view raw text
- - - - - - f Here and There on the Turf Pompoon May Not Start in Paumonok Trained for Longer Engagements Pennsylvania Bill Seems Doomed James Will Bide at Keeneland - 4 Pompoon is rated the best horse among the eligibles for the Paumonok Handicap, which will feature the opening of the Metropolitan season at Jamaica next Thursday afternoon, John B. Campbell, The Jockey Club handicapper, having assigned him scale weight of 116 pounds. All of the other horses have been allotted imposts below the scale, beginning with the five-year-old Whopper at 126 pounds and the three-year-old Clodion at 110 pounds. Reigning favorite for the Kentucky Derby, Pompoon is being talked about as a probable starter in the Paumonok, but we have our doubts about the son of Pompey and Oonagh going to the post in the six furlongs event, because he has not been trained for participation in sprint races, the Derby being his principal objective. More than likely if Pompoon is to see service before the Wood Memorial Stakes over the mile and seventy yards distance at Jamaica, it will be in an overnight contest of similar distance. Whopper is a distinct possibility as a Paumonok starter, even though he is now at Havre de Grace, where he is scheduled to start in the Harford Handicap on Monday. The H. P. Headley giant is to specialize in sprinting and middle distance running for at least a month, and he is well able to handle the impost assigned him by Campbell. Another likely starter in the Jamaica feature is the Whcatley Stables Snark, which established a new worlds record for six and one-half furlongs at Hialeah Park in February. The son of Boojum was unable to fulfill his engagement in the Wid-ener Challenge Cup, but he is training smoothly again as was indicated the other morning when he worked a half mile in :47 at Aqueduct. Snarks Paumonok impost is 121 pounds. Tintagel, with 121, Good Gamble, with 118, and High Fleet, with 116 pounds are others among the higher weights in the Paumonok list likely to go postward. Assurances that the Pennsylvania legislature will not pass a resolution permitting pari-mutuel betting at its present session must be considered as welcome news to New York and New Jersey sponsors of racing. The latter state also is without racing, but a powerful effort Is being made to make wagering constitutional so that the construction of race tracks may be permitted New York tracks could be expected to feel the competition of a mutuel course operating In the vicinity of Philadelphia because of the rapid service now offered on the railroads operating between the two cities. For a trip which requires twice as long, the special trains operating between New York and Narragansett Park on Wednesdays and Saturdays carry capacity loads, proving that some enthusiasts much prefer the pari-mu-1 tuel method over the oral system. Construction of tracks near Philadelphia and Pittsburgh could be expected with the passage of a pari-mutuel law, and they would be of importance enough to attract horses of considerable quality, thus cutting into racing material which provides the sport in New York, New England, Illinois, and other such centers, so operators of the courses already In existence likewise may feel happy that the Pennsylvania bill is doomed. As far as the general class of horses racing now is concerned, there are too many tracks because the thoroughbreds are asked to run too often for them to maintain their ability for any considerable length of time. Even without a track of their own, Phila-delphians will have ample opportunity to enjoy the sport at New York tracks, the new Delaware Park course, and at Havre de Grace and other Maryland courses. Basil James, leading jockey of last season who has continued to score with a high percentage of his mounts since losing his apprentice allowance, will follow his profession at Keeneland, where he will be pitted against some of the best riders in the country. However, the Washington state lad showed what he could do against such prominent veterans as "Sonny" Workman, Alfred Robertson, and Harry Richards at Santa Anita Park, and he may only require capable mounts at Keeneland to keep up his excellent record. James is under contract to the" Tranquillity Farm of H. H. Cross, which Is expected to be campaigned In the Middle West during the spring and early summer, so eastern fans may not obtain their first glimpse of the lad in action until this fall, unless he accepts stakes engagements on the Atlantic front. Although James has dropped to third place in the jockey rankings, his average of 27 per cent winners stands alone, 1
