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Charles Hatton THE JUDGES STAND Bv Charles Hatton SpaatBelmont Is Preferred Revision Due in Claim Rule Gu f fstream stream to Ask Dates Count Fleets Schedule NEW YORK N Y May 31 31We We assume that by this time every one interested is aware that Washington authorities have refused to sanction use of Belmont Parks LIRR spur The ODT is most sympathetic but holds this service comes under an inflexible ban on special trains to sporting events and that to confer its blessing would constitute an excep ¬ tion As a consequence of this absurd situation these LIRJI cars will continue idle but if they were operated it would in no way interfere with the war effort On the contrary it would increase revenue to the federal and state governments and New York racings yield to war relief agencies As another consequence the site of the Saratoga associations annual 30day August meeting is unsettled It may be staged at Aqueduct which is on a regular scheduled LIRR stop or at Belmont Park which is about one mile from the nearest such station stationGovernor Governor Dewey has suggested a comparison of the volume of business at the current Belmont meeting and Aqueducts ensuing season be the determining factor If this observer may be pardoned a seeming imper ¬ tinence we would question it is so simple a matter matterThe The Queens County Jockey Club season may produce more revenue than will be raised at Bel monts current meetinff but were both Saratogas August and Aqueducts September dates absorbed at the latters course this would mean 47 consecutive racing days on the same scene There would inevitably be diminishing returns with the host organization suffering along with the state A factor that would contribute to th is flagging of public interest is the locale and physical aspects of the two courses The claiming rule is to undergo some revisions The first step in this direction will come at the Toddling Town it seems probable The most conspicuous and important alteration to be effectuated is the elimination of that rather ridiculous clause which requires thoroughbreds beaten in races from which they are claimed to oppose 25 per cent better horses in their engagements for the next 30 days This clause creates unformful competition competitionIn In the midst of our forum on the merits and shortcomings of the two types of disqualification rule in vogue may we interrupt this really enlightening symposium to make the entirely nonpartisan suggestion that stewards might do worse than take cognizance of fouls committed the first furlong as well as the last The interference for which Lyonstown was disqualified for recent example occurs more frequently than not in the openingjfurlong of every race And often exerts the same influence on the order of finish for that matter matterOperative Operative 6 78 correspondent for the little BoPeep news service flashes us that when applications for Florida racing dates are filed July 1 Gulfstream will request 40 days Hialeah and Tropical their usual quotas Harold Clark Riverlands owner is interested in the Hollywood course it is said along with Bonn and Lambert of the Coral Gables Association Gulf stream is within the proverbial stones throw but really of main artery bus and rail route stops and may even be reached by rowboat if anyone cares to go that far Under the law 5000 may be expanded in rehabilitating the course for operation which means spreading it extremely thin at Gulf stream The turf world is so full of a number of exciting things There is Count Fleet for instance Discussing Mrs John Hertz colt the other afternoon that meditative fellow Johnny Gaver said I never saw a horse who could run like that one before beforeThe The American Trainers Association prexy recalled The Counts dam as a smallish black mare who was speedy in any old going There is a saying he con ¬ tinued that warns against betting on horses wearing bar plates in the mud but she won in such footing plated that way wayProbably Probably Saturdays Diamond Jubilee Belmont would resolve in a walkover in fact only for the 5000 second 2500 third and 1000 fourth If it is not a walk ¬ over Belmont Park almost certainly will experience a minus pool this trip while if it should develop into a walkover Count Fleet would collect but half the purse of 25000 added So far as concerns a minus pool we imagine Belmont or indeed any other association would eagerly ante a few extra thousand dollars for a colt of such boxoffice appeal appealCount Count Fleets itinerary moves ambitiously through the Belmont Classic and American Derby After that it depends though he will be nominated for the Realization Travers and those venerated weightforage events the Saratoga and Jockey Club Cups September and October are too far in the impenetrable dim and distant future as a race horses life and times go to make plans but Mr and Mrs Hertz have confidence in their singularly swift colt and look forward interestedly to the weightforage classics classicsIt It is perhaps meaningless but in point of fact Colin never met older opposition Man o War met one older horse just once when he defeated a Sir Barton who was so sore he barely could get up the incline of the loading chute at Laurel That was on October 12 too Some of these essays anent Count Fleet and the older horses strike as the sourest grapes since Aesop originated his fable Nobody can discuss the Count Fleet of next autumn at all in ¬ telligently now nowThe nowC C The Joliet was the most significant stake decided anywhere Saturday if any was actually significant Its result was something to enthuse Maj Louie Beard and Lt Col Jock Whitney for the winner was Alorter who is a son of gallant old The Porter We recall vividly seeing Alorter earn his diploma at Churchill Downs Alorter was bred by his owner A C Ernst and led a precocious kindergartener in Mrs Al Sabaths Civil Liberty This colt has now been second in two stakes having placed also in the Bashford Manor wherein Alorter was in trouble Both are expected to come East in the autumn
