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t -------- -- " Here and There on the Turf Pompoons Odds Sliced Other Choices Also Down Latonia Renews Derby, Oaks Horsemen Encourage Arlington - Among the persons who greatly respect Pompoons victory in the Paumonok Handicap under scale weight arc those who have been operating the future books on the Kentucky Derby. As the Churchill Downs classic draws nearer, many of the 103 original nominees have been declared out, while others have failed to impress. With the field taking shape, there has been a revision downward in the prices of some of the candidates, particularly the more prominent ones, all of which are still very much in the running. Pompoon opened as the Derby choice at 8 .to 1 but since his Paumonok triumph no more than 4 to 1 has been available on the son of Pompey Oonagh. But as Pompoons odds have come down, so have those against Brooklyn, Reaping Reward and other leading aspirants, and those two colts are right behind Jerome Louchheims star. Reaping Rewards absence from the Texas Derby field should not have any effect on his price. Robert McGarvey, the Milky Way Farm trainer, was confident he could saddle the Texas Derby winner without depending upon the son of Sickle Dust Whirl, which took a decision over Pompoon in the New England Futurity, and Reaping Reward probably will have his public qualifying test for. the Kentucky Derby early .during the Churchill Downsmeeting. Reaping Reward displayed enough in his training at Arlington Downs to be pronounced fit for the Texas Derby, but apparently McGarvey didnt care to subject him to a hard race three weeks before the Blue Grass special. Brooklyn also is. delaying his debut, but it will be forthcoming most any day now, as trainer H. J. Thompson intends to start the Blue Larkspur colt at Keeneland prior to the running of the Blue Grass Stakes. Latonias spring meeting of thirty-seven days, which will start May 29, again will be featured by the Latonia Derby, to which will be"- added the worthwhile sum of 5,000. Whether the usual bonus of ,000 should the winner also have accounted for the Kentucky Derby be available, the writer is not prepared to state. In all the years the extra prize has been offered it has yet to be paid. Around the Derby, the Latonia management has arranged a well-balanced schedule, with the historic Latonia Oaks as just about the next-best attraction. This event for three-year-ol4 fillies will have ,000 added, and very likely it will draw its most notable field in years because of the new impetus given such contests this year. Many nominations and much support from the wealthy owners and breeders who are anxious for fillies to have their proper opportunities may be expected, even though they may not intend to campaign their stables at Latonia. Advices from the management of the Arlington Park Jockey Club are to, the effect that owners and trainers arc recognizing the effort of the Chicago track to provide purses which will make the operation of racing stables worth while from a financial standpoint in their requests for stabling accommodations. Arlington Park has announced a higher stakes and purse distribution with the minimum to be ,100, it being the first track to rise above the ,000 mark. Santa Anita has announced ,200 except in two-year-old events for its meeting next winter, but Arlington Park will be the first to put the higher policy into effect even though its position has not all of the rosy aspects ot the Los Angeles course. Arlington ever has been a leader in promoting the welfare of the horsemen, realizing that their support makes for racing of the higher class. Further evidence of the prosperous condition of California racing is indicated in the announcement that Tanforan and Bay Meadows each will stage iuture events for Continued on thirty-Jirst vage.l HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. two-year-olds during their autumn meetings of 1938. Added money of each of these races, the distance to be one mile, will be 0,000 and they will be open to horses bred elsewhere as well as in California. It is quite evident that Tanforan and Bay Meadows managements are anxious to bring the Eastern stables to the western state so much earlier than the Santa Anita opening that they will be campaigned at the two tracks in the vicinity of San Francisco. The Tanforan Futurity was announced last August and drew many nominations from the East, while the Bay Meadows Futurity will close this fall for yearlings. These new stakes at the San Francisco tracks, as well as the increased distribution at Santa Anita and Longacres, the revival of Agua Caliente racing and the opening of Del Mar, is giving the Pacific Coast a circuit which shapes up well in competition with the schedules in other parts of the country.
