view raw text
Here and There on the Turf Kurtsinger Played Hookey May Miss Derby Chance Fitzsimmons Colts Show Well Stagehand, Menow Odds Cut I . .4 By the simple expedient of asking permission, Charles Kurtsinger would not have gotten himself into the situation which now prevents him from riding. The "Flying Dutchman" gets one of the largest retainers of any jockey in the country from the Brook-meade Stable and, under his contract and the rule of racing, he must take orders, from his employer or her representative who, in this case, is trainer Hugh Fontaine. Kurtsinger apparently did not ask Fontaine if he could leave New York to go to Keeneland to ride Menow last Friday and other jockeys were substituted on Brookmeade horses the following day at Jamaica, although the Louisville veteran was available. It is the custom to allow jockeys to go elsewhere for worthwhile engagements and some trainers will even let their riders go when they could use them at home, but approval has to be gained. How long Kurtsinger will be kept down by the Brookmeade Stable is up to Mrs. Isabel Dodge Sloane and trainer Fontaine. They could hold him inactive for the life of the contract if they so desired, but that is hardly likely. He may be prevented, however, from fulfilling engagements in the Kentucky Derby and in the War Admiral-Seabiscuit match, although his contract may have a special provision giving him the right to ride the Glen Biddle star in all his starts. It is up to Kurtsinger to make his peace with the Brookmeade folk and the quicker he does it the better for him. He has been .around too long not to know better than to play hookey but, after he has been down a few days watching his fellow jockeys booting home those winners, Kurtsinger will realize only too well to whom he owes his allegiance. Kurtsinger was given the mount on Menow last Friday because he had ridden the colt to victory in the Belmont Futurity and Champagne Stakes last fall, and Hal Price Headley liked the manner in which he handled the son of Pharamond II. and Alci-biades. He had not been engaged to ride Menow in any further races, although Head-ley probably would like to have him back at Keeneland if possible. Undoubtedly Headley now is looking else-- where for a capable jockey to ride Menow in the Mereworth Purse at the Lexington course Thursday and in the Blue Grass Stakes the following Thursday. Whoever gets the opportunity to pilot Menow in these engagements will have a good chance to be astride the colt in the Kentucky Derby if his work pleases Headley. Menow doesnt appear to be a difficult horse to ride, but particularly when he is trying for important races Head-ley selects the best jockey available. James Fitzsimmons has yet to put the colors up on Fighting Fox, but the veteran Aqueduct trainer already has uncovered a trio of likely three-year-olds in the Wheatley Stables Stormscud and Quick Devil and Ogden Phipps Magic Hour, all of which are eligible to the Wood Memorial Stakes. The effort of Stormscud was the more impressive and he won his six furlongs dash Saturday in very fast time, but the manner in which Magic Hour graduated Monday must have pleased his connections greatly. The son of Sortie One Hour, by Snob II., drew away in the stretch to score by six lengths, and his breeding suggests that he not only will improve, but will go over a longer distance of ground. Quick Devils first outing of the session was at a mile and seventy yards, and he withstood a long drive with Wood Song to gain the verdict. Latest quotations on the Kentucky Derby show that Stagehand is maintaining his posi- tion as the favorite, but his odds have been shortened, undoubtedly due to the fact that he made the long trip from Santa Anita to Churchill Downs in fine condition and made an impressive return to training. Menow received marked attention as a result of his fine race last week, while Fighting Fox has been held steady. In some instances Menow has superceded the Belair Stud colt as the second choice, but that position may be changed when the brother of Gallant Fox goes to the races. We wish to call attention of the future book operators that Sir Raleigh is being taken out of training and the Mills-dale colt should be removed from their quotations. Sharp changes in the several future books may be expected daily as the Derby candidates at Jamaica, Havre de Grace and Keeneland are placed in competition.
