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Here and There on the Turf Californians Busy Buyers Sales Near 1937 Average Laurel Start May Aid Seabiscuit The Fighter Meets With Hard Luck - - Most prominent among the buyers at the Lexington sales held during the first half of the week were Frank Orsatti and Ed Janss, both of California, and when they had completed their purchases they had obtained enough horses to all but require a special train to transport them to the West Coast. Janss, an enterprising young man with his own ranch, where a trio of stallions now are in service, made some purchases for himself, but many were for other clients. Orsatti, whose bidding was done by D. B. Midkiff, likewise represented other interests as well as himself. Several other westerners were successful bidders, so it can be stated that a good percentage of the 489 head which went under the hammer will be taken to California, further evidencing of the expansion in racing and breeding occurring in that state. Final analysis of the sales reveal a total of 64,765 being spent with the average being 41.44, which is less than five dollars below the mark of last year. The market was steadier than was the case a year ago when the average was brought up considerably by the dispersal of a draft of mares consigned by Willis Sharpe Kilmer. Only a few choice mares were offered this year, while the yearlings appeared to be about the same as to quality and breeding as the youngsters offered last autumn. As has been the case with the Lexington auctions, many of the cheaper animals were sold to persons who removed them from racing and generally their destination was Mexico, Texas and New Mexico. Lexington is without a doubt the place for a sale such as that just concluded, but whether the better yearlings could command as much as they do at Saratoga, continues a debatable question. With the weather being favorable, the Laurel meeting is moving right along at a Continued on thirty-fifth page. HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. brisk pace and with the promise that it will be the best in quite a few years. A continuance of sunshine and a fast track is wanted for Saturday when a pair of stakes are on the program, but one of them is the-Laurel Stakes for which Seabiscuit is a promised starter if conditions are favorable. This is intended to be the veterans lone competitive effort .before his scheduled match with War Admiral at Pimlico and being at a mile, it should serve to sharpen up his speed. Numerous observers are of the opinion that Seabiscuit will have a better chance of defeating War Admiral if he has sufficient early speed to keep in close attendance of the Man o War colt in the early stages. Seabiscuits presence in the Laurel will do much towards attracting a banner crowd to the Maryland State Fair course as he has established himself as a popular horse in that section. He competed in the event last year, but had to be content with a dead heat for first honors with Heelfly. He will have no easy time in the current renewal either as his opposition will include several horses whose recent form has been very promising. One of these is John A. Man-fusos Aneroid, which seems to have returned to his best form. Other capable milers whose presence in the event is expected, include The Chief, Bootless, Count Morse, Idle Miss, Sun Egret, Thanksgiving, Jacola, Nedayr, Cant Wait, Accolade and Mower. Under the conditions of the race, Seabiscuit must shoulder scale weight of 126 pounds and make allowancesboth on the scale and otherwise to all his opponents. The Texas contingent had high hopes of bagging the Interborough Handicap, which served as the Columbus "Day special at Jamaica, but their representative, The Fighter, could not prove himself as speedy and durable as he had been most of the season. After leading by a narrow margin in the early stages and then taken back, the Bull Dog veteran had the misfortune of being blocked by the tiring Clocks just when beginning his challenge. Whether he could have made good his threat is a matter of conjecture, but after his trouble he fell back to last place as the occasionally capable He Did found all the room he required on the outside to rush to the front and draw away, much to the pleasure of owner Arnold Hanger and trainer Tommy Taylor.
