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I REFLECTIONS — — — — — — By Nelson Dunstan — — — — — — Strange Case of Stanley Lipiec Leading Trainer of 1945 Inactive Farriers Refuse to Shoe His Horses Blacklisted for Offense in Florida NEW YORK. N. Y.. June 1. This column has received many letters pertaining to "The Strange Case of Stanley Lipiec." Our correspondents are curious and confused. They know that Lipiec saddled more winners than any other American trainer in 1945, and they also know that, though he is not under official suspension, he is now listed among the unemployed. The two facts just do not go together. We have endeavored to get to the bottom of the mystery. Thanks to a letter from a man who formerly was associated with Lipiec and to a heart-to-heart talk with the trainer himself, we have gleaned some information which we believe will interest horsemen and racing fans alike. As noted above, Lipiec is unemployed. He is unem-Dloyed only because he was compelled to turn down several offers to train for reputable owners. Why? Here is the reason, in his own words: "I cannot accept a training position because I have been told that no blacksmith would shoe the horses I conditioned. If I took a job my employer would be penalized through no fault of his. I am in bad with the Journeymen Farriers Union, because during that organizations strike last winter at Gulfstream Park I shod the horses of my employer, Mrs. Lottie S. Wolf, and also permitted them to be shod by an employe who was not a member of that union." Here is the "history" of "The Strange Case of Stanley Lipiec" as we have been able to reconstruct it. Lipiec, after riding with slight success on the North American tracks, spent about six years in Cuba and Panama, where he rode and conditioned horses. Plagued by his inability to make riding weight, and attracted by the prospect of making more money in the United States, he returned here late in 1941. He was hired as a trainer by C. F. Wagner and saddled the winners of 50 races for that turfman and other employers in 1942. In 1943 his charges won only 15 races, but in 1944 they captured 62 events and earned 8,915. In June of that year he became the trainer of Mrs. Wolfs horses. He attained national prominence in 1945 when he dethroned Hirsch Jacobs as Americas leading trainer in number of winners, his horses taking 127 "firsts" and earning 38,361. Many of his successes were chalked up at Detroit, where he claimed a considerable number of horses and won with most of them. After topping the trainers at the Michigan track he shipped his charges to Rockingham Park, where he first encountered the series of difficulties which eventually led to losing his job and to enforced "retirement." Both Mr. Wolf and Lipiec at the time were members of the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association, but prior to the latters arrival at Rockingham Park, members of the New England division of that organization circulated a petition that they be denied stalls at the track. The reason for the petition is vague. One version is that Lipiec was unwelcome because of his propensity for claiming horses. When Lou Smith, vice-president and executive manager of the Salem course, was given the petition he refused to recognize it because Lipiec had been granted stalls and he would not go back on his word. Wolf resigned from the HBPA, despite his trainers pleas that he remain a member. Finally a mishap occurred which marred the serenity of the stables Rockingham campaign. According to Lipiec, one of Wolfs horses was slightly injured by a track ambulance which was driven by Merle Simmons, brother of Harold Simmons, one of the officials of the HBPA in that sector. Wolf remonstrated with him, became embroiled with the Simmonses and several others, and was knocked down. Lipiec rushed to his employers defense, with his agent, and joined in the melee. Lipiec suffered an eye injury, and his agents ear was mangled. The stable remained at Rockingham until the meeting ended, Lipiec leading the trainers there, and then the horses were shipped to Gulfstream Park. Lipiecs troubles reached their climax at Gulfstream. The Florida Racing Commission adopted a rule, "47 -C," which made a virtual contract of an application for a license to work in any capacity at the Florida tracks. Failure to abide by the regulations laid down by the racing association could result in revocation of the license. Both the HBPA and the Journeymen Farriers Union protested, the former group requesting trainers not to enter their horses, and the blacksmiths taking "vacations." Lipiec was asked not to enter his horses, refused to heed the request and was promptly blacklisted. Trainers M. Buxton and O. Rasch also were placed on the "taboo" list. Buxton and Rasch made their peace with the organizations and were restored to good standing, but the Journeymen Farriers Union, which is interlocked with the HBPA, ruled that Lipiecs horses should not be shod for 60 days. In this extremity he plated his own horses, having learned the trade in Cuba. Finding the work beyond his physical capacity, he turned it over to one of his employes, who did not prove too adept at it. As this employe was not a union man, it further incensed the blacksmiths. They continued to refuse to shoe his horses long after the 60-day ban was over. Lipiec says he went before the members of the Journeymen Farriers Union to plead his case and that they voted unanimously for his reinstatement. However, due to some sinister "behind-the-scenes" influence, Wolf was informed that so long as he retained Lipiec as trainer his horses would not be shod. As a result, Lipiec lost his job. Whether he resigned or was "fired" has no bearing on the case. The HBPA has issued no public ruling against Lipiec, and executives of that group maintain he is in good standing so far as they are concerned, although they do resent his attitude toward them when he was Americas leading trainer. When a prominent member of the blacksmiths union was questioned regarding Lipiec he intimated and inferred that the case was "still on the table" but that it would be taken up soon. So there is "The Strange Case of Stanley Lipiec," leading trainer of 1945 — now unemployed. He is in good standing, supposedly, with The Jockey Club and ail racing commissions. He is in good standing with the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association. But he is in "doubtful" standing — though unofficially — with the Journeymen Farriers Union. He did nothing unlawful — the open shop prevails in Florida, where he encountered the final difficulties which resulted in losing his job — but he cannot pursue his trade, even though his services are in demand. We would like to know why this man is being penalized. Perhaps "persecuted" would be a better word. Why has not the ban on him been lifted? We believe a grave injustice has been done Lipiec; that he is a victim of gross discrimination. It is inconceivable that one man, or a small group of men there are only about 150 race track farriers in the country can impose their autocratic will on a trainer by private decree and make it impossible for him to earn a livelihood for an "offense" that was entirely lawful in the state of Florida.
