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OVERABUNDANCE OF HORSES FOR DETROIT MEETING , Clarence E. Lehr Predicting Record Session at Motor City Course » . Track Scraped and Resurfaced Near Inner Rail — « Horsemen Praise Prevailing Footing — Two- Year-Olds Will Play Prominent Part ♦ DETROIT, Mich., May 17. — With the arrival of seven carloads of horses from Maryland and New England, numerous vans unloading thoroughbreds from Kentucky and Ohio and the complete staff of officials on hand to care for the horsemens wants, the Detroit track which opens on Saturday, was a beehive of activity today. Clarence E. Lehr, president and general manager, shuttled between the downtown office and the track to pacify owners who were en route when wired not to ship, and horsemen who brought more horses than stalls allotted for them. Probably the fact that it was his birthday kept Lehr cool and calm for the [ hectic day, but when darkness enveloped the track, the old baseball star was ready to call it a day and said it was a tougher task than any of his golf matches, and he has played tournaments against the best amateurs. "If we do not have the best meeting since we opened in 1933 I will be greatly mistaken," said Lehr. "Boxes for the season are about completely sold out and reserved seats for Saturdays opening have been selling at such a fast pace that I believe they will be exhausted not later than tomorrow night." Heretofore there has been a complaint regarding the track proper. A majority of the owners contacted today praised the racing strip in the highest of terms. Many of the horsemen have never missed a Detroit meeting and they did not hesitate in saying the oval was in superb shape. TOPSOILED DURING WINTER. Carter Curtiss had the track scraped within twenty feet of the inside rail and top-soiled during the winter. The sprinkler is so equipped that it can be moved twenty feet from the rail and throw its spray to the rail, and harrows have been built which will turn over the same surface and still be twenty feet on the inside of the tractor that will drag them. Detroit since its opening with minimum purses of 00 six years ago, has never lacked for thoroughbreds. The track has caused many horsemen to select other courses for their charges, but Curtiss believes he has removed the cause and a majority of the owners concur in his opinion. Two-year-olds are due to play a prominent part in the meeting. For years juveniles have left Detroit to win stakes elsewhere. Last season it was Allegro. The year before Yellow Tulip and Grand Slam the year previous. Blsckbirder, Morning Mail and Polish Beau ran for a "song" at Detroit and over the same course Roman Soldier made his debut in racing. These are only a few of the many youngsters to have achieved greater things later which received their baptism of racing In the Motor City, and the stable registrations this year reveal there is ample opportunity for these feats to be repeated. BLACK BRUMMEL DUE. Black Brummel arrives tomorrow from Kentucky and Charles Ferguson is bringing several others to match strides against the Continued on twenty-fifth page. OVERABUNDANCE OF HORSES FOR MEETING AT DETROIT Continued from first page. best that Dixiana, Milky Way" Farm, Le Mar Farm and other establishments can pit against them. Black Brummel won in hollow fashion at his first asking at Keeneland. He was defeated by Roman in the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs, but the colt was running a temperature at the time. Ferguson still believes the son of St. James is the best colt he ever trained, and the St. Clair Stakes, the Sallan Cup Handicap and the Moslem Temple Stakes will afford the colt three stakes opportunities. Although eligible to eight stakes, three-year-olds will have only one chance to decide their superiority among themselves. This meeting will come in the Pontchartrain Stakes, a run over one and one-sixteenth miles, and one of two stakes to be offered on July 4. This fixture has resulted in two thrilling duels, the last of which was when Janice defeated Kings Heir in the 1938 renewal. Siam led Sweepalot and others to the wire in 1937 and prior to that the race was open to three-year-olds and upward. LE MAR STOCK FARM. Al Woodman brought the Le Mar Stock Farm stable from Lexington today and it comprised twelve head. Jack La Belle, H. D. Cox, C. C. Adams and C. P. Lindner were arrivals from Narragansett and from Maryland came the T. D. Buhl and Fred M. Alger horses. In another car from Lexington, Jim Ever-man had five head, the property of Dan! Midkiff, and Charles Whitney Moore had seven horses. Five other horses, the property of Dan Midkiff and L. B. Mayer, will come from Churchill Downs at the close of that meeting. Bryan "Steele has selected his ground crew and it consists of William Shamahorn, Tom Cropper, Harry Robel, Ott Taylor, Al Dussac, Clarence Mackay and Joe Armstrong. Miss Lillian Kassner of Grosse Point has three horses here in charge of Jake Angner. Charles Raynor brought five horses from! Pimlico for the Motor City Stable. Jack S. Young, formerly steward representing the Michigan Racing Commission, who will serve with Clarence E. Lehr and Charles Henry, arrived from Kentucky today and with Joe Frost, Michigan racing commissioner, and stewards Lehr and Henry went over the list of applications for licenses. FINISH FINAL PREP. Biscayne Blue and Little Shaver had final stiff preparations for their Saturdays handicap engagements when they sped six furlongs over a fast track this morning in 1:14%. Among the jockeys and apprentices to have registered with J. McGinnis, custodian of the jockeys room, are J. Marrero, R. Dean, T. Meloche, M. Quintero, C. Eye, S. Williams, A. Sorsen, G. Martin, J. C. White, M. N. Gonzales, R. Roper, J. Jacobs, M. Calvert, E. Martin, E. Rodriguez, M. L. Fallon, P. Milligan, J. Molbert, J. Mattioli, J. Chestnut, A. Wiseman, L. Jacque, J. Glaug, A. G. Carr and others. Eddie Martin, who rode his first race in 1906, was granted a jockey license today. Martin has missed only several years during the three decades of riding that he has not been astride a winner. He is with the Henry McGarvey stable, and Captain Henry, one of its members, carried Martin to victory last year. Mrs. Lily B. Deming was granted a trainers license and has under her care Melody Maid, Woodwaac, Nana Maid, Minstrel Star, Cherry Play and First Pigeon. Star Buckland reached Detroit with Sapa-roo, Billy Mole, Ladino, Masked Plane and Old Fondo. They came from Maryland. Sky Lanty, Sky Grenade and Gallant Boy, the property of the Gillespie Land and Irrigation Company, arrived from Hot Springs under the care of W. D. Buck. Henri Torriente, Cuban owner and trainer, checked in from the island with Takus, Muggins, Bugle Call, Just High, Abdicate, Fran-cine C. and Aftermath. The Texas-owned stable of P. L. Fuller and in charge of William Merrick comprises Dodd, Smiling Prince, Grand Jester, Golden Era, Fandan, Scabbard and Rough Creek.
