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JUDGES STAND By Charles Hatton Modus Operandi of Kentucky Turf Reflects Credit on Its Leaders Test Broad Grin for Blue Grass Pukka Gin Derbys Solid Horse LOUISVILLE. Kv.. April 18. "Show Me a Land" is a book that has sold scads of copies. It extracts its title from the home1/5- epigram: "Show me a land where man wants none o horses an by the Mother of God. Ill show yea a land where there aint no men." "Well. Kent u c k i a n s may not be a race of supermen, but we know of nowhere else the horse is so highly esteemed, or so much a component of everyday life. This felicitious at titude of the Kentuckian toward the horse is manifest in the even tenc of the way in which racing is conducted within the commonwealth. The thoroughbred sport here is refreshingly free of such disturbances as strikes, use taxes, clashes with transportation authorities and unfavorable legislation. The "unfriendly element" is in a completely overwhelmed minority. Bills that would have an adverse influence upon the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry are almost never considered in the legislature at Frankfort. Such bills sponsors succeed only in committing political hara-kari. Besides, the states tracks do not handle enough to excite much greediness. That is the underlying motive of most tracks tribulations in more crowded areas. There is another contributing factor of importance. With a rare few exceptions, Kentucky racing is run by men of long experience who know what is good for it. Do not infer we are so naive we imagine the turf industry in Kentucky has attained a Utopian state in which improvement is impossible. It has not, of course. A few of the racing rules now are rather dated, for instance. And we could wish all licensing committees were more exacting. In some states they have, rather unaccountably, issued licenses to trainers utterly lacking in qualifications. It is just that racing in Kentucky functions more smoothly, we think, than in any other of the VI racing states. Recently, in this space, we made some casual reference to the incongruous form of many two-year-olds upon turning three. Perhaps there is a case in point in the Greentree entourage. At any rate. Maj. Louie Beard tells us: "Broad Grin was supposed to be a better Derby prospect than Stir Up last winter. Now I am not sure if Broad Grin will run in the Blue Grass and the Derby." Gaver proposed to ship four or five stablemates here with the establishments Blue Grass candidate, if that could be managed in the shortage of grooms and exercise boys. Mrs. Payne Whitneys racing fortunes are in the ascendancy these days, Not only is she pacing all rival owners on the money-winning list, filly foals do not so far outnumber colts at Greentree as at most Kentucky nurseries. The inquiry into that matter of the one per cent Maryland tracks were allowed for improvement, instigated by "The Whip," assumed the character of a "Benchley short." We are reminded of the episode of the treasurers report when the dear little old lady in lavender asked: "Mr. Treasurer, what the devil did you do with all that money?" Whereat the harassed individual just laughed and pushed her off the platform. Seriously, the Free States tracks will come in for more or less extensive improvement after the war. All tracks must be improved, indeed, if expectations as to post-war attendances are fulfilled. The Wood Memorial at Jamaica on the week-end will go far toward determining the post favorite for the "Run for the Roses." Tins mile and a sixteenth monument to the lace Gene Wood contains a fascinating prospect of bringing together Pukka Gin, Stir Up. Olympic Zenith, Boy Knight and Free Lance. In one futures line. Stir Up is generously estimated to be the logical Derby choice. But most turfites still prefer Colonel Whitneys stretch-running colt. Lydell Ruff, who developed Pukka Gin, still believes the son of Fire-thorn might have captured last falls Belmont Futurity had he been a starter. "His races in the mid-west last season were better than the cold dope shows, in several instances," he said. Ruff seems to have the Debutante winner under his wing in Flyweight, incidentally. And he may saddle Pukka Gins juvenile half-sister. Crawfish, before the close of the Louisville meets. Previous to his tenure as foreman of the Whitney string, under Ed Snyder, Rurf campaigned horses on the Ohio circuit. He has proved himself a competent conditioner with the second division of Colonel Whitneys establishment.
