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REFLECTIONS By CHALLENGER Arlington Opens Summer Meeting Chicago Course Offers 13 Stakes Challedon Continues to Improve Gold Cup Field Slowly Shaping Up HOLLYWOOD Calif June 21 21Arlington Arlington Park beautiful Chicago race track will open ifonday and continue through July 31 During that time thirteen stakes will be run and will range from 2500 to 40000 added the latter sum being for the Classic famous one and onequarter miles event to be run on Saturday July 26 Mondays opening feature will be the 2500 added Myrtlewbod Handicap at six furlongs for threeyearolds In view of racings popularity from New York to California there is every reason to believe the sport in Chicago will soar to new records in both attendance and mutuel handle John D Allen president of Arlington and Ben Lindheimer director have done all within their powers to make the public comfortable and to establish both Arlington and Washington Parks as friendly racing institutions As the Arlington meeting progresses the many innovations will be realized With the coming of July the meeting will swing into high the Fourth of July feature being the 10000 Stars and Stripes Handicap for threeyearolds and older horses at one and oneeighth miles In the weeks to follow they will stage the Lassie Futurity Cinderella Arlington Handicap Equipoise Mile Classic and on July 31 the closing day the 5000 added Hyde Park Stakes for twoyearolds at six furlongs The plant is in complete readiness to cater to the biggest throngs in the history of Chicago racing Challedon was out on the Hollywood track Friday morning and turned in the fastest work since his return to serious training W L Brarin was on hand and told the writer both he and trainer Whitehill were well pleased with the champions progress They have no definite plans but are still hoping he will be ready by July 4 Depend upon one thing Mr Brann said and that is that he will not be rushed His objective is the Hollywood Gold Cup and although we would like to see him ready before that we will be satisfied if he is his old sejf on July 19 Challedon appears to be in splendid shape Outwardly he is a picture horse The injured hoof has improved wonderfully and he does not favor it when running Some fine handicap performers are already on the grounds and from present indications a goodsized field should answer to starter Buddy Wingfield on Gold Cup Day Should Challedon return to his best form however we cannot envision his defeat though decision must be reserved on the South American invader Meissen and a few others The American Handicap on July 4 should give a good line on many of those seeking the Hollywood pot of gold The boys are amusing in their blurbs on Meissen the Peruvian champion which may or may not have his ears pinned back when he meets a few of our champions up Noth They are giving reams of space to what he eats how he sleeps and some go so far as to say he reminds one of Mae West when he walks Dont misunderstand We are for any horse regardless of whether he comes from England Ireland or Hitlers back yard But this business of acclaiming any importation a threat wonder horse mystery horse phenom and what not is just so much mullarkey until he comes out and proves it Papyrus the English horse which ran in the International against Zev was a good horse but no comparison to Epinard the French champion which came over here to battle in three specials and give a splendid account of himself in every one of them Phar Lap was probably a great horse Since then Kayak II and Sorteado have performed very well but beyond them imported horses have been busts Meissen may be all that they claim him to be He is a big powerful horse and if looks count for anything he should go places But until he starts going this column will refrain from the bunk and ballyhoo which leads anyone to believe imported horses are better than homebreds Monday will be a momentous day in Californias horse racing The California Horse Racing Board is to meet Monday morning to hear evidence in the alleged use of caffeine on nine horses owned mainly by prominent men Not one man in 10000 believes for a moment these particular men would resort to such prac ¬ tices and least of all Jerry Giesler chairman of the California board However there is a ruling the most ridiculous ruling ever written into the records It is rule 313 page 80 Rules of Racing in California and reads in part Owner and trainer or either of them shall be absolute insurers of and responsible for the condition of a horse entered in a race regardless of the acts of a third party In other words a successful businessman may invest anywhere from 10000 to 1000000 in horses It may develop that ones horses have been tampered with but even if he is 1000 miles away when the tampering is done he is still held responsible That being the case any man regardless of his reputation and standing might have his name brought out in an unfavorable light by the acts of some one who for one hundred and one reasons may ad ¬ minister a Stimulant to a horse or a number of horses Obviously the ruling is an unfair and dangerous one to men who pay the freight in maintaining high class racing stables Whirlaways next big threeyearold objective will probably be the 40000 added Classic to be run at Arlington Park on Saturday July 26 Interest in this event increased when Alfred Vanderbilts New World returned to the races to win the Flying Heels Handicap A son of Discovery New World was regarded as one of the best juveniles of 1940 and from the manner in which he won his first start this year has a splendid chance to rank high in this seasons group Vanderbilt has also named Exploration another son of Discovery and the eligible list further includes Attention Curious Coin Monday Lunch Swing and Sway Dispose Ocean Blue King Cole and Our Boots Up to this point the threeyearold division has been dominated by Whirlawdy these lines are written just before the Dwyer running and beyond New World there are few of the leading members of the division which have yet to oppose him Regardless of what ones face him in the Classic however he should draw a huge throng to Arlington on Classic Day for a champion is usually a drawing card regardless of his opposition
