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on May Sky- ■ Kiif but Human Hyman IJViAH- . " * REFLECTIONS By Nelson Duns tan • Skytracer Wins Blue Grass Harriet Sue Out of Big Race Looks Like 14 Starters in Derby Chesapeake Stakes Holds Answers NEW YORK. N. Y., April 27. The Blue Grass Stakes, run on Thursday, was another medium to decide who will constitute the Derby field on May 6. Sky- ; ; , 1 constitute the Derby tracer, the winner, is living up to the confidence his connections have in him. Challenge Me ran second and will no doubt be one of the Derby field. Harriet Sue finished fifth but. according to the charts, she was winging along in front until the head of the stretch. She turned 1 1 , | | ] I ! j | i | | j ; , , , ■ ! J 5 1 r h f i .. s s s Kiif but Human Hyman IJViAH- in a game performance Friedberg announced today she will not start in the Derby, but will seek the Kentucky Oaks on May 5. Twilight Tear is another of the weaker sex who could give the colts a battle. A week ago we were informed that Ben Jones did not want to start her against the colts in a stake event, but she is a [Probable starter in the Chesapeake Stakes jat Pimlico on the week-end, and, if she can hold her own against the class of colts she will meet, it would appear that she has earned her chances to try for the Derby roses. Beyond Twilight Tear, it is safe to say the Derby field will be made up of colu and geldings. Until the running of the Wood Memorial and the Blue Grass Stakes it appeared as if the Derby field would be a large one. But hardly a day now passes that additional withdrawals are not named. The Chesapeake, to be run at Pimlico on Saturday, is the next important event and it could result in a race that will overshadow the Arkansas Derby, the Wood Memorial and the Blue Grass Stakes. The actual Derby field cannot be truly worked out until after the week-end event, which is expected to draw Pukka Gin and Stymi« against Director J. E., Pensive and others whose trainers will regard the Chesapeake as the medium to determine whether or not to ship to Louisville. Taking a guess at the moment, we look for a field of about fourteen to answer the bugle at Churchill Downs on May 6. We read in the papers that Bay Meadows and Hollywood Park have settled their "date differences." We are unable to set-| tie in our own mind why there should have been any differences in the first place. Granting that Bill Kyne has done a grand job for the sport and for War Relief, we cannot understand why he — as the head of a track in Northern California — had any dispute as to why a track should not aperate in Southern California. We do not honestly believe that Bill Kyne was speaking his own mind. We know him too well for that. Anyhow, Hollywood Park will open on September 1. After all the people of Southern California who like horse racing are entitled to their day in that famous California sun. The California Breeders Association has issued a vigorous protest to the bill introduced for "off" track betting in the Golden State. They regard the passage of any such measure as "ruinous to racing as a sport, and disastrous to the thoroughbred breeding industry, which is the very foundation of racing." In a statement in which they resolve this and resolve that, they emphasize that if such a constitutional amendment is adopted it will destroy the splendid breeding industry in California, with great result in loss to breeders and to the valuation of properties and ranches. They claim I that it would be impossible to con- trol and protect wagering outside track areas and that if it is permitted it will abuse and bring about the complete elimination of horse racing in this state. We do not believe the approval of "off" track wagering would bring such dismal results as the Californians predict, but we j do believe that it would be another drop to a lower rung on the ladder of the claim i that there is still something sporting left ! in horse racing. This idea of "off" track 1 betting originated in New York State, j where more bills regarding the turf are | instituted than in all other states. Some i lawmakers at Albany have very peculiar ideas on what constitutes sound mutuel I play. Due to the fact that some people can see the danger of "off track betting bills have not been too seriously taken in the Empire State. But the California Breeders Association is to be congratulated on the j stand it has taken in this "off" track bet- j ting business. The very weak argument of , those in favor of the measure is that the fans who cannot get to the track should , have the same privilege of making a wager as those who can. The Californians put their finger right on it when they say , "such wagering cannot be controlled."
