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Here and There on the Turf Belmont Influence Noted Stars Trace to His Breeding Colors Add Glamour to Sport Horse Market Still Healthy Official name of the race to be held on May 30 between Seabiscuit and War Admiral is the Belmont Special, that being decided upon at a conference between John B. Campbell, racing secretary of the Westchester Racing Association, and Peter A. B. Widener, the latter acting for his father, Joseph E. Widener, the president who has been ill. The name for the event undoubtedly was taken from that of the track, but the Nassau course honored its founder, the first August Belmont, father of the later Maj. August Belmont, one-time chairman of The Jockey Club and leading breeder of his day, and therein lies a story. Man o War, generally hailed as the greatest horse ever seen in America, was bred by Major Belmont, who sold him in 1918 along with the remainder of his yearlings at auction, and "Big Red" is the sire of War Admiral and the paternal grandsire of Seabiscuit. So, in a way, the name of Major Belmont continues to be commemorated. The Belmont influence in the nations racing of the present time isnt just confined to the name of a race track or to Man o Wars participation in the pedigrees of Sea-biscuit and War Admiral, but numerous other outstanding horses now making turf history have the blood of horses which once stood at Major Belmonts famous Nursery Stud in Kentucky. For example, Dauber and Cravat are from Man o War mares. Stagehands dam is Stagecraft, by Fair Play, sire of Man o War and daughters of Friar Rock are the dams of Pompoon and Handcuff. Belmont even had Vulcain whose daughter Margaret Lawrence is the producer of Kentucky Derby winner, Lawrin. So the creator of Belmont Park is having a hand in this great race of the year as well as the regularly scheduled features of long tradition. Well pleased with the results which have been obtained through the operation of the new weight rule is John B. Campbell, whose experience as a racing secretary and official covers a time sufficient to place him in a position to know whereof he speaks. In his official duties at Bowie, Jamaica and Belmont Park, Campbell has encountered little or no opposition from horsemen as to the increase in weights carried by their horses and it has been his observation that a marked improvement in the riding has taken place as the heavier boys have had greater opportunities to pursue their calling. Campbell would suggest, however, that the rule should be modified whereby in Continued on thirty-second page. HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. handicaps the scale would not be followed but an arbitrary base of 126 pounds be established, thus avoiding the situation at Bowie this spring, in which he was compelled to allot 132 pounds to Jay Jay when that horse was making his first start of the year. A Washington reader cites the example that at a recent Pimlico program fifty-three of sixty-two entries carried different color combinations, thereby making it confusing to follow horses around the track. He suggests that a set color combinations in accordance with post position such as red for number one, white for number two, etc., such as is employed in dog racing. Such a system, our reader states, would result in greater enjoyment of the race. Perhaps it | | would, but more would be taken out of the glamour of the sport if owners didnt have the privilege to select their own colors or the real enthusiasts couldnt associate "white with green hoops with Colonel Bradley, "maroon with white polka dots" with Herbert M. Woolf, "sapphire blue with gold fox" with William du Pont, Jr., or "white and red I polka dots" with William Woodward. The j | various color combinations of the many stables undoubtedly add something to the sport. If you dont know what horse is winning, you certainly can know to whom he belongs. No very fancy prices were paid at the sale of horses in training at Belmont Park Thursday, but results of the auction were such as to show that the market continues in a very healthy condition. Considerable apprehension was manifested before the sale as to the state of the market, but this was dispelled as twenty head consigned from the estate of the late Admiral Grayson sold at an average of ,575. Most of the Grayson offerings were two-year-olds with a majority of them fillies, so the prices were considered by many horsemen as very solid. Consignors of yearlings to the Saratoga sales, who have been worrying about this years prospects, may be encouraged by the Belmont Park sale, and if there is any improvement in business conditions through the summer the August auction should compare favorably with those of 1937. Racing is so widespread at the present time that most any horse can find a buyer at a decent price. ยป
