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ill "*** JUDGES STAND I By Charles Hatton Suffolk Downs Makes Some Innovations Assault One to Beat in Rich Belmont Army of Mice Join War on Doping Horses Fast Field Looms for Renewal of Astoria BOSTON, Mass., May 31. Suffolk Downs first meeting under its new ownership has begun in most encouraging fashion. Frank Ryan, who is a familiar figure at the seaside track, tells us that the crowds and play are larger than they were at the outset of the long meeting last summer — this despite the wet weather and an increase in general admission from 50 cents to a dollar, a fee other Down East tracks are expected to charge. All the clubs major events are to be renewed in the course of the present 36-day span, which ends on July 6. There will be an array of brand-new features at the second meeting of 23 days in October. Their values, conditions, etc., have not been decided. Among other I changes to be noted in the track since last I season is the removal of the stewards stand from the trackside to a vantage point atop the roof, and the posting of a "No Trespassing" sign on the track-proper for the benefit of the rather demonstrative Yankee racegoers. It is a point of some pride at Suffolk that it was the first eastern track to sign up for the Thorobred Photo Service, such as Pimlico and New York tracks have. "Belmont Day" is here again. The New York classic does not this year suffer as a result of following the Derby and Preakness. On the contrary, the close finish in the Baltimore stake has stirred a lot of interest in another encounter between Assault and Lord Boswell. If anybody cares to know, this corner inclines to think Assault the faster, more cheerful runner. Lord Boswell did not seem to want to enter the gate or extend himself in either the Preakness or Peter Pan, but he can run when he is driven to it. It is one of racings minor mysteries what ever became of the dash he showed in his good races at two. Scarcely anybody can conceive of both Assault and Lord Boswell being beaten, but even Gallant Fox and Whichone had their Jim Dandy. There is little doubt that Warren Mehrtens may excite a little less easily astride Assault than he did Preakness Day, when rival riders "ribbed" him unmercifully and he began his move five furlongs from home. Spencer Drayton was here the other day setting up at TRPB headquarters in Boston with Tom Costello and addressing New England sports scribes at the Paddock Club. He reiterated that the TRPB hopes to develop a way of detecting drugged horses before they run, thus protecting the public. There is quite a battle of wits between the authorities and the unscrupulous in this war on doping, and we have never heard anybody contend thf, saliva test is yet quite "foolproof." Lou Hoffman, chairman of the Massachusetts commission, showed us about the saliva box and portable lab here today. The specimens are split two-thirds to the state and one-third to the track, sealed in jars that have no rubber rings and kept in a refrigerator on which there are two locks, so that the representatives of one party can open it only in the presence of the other. The state police are on guard during the entire procedure. John Huth, one of those in charge of the mousery, says: "The biological tests save time. We can tell within 10 minutes after a race if a mouse is going to react positive and, if one does, a urinalysis is made. Running through the regular saliva tests takes about two days. Of course, w£ make them no matter how the mouse behaves." He added that the chemists are constantly experimenting to keep up with those who try new ways of cheating the tests. "We can usually tell when one is up to something," he said, "as there is the faintest trace of a stimulant of some sort." Only male mice of a certain species, called "C. F. W.," are used. They come from New City, N. Y., and cost 27 cents apiece. Sometimes their abdomens are ruptured in making the injections and they die. A fresh mouse is used in each test, as they build up a resistance to the injections in time. Huth things, along with New York saliva testers, that a spectrograph would be ideal, as it would show things in two minutes that ordinarily takes two days to determine, and its findings are unquestioned in court. Aqueducts Astoria next week-end may draw one of the classiest fields in its recent history. The two-year-old fillies seem an unusually good crop, and First Flight, Keynote, Miss Kimo, War Fan, Cleverette and Tea Olive are all eligible. First Flight may accept if her hard race in the Juvenile — so close on the heels of her record spin in the Fashion — did not take some of the edge off her. She is the sort of filly every breeder dreams of raising and is this observers preference of the two-year-olds he has seen thus far in the season. There is some thought of running her in the Lassie out Arlington way ahead of the Saratoga Special. Gracie Vee, who beat War Fan earlier in the week and is a half-sister to Star Pilot, is not in the Astoria. Turfiana: Licausi, the leading Suffolk rider, has been contacted to handle some of the Maine Chance runners in stakes during their eastern foray. . . . Loveday, an old New England favorite and twice winner of the Hannah Dustin, has a filly by Valdina Orphan at Rancocas and was bred to Rounders. . . . Lee ODonnell, head of the HBPA, rode on the U. S. Army jumping team in Allied games in Paris after the last war. ODonnell is steward representing the horsemen at New England tracks. A native of Massachusetts, he now resides in Kentucky. . . . Not the least useful of the horses bred by Ben*SJones is Night Editor, who has won 9,852, although never a purse of more than ,000. Frenchy Lamoureux once lost him for ,600 in a claimer, but bought him back the same year for 50. . . . The "name" horse of New England is Air Rate, whqis back in training, but with scant chance of being quite up to the Yankee Handicap.
