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REFLECTIONS By Nelson Dunstan Loud Speaker vs Number Board Boston Orchids to Rubenstein Harry Hart Lauds HBPA Work Perlove Warns of Shepperton SheppertonNEW NEW YORK N Y June 15 Recently a Florida fan came to New York on vacation and upon his return to home he wrote us a letter complaining that he could not hear the loud speaker announce ¬ ments at BelmontPark His suggestion was that a board be placed in the centerfield flashing the numbers of horses during the running of the race We published the letter as we thought it was of general interest Ap ¬ parently it was for we hae iau nuuy answers The majority of writers favor the loud speaker over the number method Here for instance a letter from three New England fans fansWe We the writers of this letter are regular readers of your column We are writing in regard to the gent who com ¬ plained about the announcing system We gather from your column that you too dont think its important to announce the races Here we differ with you We get to the races about three times a week When we dont we find time to listen to the tadio It has only been in the past six years that we became race fans and it was through listening to our New England turf commentator whom we think is the top man in this line His descriptions are so colorful and thrilling he makes an ordinary claiming race sound like a Derby and by the way most of our races here this year are filled with mediocre thoroughbreds Posting numbers on the board we saw this last winter in Florida does not belong on a horse track The idea of calling Whirlaway No 3 3Dog Dog tracks use this system Whats the use of going to the track if you are going to watch a board and not the actual run ¬ ning Dont ever sanction numbers being posted on a horse track It would ruin a great SignedThos sport Signed Thos WardThe OConnell James Ford Mike Ward The announcer tha these Dorchester fans are talking about is Babe Rubenstein undoubtedly one of the best callers in America It is not my intention to become involved in any controversy in the loud speaker versus the number method of an ¬ nouncing races Personally we do not care much for either If it narrows down to a question of the two we would be in favor of the loud speaker It does have its short ¬ comings but they are purely mechanical and not the fault of the man operating it itFrom From Mayer Stock Farm Cali ¬ fornia Harry Hart writes writesI I was particularly interested in an article of June 7 in DAILY RACING FORM pertaining to the HBPA plan to found a home for indigent and the aged horsemen You know how I felt about this years ago and its a pity that it hasnt been started be ¬ fore this However I think the plan would be better if it went a little further and provided for a course in these institutions whereby younger men who wanted to follow the turf could be taught and given the ex ¬ perience of these older men who have retired The sponsors could also institute a foundation for the better ¬ ment of our breeding programs by establishing some mares and stal ¬ lions who would be considered tops anywhere for the improvement of breeding My compliments to Tom McCreery who has done such a fine job for the HBPA HBPAJoe Joe Perlove one of Torontos outstanding sports writers types Just a note to warn your readers that Shepperton is heading for New Jersey and the Garden State moolah You must have heard by now that Shep not only carried 138 pounds to victory in the Bryan and OHara Thorn cliffes headliner at Woodbine but became so engrosed in his task he shaved one fifth second off the mile and onesixteenth track record which was established by Sea ¬ grams Edisto in 1926 1926Sheps Sheps time was 144 which is fleet moving over Woodbines cuppy lies Shep ¬ perton passed up Dufferin the halfmiler as hes so fresh and perky right now his owner does not wish to take unnecessary chances with him The way he is he might not take kindly to those sudden turns He might break his stride and do himself some harm Should he ever go wide there hed leap a fence I believe his win in the Bryan was his tenth straight eight of them from last year Second to him that day June 3 was Charley Turners Bon Jour 114 up Jacless was next highest weight to Shepperton 115 Bobby Watson snugged him into about fourth spot down the back part moved to the leaders on the bend and just rolled by them Shep was laughing so hard in the stretch he tried to loaf Watson hit him once and he bounded to the wire two on top and easy Could have gone around 12 more times without losing an inch They had better shoot a good horse at him in New Jersey Watson will probably i with him Edisto canled 122 iff lilS tf record estabush ing run
