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Here and There on the Turf Dauber Demonstrates Fitness . Coming Back in Fine Fashion Short Week Aids Keeneland Kurtsinger Should Admit Mistake - .--4 For a time, upon his return home from Santa Anita Park, Richard Handlen thought it best to pass up an early spring campaign with Dauber, but the; son of Pennant Ship of War, by Man o War, did. so well that the Foxcatcher Farms trainer changed his mind. Hence, Dauber was seen under silks Tuesday at Havre de: Grace and the public was able to see for itself how well the colt had fared. Opposing four other capable three-year-olds, at a mile and seventy yards with the track, sloppy, Dauber trailed the field unti leaving the back stretch and then picked up his opponents steadily on the outside to win by two lengths, going away. The performance was a good one, even though TDauber is rated as a good niudder from what he displayed as a juvenile, and it gives Handlen an excellent foundation on which to continue the colts preparation for the Kentucky Derby, but more immediately the Chesapeake Stakes. Dauber was only beaten a half length by Stagehand in the Santa Anita Derby as the Maxwell Howard star came from behind after the Foxcatcher colt himself had merged from the back. Stagehand just proved himself a slightly .better stayer in that "mile and one furlong event, coming back later to take the Santa Anita Handicap, in which Dauber did not start. Both colts necessarily were eased up in their training after their winter campaign and have started afresh. Dauber has given one demonstration that he is reacting favorably to the second training, something that Stagehand also has to do in racing, although his trials at Churchill Downs have been very satisfactory. The Foxcatcher colt may go right on up the ladder, as he is ruggedly- made and of smart breeding. Insofar as his physical quality is concerned, he may have it on Stagehand. For communities which cannot decently afford an extended amount of racing, the five-day-a-week plan is proving of great value. A track like Santa Anita would not have to worry about curtailing its racing week, but the sport in California certainly hasnt suffered through the operation of the plan, particularly in the San Francisco area, where racing made an almost . miraculous come-back after being all but worn out completely. The enthusiasm and support which greeted the program at Keeneland Tuesday after the public had rested since Saturday was evidence enough that the five-day-plan j is long on merit in a community which cannot afford very much racing. Keeneland will also be dark on next Monday, but, despite the loss of two days, the meeting will be the usual eleven days in length. Churchill Downs will also be closed on Monday and its meeting undoubtedly will benefit as a consequence of the increased zest of patrons and horsemen, alike. Chicago perhaps is one of the larger cities having continuous racing, throughout the spring, summer and fall which would be much better off with the five-day plan. San 1 Franciscos racing came back under the system and the sport in Illinois could be expected to regain some of its former solidity through curtailment. In Illinois, the state derives a flat sum daily as its tax, and some arrangement would have to be made whereby the .. revenue would remain the same. Where the state shares in the pari- mutuel take-out, the greater prosperity of racing the better. Should the Chicago tracks decide that a five-day week would be best for them, they probably would have to seek a change in the law unless some way could be found whereby the Monday tax could be paid just the same, although no racing was held. The Brookmeade Stable-Charles Kurt-singer controversy has created widespread interest, especially among horsemen who have been arguing the matter pro and con. They all agree that the jockey should not have left New York when he had been denied permission to do so, regardless of the importance of the engagement, but the effect of the disciplinary action taken by his employer has them pondering. His suspension is indefinite, so Kurtsinger probably will have to make up with trainer Hugh Fontaine before he will be able to ride again, but whether that will come in time to permit the jockey to accept a mount in the Kentucky Derby May 7 or in the War Ad-miral-Seabiscuit match May 30, remains to be seen. If the situation reaches a point where Kurtsinger and the stable cant get along, neither having confidence in each other, it probably will be best for both parties that the contract be voided. But Kurtsinger should admit his mistake and do it quickly.
