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HERRITT TAKING A VACATION Resting Up for Contemplated Campaign at Florida Meetings. Popular Kiiler With Trainers and Owners Buys Home in Buxton, Maryland and Installs Family. BALTIMORE, Md., Dec. 3 Bobby Mer-ritt says hes just resting between two strenuous racing seasons. What he does in hard working times is difficult to say, since even these easy days begin in the dark of chilly November mornings with a forty-mile drive in his car, followed by many miles around a track on a horse. After the morning workouts this energetic young Marylander comes to the track to chat with his friends who have gathered for the races. Before the afternoon of racing gets under way he goes home to play with the children there are two young Merritts for an hour or two. Home, now, is not far, at Ruxton, Md., where the Merritts have bought a house and are finally bona fide adopted Marylanders. Bobby came from New Jersey, but he has been identified with Maryland horses and Maryland tracks since he began to ride five years ago. Mrs. Mer-ritt was "Babs" Ryan, popular radio star and featured singer with Warings orchestra, who is now retired. Young Merritt, with a reputation as a consistent, good rider, has just finished a long season at New York tracks. He hopes to lay off a little, because hes going right down to Florida for the entire winter season of racing. Since he is not a contract boy, he can ride when and if he pleases. In his first and only Maryland start this fall he took the place on Lady Timarole in the first race of the third day of Pimlico racing. POPULAR WITH HORSEMEN. You have only to stand around the paddock with Bobby Merritt to quickly discover that he is popular with horsemen they all speak when the go past, hailing him with obvious enthusiasm. J. Fred Adams, for whom he has done a lot of riding, called out to him one day recently: "Hi, young fellow, I didnt know you were here I have a horse I want you to ride." Merritt nodded his head of curly, coal-black hair, and went on with an interrupted conversation about Buck Langhorne. He recalls that one time he went to Chicago to ride the big horse in a stake race. "We didnt get any place," the rider said, "But the horse wasnt as good then as he turned out to be later." Now, of course, Buck Langhorne is a jumper, and like all flat riders, Bobby disapproves of steeplechases. He thinks jump races are cruel, a handicap to professional racing, and no fun at a11- . Getting Bobby to reminisce is difficult, because he doesnt like to talk about himself. He has a quiet, unassuming manner, and is pretty definite about not touting Bobby Merritt. However, he lights up about the family winter plans, which include a Florida trip for all four of them--two weeks lying in the sun on the beach and then lots of riding for the breadwinner. Incidentally, the proud father would like to get out Santa Anita way, but it is too far to take the kids, so its "Florida, here come the Merritts!" a
