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»■■■■ —————— —SWSM—l a Here and There on the Turf Fair Knightess Impresses Seen in Keen Display of Speed New Jersey Leads New York Sande Colts Training Again Tom Smith may have gained the reputation of pursuing unorthodox methods in the training of Seabiscuit and other horses in his charge, but he certainly gets results. His was no ordinary feat of horsemanship in bringing back Fair Knightess for such a keen performance as she displayed at Belmont Park Monday, after having been away from the races since February, when she was forced into retirement due to a fall in the running of the San Carlos Handicap. In that accident the daughter of Bright Knight and Fair Phantom, by Light Brigade, I was knocked out, and Johnny Pollard, the Charles S. Howard contract jockey, suffered a fractured collarbone, which kept him off Seabiscuit in that horses last four engagements. Following her accident, Fair Knightess did a bit of traveling, moving from Santa Anita to Bay Meadows, and then across the continent to Belmont Park. At Belmont Park, Fair Knightess was seen in even fewer trials than was Seabiscuit, the dockers recording only two moves for her, one of five furlongs and the other at a half mile. She did, however, break away from the post with Seabiscuit one morning. The work watchers, not having any line on the mares condition, advised their clients accordingly, and Fair Knightess receded in the wagering until at the last minute her connections expressed their confidence in her chances to defeat such capable sprinters as The Fighter and Go Home. That their judgment was correct, and that Smith had her in tip-top form was demonstrated when Fair Knightess ran the six furlongs under 118 pounds in 1:11% after doing the quarter in :22V6 and half-mile in :45%. This is what is known as sizzling, and no better job of sprinting has been seen in New York this season. Fair Knightess, which was purchased by the California sportsman last fall from Hobson C. McGehee, her Virginia breeder, at a fancy figure, is destined to be mated with Seabiscuit upon her retirement from racing. Apparently, however, she has another useful campaign ahead of her. Howard and trainer Smith first were attracted to Fair Knightess when she set a steady pace for Seabiscuit for a mile of the Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs last August. She weakened near the end and barely lost the place to Caballero II., while still finishing within a respectable distance of Seabiscuit. At her best over the middle distance*, Fair Knightess last season won the Bostonian, Granite State, Roger Williams, Fall River and What Cheer Handi- Continued on thirty-fifth pagij HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. caps, all on the New England circuit, as well as being second in the Newcastle Stakes at Delaware Park and dead-heating for the place in the Christmas Handicap at Santa Anita. She also was third in the Havre de Grace Handicap. New Jersey has taken the lead on New York in the drive for pari-mutuel wagering, the legislature having passed the constitutional amendment which now must be ratified by the people. With the legislature adjourning sine die this week, a special election can be held this fall, but with a recess by the lawmakers the public will not have the opportunity of voting until next spring. New Yorks next move takes place at the constitutional convention this summer, and if pari-mutuel wagering gets the approval of that group, the public will have its chance to pass on the matter this fall. Assuming that the people of both states have the opportunity before the year is out and do approve the constitutional changes, the respective legislatures next winter will be in a position to pass the laws permitting mutuels and the methods of supervising. As both states already have racing commissions, the details of setting up governing bodies are insignificant. Earl Sande has both Stagehand and The Chief galloping again at Belmont Park and he has every hope of having the Maxwell Howard team ready for the Dwyer Stakes, which is scheduled for June 18 at Aqueduct. Stagehand has been on the track daily since he settled down a week ago, following the arrival of the stable at Belmont Park from Churchill Downs, while The Chief, whose coughing spell occurred after the Kentucky Derby was galloped for the first time on Monday. Stagehand suffered an increase in temperature for one day while The Chief was normal at all times, hence trainer Sande believes the two colts have recovered sufficiently to permit a resumption of training. Sande will take no chances with the pair, and if he finds that it will be necessary to rush the two colts along to make them ready for the Brooklyn, he will pass up that mile and a furlong contest and await later engagements.
