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GEORGE H PETE BOSTWICK BOSTWICKReturns Returns to Saddle REFLECTIONS By CHALLENGER Belmont Stages Successful Opening HighPriced ThreeYearOlds Fail Eight Thirty Impressive in Debut New Camera Used at Hollywood Pk Belmonts attendance of 15877 topped last years figures by approximately 2500 while the mutuel play of 858051 was 200000 over last years opening day Neither the attendance nor the mutuel handle caused as much interest as the introduction of the new juvenile course Pete Bostwicks return to the saddle the initial appearance of Eight Thirty in the Toboggan Handicap and the showing of Lord Kitchener Battle Star and Big Risk a trio of threeyearolds which were taken from the Spa sales ring two years ago for a total of 48000 Opinion seemed to be divided regarding the new course which was installed to replace the Widener chute Most of those we asked about it were of the opinion the new course was an improvement though others maintained it was just as difficult to distinguish a horse in the early stages of a race as it was on the chute which cut across the infield The new juvenile course begins from a chute and ends on the main track As the season wears on it will be more popular with the fans than the straightaway it replaces Until the conditions of the Futurity are changed it will be necessary that it be run over the old course The improvement of the class of horses over those at Jamaica vns immediately noticeable at the Belmont opening The most interesting race of the day was the Toboggan Handicap even though it drew but four to oppose the Widener entry of Eight Thirty and Dr Whinny A day or two back Bert MulhoIInnd stated that Eight Thirty was not far from a race and the Toboggan reflected the fact that the handsome Widener colorbearer will prove tough opposition in both the Metropolitan and the Suburban his two main objec ¬ tives at Belmont Park When Richards called on Eight Thirty he just lengthened his stride and drew away to become the fifth horse in history to win consecutive renewals of the Toboggan Though a trifle high in flesh Eight Thirty appeared in perfect condition One of the handsomest horses now in training he made a per ¬ fect picture as he came out on jmrade and a perfect racing machine as he came out of the pack to show clear superiority over his rivals Some time before the Belmont meeting ends and in all probability in the Suburban on Decoration Day he is due to hook up with Charles S Howards Mioland This is not only a natural but should pro ¬ duce one of the finest races of the The 48000 trio of Lord Kitchener Battle Star and Big Risk started in the third racei a maiden event at special weights Allowing for the fact that this was vbut the second start of Lord Kitchener and Big Risk the trio showed little on Avhich to justify the prices paid for them The winner was Air Master which could not score in seven outings as a twoyearold and was making his 1941 debut in this race Sun Galomar which had previously started eighteen times as a two and threeyearold but was still a maiden finished second Lord Kitchener and Battle Star are Blenheim II colts neither of them started as two yearolds but Battle Star has now gone to the post on seven occasions this season and has been unable to finish first or second in any of his races While yearlings sold in the same year for very modest prices have proved to be rare bargains the higherpriced youngsters as threeyearolds have been disappointments to date Whirlaway still remains far and away the best Blenheim II colt to go to the races in this country and will go far in holding up the prices for the get of the imported stallion at the Spa sales this season Only about a half dozen of his youngsters will be offered by the breeders this year yearAt At the Belmont opening there was considerable speculation as to what three yearolds would oppose Whirlaway In the Belmont Stakes on June 7 Some went so far as to say it now looked like a walkover while others are of the opinion that a small field would surely oppose him in the third of the Triple Crown events There is talk that Mrs Whitney will send Monday Lunch or The Rhymer to the Belmont post Should this be the case Whirlaway would lose the services of Eddie Arcaro the boy who piloted him so brilliantly in the Derby and the Preakness Bold Irishman is another many believe to be suited by the one and onehalf miles of the Belmont Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons was well pleased with the showing of King Cole which ran second to Whirlaway in the Preakness but the stayer in his group of threeyearolds appears to be Bold Irishman the son of Sir Gallahad III Erin which failed to get to the post in either the Derby or the Preakness Beyond the two mentioned it is a question at this time which of the other threeyearolds will oppose the Calumet racer that does not start to until the turn run for home and then finishes in a manner that makes his opposition appear as if they are standing still stillFrom From Hollywood Park we have received a circular and description of their latest innovation to improve horse racing j nd in this instance it is a combination binocular camera with which an entire race will be filmed and will be used for the first time when the Hollywood Park meeting opens on Friday May 23 The institution of this new device will require eight patrol judges instead of the usual four each of the eight being equipped with this motion picture camera which when the eight segments have been joined will give a complete motion picture of every race The Hollywood manage ¬ ment is frank in saying that it is an experiment If successful it will undoubtedly revolutionize the use of the camera on the race track It is planned to have the complete set of the previous days eight races returned to Hollywood Park so that the stewards and the patrol judges may review the previous days events at ninethirty a m showing The circular goes on to say The officials then are able to thoroughly study the running of the race and take such action as they deem wise There can be no objection to the use of the camera which will improve racing but what earthly good can come on the morning after the races have been run and the payoff made is difficult to understand
