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Nelson Dunstan REFLECTIONS Bv Nelson Dunstan New York Adjusts Breeders Awards Belmont Winners Plates for Bonds Turfs Relief Fund Close to Million Orchids to Empire City for Switch NEW YORKN Y June 3 Racing took a long step forward when the New York tracks announced yesterday that the breeders of the winners of all stake events would receive 5 per cent of the added value of the stake and that the breeder of the winner of an overnight race would receive 25 While other tracks may adopt a different plan to this it is possible that before the year is out the breeder will be nationally recognized by racing associations This not only makes the breeders a partner in racings profits but mnrp nrovides an incentive for them to produce the type of horses capable of creating steady returns of dividends during the racing career Such races as the Kentucky Derby Preakness and Belmont Stakes are not included as for years these events along with many others have recognized the breeders of the first second and third horses The plan of a breeders award has been lauded by race track officials and breeders associations throughout the country and is just another example of the way in which the industry is welding itself together This move was designed to aid the breeders and came at the same time that the Thoroughbred Racing Associations started the movement bigger purses for better horses which will be of distinct aid to the horse owners ownersRacings Racings drive for the sale of War Bonds reached its peak last Saturday when the New York broker Paul Ames went to 200000 to secure the silks worn bv Joe Renick on the Suburban winner Don Bingo There will be another sale of bonds this weekend and if we might make a suggestion it would be a splendid thing if the winner of the Belmonts plates were donated by the owner and the Westchester Racing Association had them placed on a plaque along with a suitable inscription stating that the plates were worn by the victor of the 1943 Belmont and that they were awarded in conjunction with the War Bond sale In that way the purchaser of the War Bonds would have a lasting and suitable memento of the occasion The purchase by Paul Ames of last week was the largest made by an individual at any sporting event in this country and while War Relief is one of racings greatest objectives this year continued sales of War Bonds would materially swell racings contributions to the war effort Should Count Fleet be the winner and we have every reason to believe he will be Mr and Mrs Hertz along with Don Cameron would undoubtedly welcome the idea of presenting the plates for so worthy a cause There are many objects which could be auctioned off but we rather imagine the highest bidder would prize the plates worn by a Belmont winner in his presence New York Chicago and Detroit scored heavily for War Relief on Memorial Day Although the Lincoln Fields fund fell short of 100000 Col Matt Winn who has been a bulwark of strength in racings war activities stated his track is making up the difference Belmont Parks contribution was but the first of the many that will come from New York On Memorial Day Detroit reached the third day of the current meeting of which all gate admittance fees were turned over to the war fund They will also contribute the gate receipts on the coming weekend when the Detroit Handicap will feature a fine card As near as can be estimated the American turf is approaching first one million dollars in the goal of two million set by the tits Turf Committee of America July 5th will undoubtedly be the most important War Relief Day of the year as many of the tracks will donate the proceeds on that holiday At Suffolk Downs in Boston as we stated a day or two back the management will give the last three days of the long meeting or if Rockingham does not run will take over the dates and devote the full three weeks to the War Relief program Due to curtailed racing it was thought racing would not reach its quota this year From present indications it will not only pass the two million mark but should come close to last years figure of 3200000 x There will be little opposition for Count Fleet in Saturdays running of the Belmont Stakes Possibly three will oppose the Hertz champion but it will be a battle for second money rather than a bid for first honors Incidentally there seems a growing curiosity as to how The Count would fare against older horses Why now The Hertz champion and his trainer are entitled to the same consideration that was accorded Gallant Fox War Admiral and other threeyearolds Many lucrative stakes in his own division await the horse who by Saturday night should be the sixth Triple Crown winner He has every right to stay in his own division before throw ¬ ing down the gauntlet to older horses Next fall will be time enough for him to step out of his division Don Cameron has developed a champion and like every other trainer before him will guide his charge through the recognized channel of the Classic American Derby Travers and Lawrence Realization before taking on older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and other events in which older horses will oppose him The Count is one of those horses who like Whirlaway Alsab and still others is a magnet to fans but also like them he is entitled to his right to establish cleancut superiority in his own division Congratulations are due Empire City officials for the request to transfer the popular Yonkers meeting to the Jamaica track Their initial hesitation to make this switch was understandable for they do have large patronage from Westchester and Connecticut fans In recent weeks however we have all realized that due to important war events in the offing everything should be done that would in any way fit racing more into the war effort The Empire officials state that the transfer was requested mainly to avoid the transportation of horses from one track to another But the obligation did not end with government compliance They had a duty to all their fans including those from upstate for while it is true that they would have some trolley service it is also true that some fans would have to walk from the Mount Vernon Station and the subway By the transfer they do away with walking a long distance on hot July days that in the past have had more than their sharfe of thunderstorms At Jamaica the use of cars will not be necessary for the Long Island Railroad will take the fans direct to the entrance of the track The scene of the Saratoga meeting is still to be decided but the important thing is that it too will be staged on Long Island Racing in New York can truly be said to be doing everything within its power so as not to interfere with the war effort
