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Here and There i i on the Turf i Roman Soldier Impresses in Debut Strong Dixie Handicap Eligible j Preakness Candidates Qualify » Two-Year-Olds Belong to Pub- j I * | After his impressive performance and victory at six furlongs in his first start since last July as well as the manner in which he worked out a mile, Roman Soldier is to be conceded a royal chance for victory in the Dixie Handicap, feature of Pimlicos program Saturday. The public gave the four-year-old son of Cohort — Miamba only scat-: tering support on the occasion of his seasons debut, much to their sorrow, but they probably figured that under his impost of 126 pounds that he wouldnt be quite good enough to win at the first asking. However, Phil Reuter had Roman Soldier in splendid condition and he literally smothered the opposition with his display of class. After running the six furlongs in 1:124 without being put to a drive, Roman Soldier continued out a mile in 1:40% without being called upon for his topnotch effort. If that is sufficient to have him right for the mile and three-sixteenths distance of the Dixie Handicap, Roman Soldier figures to be very hard to beat. Roman Soldier came close to being the best three-year-old out last season, but a quarter crack finally forced his retirement. After a rest of more than six months, he returned to the wars with his feet in excellent condition and in better shape physically. Reuter obtained the colt for the late William Sachsenmaier, father of the present owner, in December of 1934 for ,500 and the colt went out to win the Inaugural and Bahamas Handicaps and to finish third to Black Helen and Mantagna in the Florida Derby at Hialeah Park, to triumph in the Texas Derby at Arlington Downs and finish second to Omaha in the Kentucky Derby, place second to Sun Portland in the Illinois Derby and to capture first honors in the Detroit Derby. Then soreness developed and after the American Derby and Classic he was laid away. Interest in the Preakness is perking up with the victories of E. R. Bradleys Bow and Arrow and Walter M. Jeffords Jean Bart at Pimlico and the Brookmeade Stables Delphinium at Jamaica, Bow and Arrow, an undersized gelding by Whichone — Beaming, but an honest performer this year under the training of William Hurley, has come away with a victory in every one of his three starts this season. The first two were over the six furlong distance at Havre de Grace and the third at a mile and seventy yards at the Baltimore course, in which he had no difficulty whatsoever in defeating six other three-year-olds of mediocre quality. However, Bow and Arrow has done everything asked of him so far this year and until he is found wanting he must be considered a Preakness prospect. Jean Bart had a better field to beat in his Pimlico triumph and what made his performance more impressive was the fact that he carried 120 pounds, giving much weight all around, and set the pace all the way. The Man o War colt ran the mile and one-sixteenth in 1A6V5, Continued on twenty-fifth page. HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. which is two and one-fifth seconds slower than the track record. Delphinium, steady-running son of Blue Larkspur and Multiflora in the Brookmeade Stable, missed Jamaicas record for the mile and seventy yards in leading from end to , end of his race, in which he shouldered 116 pounds. That effort may cause trainer R. A. Smith to send him after the Preakness, although he decided against running the colt in the Kentucky Derby after Delphinium had succumbed to the stretch bids of Teufel and Granville in the Wood Memorial Stakes. Memory Book, which won the Spalding Lowe Jenkins Handicap for the Greentree Stable last fall, wasnt quite good enough to run down Delphinium, but the effort — his first of the season — should do him much good. White , J Cockade raced poorly in the same engagement, and he cant be regarded as a Preakness hope unless he displays sharp improvement. Somefhing probably is hurting him. A shortcoming of American racing is the , practice of some stables to qualify with their two-year-olds even after the youngsters have J demonstrated fair promise publicly and have gained sufficient experience and conditioning . to be called upon for their best efforts. . A trainer may feel justified in not having green two-year-olds abused in his first start f or two. but once a colt has shown that he is . ready for a good race he should be permitted I to run unrestrained. Otherwise the public, which takes note of other juveniles not [ among the winners and contenders, is not leceiving a square deal. The condition is no A different from that of horses which have won, and should be handled accordingly by the stewards. It is a mistaken notion that t owners are entitled to the betting privileges of their horses until they have won a race. j, The public pays for the sport and deserves s every protection. Furthermore, it is a privilege - granted to a person to race a horse and i that right is abused when the animal is managed - for personal gain at the direct expense e of the public.
