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___ ___ — ___ ______ ___ JUDGES STAND ! By Charles Hatton Anent the Discriminatory Use Tax Keenelands Sporty Dinner Purse Lindheimer Looks Ahead at Chicago Calumet Formidable in Chesapeake LOUISVILLE. Ky.. April 13.: The legal ramifications of New York ! Citys use tax are a matter of rather poign- ! ant interest to horsemen everywhere, since , the administration has applied this one per cent assessment on the value of horses raced at Jamaica, and proposes also to levy it at Aqueduct. The use tax is the sourest grape since Aesop originated his fable. It is the latest in a series of diabolical little ambuscades the city fathers have in vented to harass horse racing in the Metropolitan area. We doubt if the use tax ever was intended to be applied to theatrical, turf and other entertainers. Whether it may, legally, is something the HBPA attorney. Jack Goldberg, will explore. The brunt of this tax is borne by the poor horsemen, rather than by the tracks, a factor which gives the whole affair an aspect of wry satire. It appears as misdirected as the grooms demands on the associations, for illustration. The question now arises if the state tax on horse racing is indeed in lieu of other levies such as this use tax, as many have always supposed it to be. Whether it is expressly stated in the Crawford-Dunni-gan Act, or merely inferred, is not quite clear. We do know that the horsemen do not intend to submit without a struggle. We should think the rather hostile attitude Gothams present administration has displayed toward thoroughbred racing would give pause to those who propose erecting a new course there after the war. We should think also that the popularity of the sport, so manifest at the turnstiles, would give the administration pause. And we could wish the publicists of this new course would credit their readers with intelligence enough to realize that nobody is going to "save Saratoga" by operating a Metropolitan New York track in opposition to it and cease shedding those crocodile tears. They deceive nobody. Keenelands features are hardy annuals of an historical significance that surrounds them with a prestige far exceeding their monetary values. The roster ranges interestingly through the Phoenix. Ashland. Ben Ali. Lafayette and Blue Grass Sakes. The two last named will be programmed during the combined Keeneland-Churchill Charity meet of six days. Keenelands sportiest, most unusual feature is none of the time-mellowed events just mentioned, however. It is the comparatively new Thoroughbred Club Dinner Purse for two-year-olds next Thursday. The 5 subscription fees are pooled to purchase 50 worth of War Bonds for winning subscribers and pay for a dinner attended by the subscribers and their guests the night of the race, the remainder being donated the American Red Cross. If owners of the placed horses are Thoroughbred Club members, they must accept their share of the ,500 purse in War Bonds. Col. C. V. Whitney. P. A. B. Wtdener. A. B. Hancock and John Marsch are among the 33 subscribers. Dinner stakes often are the medium of enlisting new owners. "Everything is progressing satisfactorily and I think we shall have an excellent Arlington-Washington meet." Ben Lindheimer said today at Chicago. He only recently returned to his desk from business trips to California and the East. He already has formulated plans for some changes in Washington Park racing, which we are not at liberty to divulge just now, but which should further the sports popularity. Discussing the California racing prospectus. Lindheimer said, "It would be beneficial to the American turf generally were the sport resumed there this season. Behind the diversification of rumors there is some tangible basis for the hope Hollywood Park may reopen in the fall." So far as concerns Santa Anita racing at Santa Anita, many estimate it would require from four to six months to put the property in order to operate. Operative 6 7-8 has just burst in upon us like a spent runner staggering into a stockade with a Blackfoot arrow protruding from his back. He announces that his figures indicate Warren Wright will win the 5,000 Chesapeake. The dapper Chi-cagoan does seem to have what is technically known as "a lock" on Marylands Derby preview with Pensive, Twilight Tear and Miss Keeneland under his roof. The Havre-at-Pimlico stake will not lack a competitive element, however. It would be unwise to sell Director J. E. short, for instance. Ray Bryson conjectures that the Sickle colts Flamingo was not a true bill and that he lacked condition rather than staouB*.
