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" 1 Here and There on the Turf i A Starting- Method to Be Changed j Approved by Many Horsemen i Oaks May Prove Keen Contest j ; Blue Sheen Takes Up Nine j Pounds I - ..4 If the recommendation of The Jockey Club stewards is approved by the state racing commission and carried out by the associations, all two-year-old races will be started with the Australian barrier next season. A committee was appointed by The Jockey Club to study the starting problem and its report was satisfactory to the stewards of the parent organization. With the apparatus, which is composed of three strands of very tough rope, in use for all events for youngsters, the way will be paved for its adoption in three-year-old races in 1938 and for all horses the following season. With the Australian barrier in operation, it is the hope that walk-up starts may be effected and if the plan is successful there will be fewer headaches by all concerned over the starting problem. The walk-up method cannot click, however, unless the starter is a master of his profession as a quick eye and absolute control over the jockeys arc necessary. Riders will not try to beat the Australian barrier as they would the old-fashioned breakable webbing, because unless the ropes are sprung by the starter, any horse attempting to lunge will be thrown back. Several ycais ago the Australian barrier was given a trial at Belmont Park and when it failed to function properly two jockeys were thrown heavily to the ground, one being hurt rather severely. Many horsemen arc in favor of the device, especially if walk-tip starts are to be made, because they long have objected to the rough handling their horses have received to make them stand straight in the Bahr gate. They also believe that horses breaking from a walk-up instead of from a standstill will wear longer because of the lesser pressure put on their feet and legs. Maryland also is interested in the Australian and walk-up method and the time may be coming when this will be the starting custom all over the country-Blue Sheens nose triumph over High Fleet with Split Second close behind in the Acorn Stakes has added much interest to the running next Wednesday of the Coaching Club American Oaks over the testing distance of a mile and three furlongs. Whitney Stones unbeaten daughter of Toro and Blue Eagle faces the toughest job of her career in that long race and it is not unlikely that some other member of the field will be the favorite. Because of her Acorn victory and its award of 0,600, Blue Sheen must pack scale weight of 121 pounds in the Oaks, a Continued on fifteenth page. HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. jump of nine pounds over her burden in the mile stake. As Forever Yours is not expected to start, the Stone miss and Split Second will be the only members of the field taking up the scale. Split Second won too much in her Selima Stakes triumph at Laurel last fall. High Fleet gets ten pounds off scale in the Oaks and under 111 pounds she may have an advantage that will overcome the notion that the distance may be too far. Floradora uncovered a creditable closing rush in the Acorn and the daughter of Bull Dog may find the Oaks distance so much to her liking that under her impost of 107 pounds she may make considerable trouble for the others. Other participants in the Acorn may be regarded as likely candidates for the Oaks and in addition Tonys Wife and Bcauflowcr may be expected to accept the issue. Both of these fillies were declared out of the Acorn after having been in the overnight line-up and yesterday, but they continued their preparation yesterday morning for their long engagement by working out over the mile and one furlong distance. The Oaks shapes up as a keen struggle involving a majority of the best fillies in the country, the principal absentees being Forever Yours and Two Bob. The latter, which won the Kentucky Oaks, was declared, out at the third payment. Alfred Vanderbilt and Sammy Renick flew to Rockingham Park from New York for the running of the New Hampshire Handicap, taking Johnny Gilbert and Jack Healey with them, but of the quartet only Healey failed to get consolation from the defeat ot their respective horses in that mile stake. Renick rode Vanderbilts Balkan Land in the event but that son of Balko was caught in the shuffle, but in the very next event he guided Bachelor Dinner to victory in a sprint affair. Earlier in the day Gilbert rode No Dice into the winners circle for hia contract employer. John Hay Whitney. Renick and a Vanderbilt youngster took second honors in this affair. Young Healey saddled Two Bob for his engagement in the New Hampshire but like Balkan Land and Glceman, upon which Gilbert had the mount, she failed to be prominent at the end. Glee-man set a steady pace for six furlongs but tired badly through the stretch. The winner of the race, which had a net value of ,150, was Faust, a mate of Rushaway in A. g! Tarns stable.
