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PREDICTS GREAT PREAKNESS M. L. Daiger Believes 1938 Renewal Will Make Turf History. Preakness Week Studded With Brilliant List of Feature Races "Hump" Removed at Pimlico. BALTIMORE, Md., April 15. Matthias L. Daiger, secretary and general manager of the Maryland Jockey Clubs Pimlico race course, who has been running things there for forty years, is more enthusiastic about this years renewal of the Preakness than ever before. "It isnt just the Preakness," he said, "but the entire program of racing will attract so many great horses that it will make this the greatest Preakness. In fact, I think Preakness week will see the finest racing of 1938. Our stake-a-day program has almost 700 nominations and the second week will see the renewals of two stakes each over sixty-five years old and another stake thirty years old. "The Dixie, which is usually run the Saturday before the Preakness, will be run this year on the previous Wednesday, enabling people from distant points to witness both races in the space of four days. Sandwiched in between the Dixie and Preakness is the Pimlico Nursery, for which over 100 of the most promising two-year-olds have been named. The other three stakes that week, the Jennings, the Survivor and the Carroll, will round out what I frankly believe is the most impressive race card ever offered." HUMP REMOVED. And that isnt all that pleases "Uncle Matt because he expects to have some peace this year from the customers who usually complain about the Old Hilltop. "Its been taken away and I dont think anyone is happier about it than Matt Daiger," he exclaimed. He is correct for the "hump" is gone and-fans standing on the grandstand lawn can now follow their choices every foot of the way around the mile oval. Daiger, who also manages the Timonium Fair, a Maryland Jockey Club .property, really puts his heart and soul into a race meeting. Pimlico has always been noted for the high caliber of racing offered there and the plant itself is operated on the same high plane. "Uncle Matt," with over sixty years behind him, belies his age. He is in continual good humor and each day he makes a general inspection tour of the vast racing plant, checking up on the track condition, stables, equipment and personally supervising many of the improvements effected at Pimlico. He believes the removal of the Hilltop will improve the track drainage and according to horsemen who have been using the track for training he seems to be right.
