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i " [reflections . ly Nekon Dunsron Today a Milestone of National Racing Belmont Stakes Indicates Sire Prospects Racing Shifts to Aqueduct on Monday La Guardia Continues to Embarrass Sport NEW YORK, N. Y., June 22. Belmont Day has always been a seasonal milestone, but due to the fact that racing was set back a month, such events as the National Stallion Stakes at Belmont, the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita, the Sussex Handicap at Delaware Park, the Constitution Handicap at Suffolk Downs and the Lincoln Handicap at Hawthorne add up to what promises to be the most interesting day of racing thus far this season. Tomorrow Jeep probably will be favorite to take the Belmont, which is the third leg of the "Triple Crown," although in this field Pavot may come in for some stout support from those at the beautiful Elmont course. At Delaware Park Rounders, fresh from a victory in the Dixie Handicap at Pim-lico, will meet a sturdy group of handicap I performers in the Sussex and, out in California, Busher, the two-year-old filly champion of 1944, will be the center of attraction as she endeavors to match strides with colts for the 0,000 prize. It would not be surprising if over 50.000 fans were on hand to see the Louis B. Mayer filly make a bid for ranking with the best three-year-olds in the land. The Belmont Stakes differs from its "Triple Crown" companion events in that it is run at one and one-half miles and geldings are not eligible. Down through the years it has been looked upon as a "breeders race," with the winners eagerly sought as potential sires of the future. For years, two stallions — Lexington and Fair Play — sent many sons to win this event. Fair Plays greatest son. Man o War, was a winner in 1920, and in the years to follow a trio of Big Reds sons who triumphed in the Belmont were American Flag, Crusader and War Admiral. In late years, however, this event has reflected the rapid manner in which the American breeding structure has changed through the importations of such sires as Rhodes Scholar, Challenger II.. Blenheim II., Bull Dog, Sir Gallahad III., Mahmoud. Bahrain. Beau Pere, Easton, Sickle, Gino and still others. The race will not be without its representatives of sturdy American sires, and just one in the line-up will be Sea Swallow, a son of old Seabiscuit, who thrilled the racing world with his feats just a few years back. In bygone years the Belmont Stakes meant a respite for I hree-year-olds until the running of the Classic in Chicago. Times have changed, however, for in the weeks to come they will continue the busy season that has been theirs since such preliminary races as the Wood Memorial and the Blue Grass Stakes. On July 4 the 0,000 Diamond State Stakes, at a mile and a furlong, will be run at Delaware Park, and up in New England the 5,000 Yankee Handicap, at a mile and three-sixteenths, is expected to draw many of the best three-year-olds of the season, including Polynesian, winner of the Withers and the Preakness. Just 10 days later, on July 14, the 0,000 Classic will be run at Chicago, and the 0,000 Dwyer will be staged in New York. On July 21 Empire City will offer another rich prize for this division in the 0,000 Empire City, but even this race does not end rich three-year-old competition of an important nature, for the Travels and still other races will be magnets for those still in training before the Lawrence Realization comes around in the fall. Such important centers as New York and Chicago will see a shift of racing on Monday, Aqueduct opening for a meeting that will continue through July 14, and Arlington Park in Chicago ushering in a meeting that will continue until August 2, to be immediately followed by Washington Park, opening on August 3 and extending through September 6, a total of 64 days of racing. Aqueduct will offer its high -class spring stakes schedule, featuring the Dwyer Stakes, to be run on July 14. The combined Arlington-Washington Park meeting will feature five stake events at 0,000, three at 0,000, two at 5,000, five at 0,000. nine at 5,000 and three at 0,000, adding up to one of the most pretentious race meetings held anywhere in the world. Many of Americas foremost stables are at the Chicago track and. as the weeks wear on. champions in all divisions will vie for the rich purses. There will be races for horses on the turf course and also a series of marathon events, which start at one and one-half miles on August 2 and end with a two and one-quarter miles event on September 5. The first 0,000 race will be the Classic, for three-year-olds, at one and one-quarter miles, on Saturday, July 14. This writer is one of the legion who has always thought Mayor La Guardia is a funny little man with a ham-actor complex. The reports that he will limit the throngs at Aqueduct to the seating capacity of the plant are not surprising, for, having failed in about everything he has attempted to embarrass racing, he is now reaching far beyond the duties of his office in his spite. However, as much as we would hate to see La Guardia s men, or the firemen of New York, who come under his jurisdiction, invade the race tracks, we must admit he is correct in his desires to keep the aisles clear. The conditions at New York tracks this season have been just about as disgraceful as anything could be. Not only in the aisles being jammed, but also intruders taking boxes to which they are not entitled and on occasions insulting the box owner when he asked the intruders to leave. More the pity, some of the employes of the New York tracks not only put strangers in boxes, but go to the trouble of finding another one for them when the boxholder unexpectedly shows up at the second or third race to claim what he has paid a very good price to secure. It is indeed unfortunate that Mayor La Guardia had to come into a picture of this sort, but for the first time in our life we will applaud him if he clears the aisles.
