter colt had fallen lame. Some one or two members of Saturdays field in the Jamaica attraction may be expected to star in the Derby the following week end, even though strong opposition may be expected from Brevity, Grand Slam. Gold Seeker, Coldstream, The Fighter and the Bradley entry, which are dodging New Yorks early racing. Bold Venture gained many admirers by the way in which he scored at the first asking at Jamaica last week, but it is doubtful if Morton Schwartz speedy colt made any more of an impression than did William Woodwards Granville Tuesday when he gave Ned Reigh a sound trouncing in considerably faster time than Bold Venture made over the mile and seventy yards distance. The son of Gallant Fox and Gravita displayed more speed than he was suspected of possessing in taking an early lead on Ned Reigh, Pullman, Neap and Invermark and he held them at his mercy without much trouble, completing the distance in 1:43, which is creditable time at Jamaica. As a two-year-old Granville lacked early speed, as did Omaha as a juvenile, but it is apparent that the Belair Stud colt is beginning to find himself, just as Gallant Fox and Omaha did at the beginning of their three-year-old campaigns. Even though he defeated his opponents easily, Granville did not give everything he had and he can be expected to improve. Ned Reigh also may be expected to display improvement, probably more than will the Gallant Fox colt, but whether he can overcome the superiority established by Granville in their recent meeting is a matter to be determined in the crucible. Both Bold Venture and Granville demonstrated free running ability in their first appearances of the year, but they likely will be outrun in the early portion of the Wood because of the probable. presence in the field of Tintagel and Delphinium. The Belmont Futurity winner showed his real dash Saturday in beating Hollyrood among others in a six-furlong sprint and he should be in better iContinued on nineteenth page.X HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. shape to cut some capers in Jamaicas three-year-old prize than he was in the Paumonok Handicap. Delphinium set a steady pace for a mile in the Chesapeake Stakes in his first start of the year and he may try to do likewise Saturday. With these colts in the Wood, the riders of Bold Venture and Granville may elect to rate their mounts, tactics which also may be expected from the jockeys on Ned Reigh. Hollyrod, Teufel and Bright Plumage. While the Wood Memorial is occupying the center of attention in the East, insofar as Derby horses are concerned, the big news in the Middle West will emanate right from Churchill Downs where the spring meeting opens with the historic Clark Handicap as the titled feature. Attracting just about as much attention, however, will be a dash of seven furlongs for three-year-olds that will bring out many of the leading western trained candidates, not excluding Brevity. Coldstream is a likely starter in the event and the E. R. Bradley team of Bien Joli and Banister may use the race for a taste of competition. Count Morse will be given a chance to see what he can do in the race, while Silas, Boston Pal and Wise Duke are possibilities. Some of these colts may be expected back in competition Tuesday in the Derby Trial at one mile, while the eastern brigade will be on hand to complete their Derby training with exacting workouts.
