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Nelson Dunstan REFLECTIONS By Nelson Dunstan Fine Talks at Commissioners Dinner Woodward Praises Breeders Award Detroit Employs Women in Mutuels Eastern Breeders in Quandary NEW YORK N Y May 13 13The The twoday meeting of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners came to a close at an informal dinner at the WaldorfAstoria on Wednesday night The dinner given by the five New York racing associations was one of the first staged since the commissioners formed a national body One of the first speakers introduced by George D Widener was William Woodward chairman of the Jockey Club and a sportsman who has always stood for all that makes racing a worthwhile sport Mr Woodwards address was mainly on the subject of an award or bonus to breeders as sponsored by this newspaper He said With ¬ out owners and breeders you would have no racing and I can tell you that a breeders award will be greatly appreciated by those who produce the horses It will be encouraging to them I assure you when they open their morning mail to find a check for a winner regardless of what amount that check may be The Jockey Club head stressed that cooperation was more necessary today than ever before And by the way as he spoke it was evident that the aloofness of The Jockey Club no longer exists and that the fine body of men who compose it are doing everything within their power to work in close harmony with the racing commissioners and other bodies who now supervise the sport William Woodward was but one of many speak ¬ ers Albany was represented by the Hon Thomas J Curran and Senator Dunnigan Curran represented Governor Dewey and said he was sure the Governor would have enjoyed the dinner as much as he had Herbert Bayard Swope got out of a sick bed to attend and brought to the commissioners the message from Coordinator Jcffers that he knows racing Is earnestly seriously and effectively endeavor ¬ ing to cooperate to the fullest extent in the war effort On the day before Jerry Giesler recommended that the American turf contribute from 10000000 to 25000000 to War Relief Swope quoted figures to show why such a con ¬ tribution would be impossible and went on to say the 3200000 contributed in 1942 approximately represented 50 per cent of the profit column He alsa hinted that Washington would soon appoint a sports coordinator and said that he knew the names of the men who had been suggested and that he thought they were all very worthy When he sat down many in the large dining room were hoping that the name of Herbert Bayard Swope was one of those under consideration in Washington We can think of no finer man manfor1 for1 that job for he knows racing from cover to cover Some fans have written to say they disagree with pur statement The three yearolds appear a mediocre lot We did not say just that What we did say was Beyond Blue Swords and the trio Occupation Devils Thumb and Ocean Wave they appear a pretty mediocre lot or does Count Fleet make them appear mediocre It could be that Slide Rule and a few others will surprise us in the weeks to come Of those named most of our curiosity centers on Occupation True he bowed to Count Fleet at Pimlico but previous to that was more than a match for the Hertz colt We saw him defeat Count Fleet at Washington Park and the next day Burley Parke showed us where he had ripped a part of the jaw bone away before the race How he could have beaten The Fleet with such a handicap still amazes us But in looking ahead rather than behind Occupation is a Bull Dog colt and just how he will take to the longer distances is a question that only racing can definitely answer Devils Thumb was a real good twoyearold and there is no doubt that the Ocean Wave who won the Blue Grass Stakes was a much improved racer over the same horse in New Orleans But beyond that quartet we cannot enthuse over any of the others suddenly bobbing up to threaten The Fleet FleetNo No less than 115 gals mostly blondes will sell mutuel tickets at the long Detroit meeting which opens on May 22 It had to come just as the Judy Johnsons were inevitable True as George Lewis a Detroit official stated The hiring of women for these jobs is unparalleled on the American turf But he must be a student of Joe Millers gag book for he also said For one thing the women wont try to tout customers into backing certain horses Men will still be at the ten and fifty dollar windows thank Heaven The Detroit meeting of 73 days will be staged at the State Fair Grounds and it is our belief it will be one of the most successful held this season They have no such transportation problem as other tracks are experiencing and will be well within regulations at all times Detroit has become more of a racing town with each succeeding year and especially so in 1942 Under present conditions horsemen like a long meeting as there is practically no transfer of horses for quite a spell Detroit has an attractive stake program and it will draw many of the better grade horses in competition From any angle the Motor City course should experience its most successful season to date One feature will be bonuses to trainers and jockeys along with the groomsEastern grooms Eastern breeders are in a quandary Just yesterday we talked with seven of them and to a man they want to stage their sale somewhere in the East Heavy pressure is being brought to bear that they ship to Kentucky but one said It is very kind of the Kentucky breeders to invite us but come what will I will sell in the East Having no yearlings to sell this writers opinion is of little value But if we had yearlings to sell we would demand the same right that Kentuckians took in naming their place of sale If it is not consistent with the ODT regulations that yearlings be shipped from Kentucky to the East then it is not for easterners to flaunt the regu ¬ lations by shipping to Kentucky The FasigTipton Company are between the Devil and the deep blue sea but in the long run they will have to carry out their slogan We sell anywhere at any time by meeting the wishes of the individual breeder East or West The eastern sale will by no means be as big as that in Kentucky but it will be an interesting one and will draw its share of buyers That is as it should be with fairness to all concerned It may prove a tough year for breeders and that is why all of them regardless of where they sell are entitled to racings support
