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BETWEEN RACES * osteons BELMONT PARK, L. I., N. Y., May 15. — Wintry weather, which has in general prevailed on Long Island until early this week, has played hob with both attendance and pari-mutuel play, but Lou Walter, director of "tote" operations, foresees brighter days ahead with the advent of the belated spring. When the fair and warmer weather appeared at Belmont, both attendance and play snapped back to near normal, and when the Metropolitan season closes on November 11, Walger looks for the all-over drop in "tote" play to approximate only 10 per cent off last season. The first week at Belmont was off some 20 per cent, and that at Jamaica 16 and per cent. There is a marked trend toward the wickets. The so-called middle-man seems to be the one who is curtailing his operations. Compared to last year, on a day-to-day basis, the 00 windows are doing the same business, the 0 windows are down 2 per cent, the 0 windows down 1 per cent, the sales are even, and the play is up 3 per cent. The per capita has dropped to 4 per day per head. New York is considered the "bellwether" of American racing, and its averages and trends are closely studied by executives in all other sections. Hence the above observations of Walger are certain to command nationwide attention. Incidentally, the vicket last Saturday handled 12,000, a lot of individual transactions. AAA There are a number of reasons that a "levelling off" process can be expected on all tracks, the greatest factor being that of ever-increasing pressure in most points in the way of taxation. A new tax is in vogue this season Winter Weather Curtails Tote Play Taxation Still Major Turf Problem New Careers to Open for Blacksmiths? - Luro Advocates Better Plane Equipment in Illinois. Additional taxes are pending before the legislature in California. The chairman of the racuig commission in Massachusetts has come out boldly In favor of "off" track wagering to augment the already large income that state receives from racing. Of course, New York is in its second year under the "ODwyer Bite," as they tell me it is termed hereabouts. But the taxation problem, while in my opinion a major factor, is not the only one. There was bound to be some dropping off in the climactic interest of the war years when transportation was difficult find durable goods almost unobtainable. But even so, postwar racing is "jelling" at a far higher level than prevailed before the war. AAA I am reliably informed that the growing and powerful Horse and Mule Association of America is considering assisting the development of young former G I.s seeking a career as blacksmiths, or, more specifically, horseshoers. These deliberations are a result of a growing concern over the dearth of competent young apprentices and the gradual passage of some of the veterans. By grounding apt men in this career, at least horses and mules could be assured of proper and prompt shoeing, and it would be conceivable that some of these men would find their way into the horseshoers union and on to the race tracks. The turf shoers have been in the news quite frequently during the last 12 months ±or a variety of reasons. They went fishing, we recall, in New Orleans, when a bit of strife was brewing which did not directly concern them. In Maryland, they are the only group on the turf which has refused to accept the universal fingerprinting plan of the TRA. In California, they have refused to apply for licenses as required by the racing commission, and are the only unlicensed personnel on California tracks today. The legislature there, we understand, is favorably disposed to remedy that situation by incorporating into the state law the requirement of license for blacksmiths. AAA Horses and People: Joseph Di Giorgio, California fruit king and turfman, has curtailed his Belmont visit to return to his ranch in Bakersfield. The hometown folks are putting on a day in his honor. . . . Wed like to add a word on the Clem McCarthy — Preakness affair. Clem is the grand old man of the airways on racing, and developed the technique which has prevailed in modern years. His words have done much to popularize racing In general. That he made a mistake over a pair of similar colors, Jet Pilot for Faultless, well can be overlooked. Personally, we are looking forward to hearing him again and again for the big stakes in the offing. . . . Horatio Luro, large-scale importer of South American horses, believes the plane is destined to become *he number one transport method for horses over long distances, despite the setback the skyways received the other day when a horse literally kicked himself to death in the clouds — "Improper equipment." was the verdict of Luro, who insists that all planes carrying horses should have slings available to use in the take-offs and landings, and in the event of rough weather or other emergency.
