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REFLECTIONS By CHALLENGER Level Best Heads Queen of Fillies7 New Records Made at Delaware Pk Belmont Park Closes Saturday Spa Sales Open Monday August 4 Level Best did the expected in winning the Coaching Club American Oaks and King Cole the unexpected in losing the Roseben Handicap Though Level Best was out in front by six lengths in some stages of Saturdays race she barely lasted as Dark Discovery closed like a bullet to lose by a neck Level Best showed the Equi ¬ poise badge of courage by the manner in which she finished while King Cole after showing high speed in the early stages could not stand the rush of Harvard Square Level Best furthered her claim as Queen of the Turf while King Cole lost ground as King of the Milers True the Phipps horse raced the fleet Roman into defeat but it was also the duel with Roman that weakened King Cole even though the distance was but six furlongs Level Best now joins the long list of Saratoga bargain yearlings racing this season for costing 7600 the Equipoise filly has now enriched Crispin Oglebay to the extent of over 52000 Dark Discovery must also be included on the bargain list for taken from the Spa sales ring for 750 she has now earned over 6600 After the Decoration Day figures of 53900 spectators and a total play of 1881160 Saturdays figures of 28236 and a play of 1400535 look mild in comparison The Friday throng was exceptionally well handled but it remains that hundreds of players were shut out at each race and hat the play would have gone well over 2000000 had the Belmont crew sold to all those who wanted to buy In the comparisons Saturdays total by approximately 25000 less people was little short of astonishing and especially so when it is realized the important event of the day was a threehorse affair with only a win pool It is doubtful if the coming weekend will show larger wagering than this past Saturdays for though the presence of Whirlaway will draw a huge throng in the Belmont it is also doubtful if this event will have any more starters than the Coaching Club American Oaks It has been demonstrated on more than one occasion this year that the size of the throng is not a safe indication as to what sums will be wagered Though Belmont is Long Islands largest track it too is taxed to handle 50000 players at the mutuel windows Delaware Park the inviting little track just outside of Wilmington catered to 18000 fans Saturday On the day before 28000 were present to wager 731508 this being a new record for attendance and mutuel handle since the course was opened in 1937 Suffolk Downs at Boston and Lincoln Fields in Chicago also played to big throngs on both Friday and Saturday With the sport now going into June it is boast ¬ ing records which will be difficult to top This weekend besides the Belmont and National Stallion Stakes in New York Lincoln Fields will stage the 5000 adde3 Steger Handicap for threeyearolds and older horses while Suffolk Downs will feature the 5000 added Puritan Handicap for threeyearolds and older horses at one and oneeighth miles At Delaware Park the 5000 added Brandywine Handicap for threeyearolds and older horses at one and onesixteenth miles will be the feature event of the day Hollywood Park in California will stage the 10000 added Golden State Breeders Handicap for threeyearolds Californiafoaled at one and onesixteenth miles With the exception of Belmont Park all of the tracks mentioned are slated to stage important stake events for the remainder of June With Belmont closing on Saturday Aqueduct will open next Monday and carry through until Wednesday July 2 Empire City will take over on July 3 and continue through July 26 Monday July 28 will be the opening day at Saratoga with the upstate meeting1 continuing through August 30 Though we occasionally hear repeated threats that Saratoga will be doomed when New Jersey racing gets under way it certainly appears that Saratoga is safe for a long time if Jersey competition in August is its only threat Time and again this writer has brought out the inadequacy of accommodations at the upstate Spa and also the outrageous prices which are asked by the antiquated hotels The fact remains however that Saratoga is the one traditional stronghold of the turf in this country that it offers a brand of sport second to none and if for those two reasons alone it should be continued at all costs The continued cry that a new track should be built in New York city merely to offset Jersey racing is the bunk pure and simple New York needs longer racing plants true but Saratoga should be given a clear field in August regardless of any new courses in the metropolitan area The annual California sales will be held in July and the Saratoga sales will open on Monday night August 4 instead of on a Tuesday night as in previous years At present count some 650 yearlings will be offered with Mereworth Stud and the Clai borne and Ellerslie Studs of A B Hancock the largest consignors There will be quite a few changes this year the Mereworth Stud taking over the night formerly devoted to the yearlings of the late Willis Sharps Kilmer and the Almahurst Farm of Henry H Knight moving up to the night formerly devoted to the yearlings from W J Salmons Mereworth Among those who sold last year but will be missing this year are Coldstream stud Holly Beach Farm and A S Hewitt In glancing through the entries we see little difference in the quality of the babes to be offered Due to the absence of Coldstream Stud there will not be as many Bull Dog yearlings as in former years A B Hancock and R A Fairbairn will sell four Blenheim II yearlings each and in pedigree they are a splendid group Calumet Farm Warren Wrights attractive Kentucky establishment will be a consignor for the first time with an offer ¬ ing of sixteen attractive babes Complete details of all offerings will be carried in this paper at a later date
