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LIFTS BAN ON YOUNGSTERS California Rescinds the Rule Barring Two-Year-Olds Until May 1. Board Issues Lengthy Statement Explaining Reasons for Move — Grooms Responsible for Drugged Horses. LOS ANGELES, Calif., May 24— The ban against the racing of two-year-olds in California until May 1 has . been . lifted. In. a lengthy statement the California Horse Racing Board today announced that the embargo, in force this year for the first time in the history of the American turf, has been rescinded. In the same statement the .board abolished the "receiving barn" which had been a California institution for the last five years, and by which all horses were required to be housed in a special building for at least one hour before post time. Action was also taken on the seven jockeys who were suspended for an indefinite period just prior to the opening of the last Santa Anita meeting." Oren Laidley, J. Boucher, Joseph Martin and Claude R. Hooper were reinstated, while the applications of Clyde Turk, Noel Richardson and Harvey Elston for licenses were denied. The boards statement fully explained the reasons of the members for restoring the old order of things as regards the early racing of juveniles, the abolition of the receiving barn and the adoption of an intricate and thorough "check system" by means of preventing fraud through the use of drug stimulants or the substitution of a "ringer." Saliva tests, an identification card index, scrutiny by veterinarians within two hours ; before post time, front and side view photographs of all horses, careful checking of identification marks and characteristics are provided for safeguarding the public interest. GROOM ON THE SPOT. An official "out" is provided for owners and trainers for the first time in America when a saliva test shows "positive." The board ruled that when a horse is passed on by the staff of identification and physical examiners between one and two hours before starting time, the groom must sign a certificate, and from that time until after the race the groom is held responsible for the horses condition. Another rule adopted requires that claims must be made thirty minutes before post time for the first race of the day, not merely that length of time before the running of the race concerned. The statement was issued by the board, consisting of chairman Edward R. Young, Claude I. Parker and Henry Potter Russell, but it is understood that Edwin J. Brown, recently appointed steward to represent the board at the tracks, had a great deal to do with the adoption of the sweeping changes. Members Young and Parker were appointed to the board three months ago by Governor Olson, who took office January 1.
