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BETWEEN RACES 1 By Oscar Otis Selected California Sales Surprise Colonel Koester Aiding Committee Rowan Quite Hopeful for Yearling Texas Sandmans Final Campaign CampaignHOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD PARK Inglewood Calif June 4 It came as something of a surprise to learn that the California breeders after years of discussion had decided to limit its an ¬ nual sale of yearlings to exactly 130 selected colts and fillies The breeders long took the stand that the annual sale was a service to members and being a service only any mem ¬ ber was eligible for the vendue with any and all such stock as he chose with the proviso only that the horse be a Californiabred Before taking this drastic step the breeders conducted a poll of its members and in lengthy arguments presented all sides of the case before asking the individuals to vote The returns were overwhelming to select the yearlings and limit the sale and make it open to the point that horses foaled in California be admitted to the sale even though according to legal definition in this state a Californiabred must be conceived as well as foaled within the borders The selection committee is anonymous but they will be aided in their task of making their selections by the re ¬ ports of Col Frank W Koester retired formerly head of the U S Army Remount in the West Koester has been touring every farm in the state has judged poten ¬ tial sales material for size conformation individuality blemishes or lack of them gentleness to handling and the like He has forwarded reports to the selection commit ¬ tee which will match up the reports with withthe the pedigree and either accept or reject The California Breeders Association has perhaps been smarting under unfair com ¬ parisons made in the past between the average price of horses sold here and there at Keeneland and the FasigTipton ven dues at Saratoga Both these sales are se ¬ lected in that they are restricted to horses meeting certain standards of worth The last Louis B Mayer dispersal sale proved beyond doubt that California yearlings will bring good prices if the stock is there But it also must be remembered that the Mayer sale was limited far fewer horses being offered than at either Keeneland or Saratoga It was quite obvious at last summers California breeders vendue that low bidding on stock not up to par had a depressing effect upon the entire sale Lou Rowan whose Mrs Rabbit is back in form after a slump following her sur ¬ prise victory in the 50000 Santa Susana Stakes at Santa Anita last winter is quite hopeful for a yearling colt now at the farm of Ira Drymon in the Blue Grass The colt is by Challenger n from his good race mare of other days African Queen The mare was a stakes winner at Pomona the socalled Santa Anita of the Bull Rings and raced a mile and a furlong in 152 there considered quite sensational time on a veritable circle African Queen was third to Painted Veil and Cute Trick in the Van ¬ ity Handicap here in 1941 and has recom ¬ mendations as a broodmare She is due to foal to Pictor and will be bred back to Rustom Sirdar Rowan has never had an extensive interest in the turf but all horses he has owned have had at least a measure measureof of class Horses and People Jerry Margolis Port ¬ land jeweler who is expanding his turf in ¬ terests is among the leading money win ¬ ning owners at the illfated Portland Meadows meeting The last of the get of the late Beau Pere are arriving at the Louis B Mayer farm near Penis This last crop will reach the races in 1950 The first crop of Thumbs Up weanlings have attracted universal good comment on the part of Mayer ranch visitors They are typy youngsters with good bone and confirmation says ranch manager Harry Hart Few stallions have obtained a lot as uniformly good as did Thumbs Up in his first offerings To date 46 foals have arrived at the Mayer fanri with four more to go This does not include two foals lost Earl Sorrell master of Sunny Val ¬ ley Farm in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains reveals he will return W D Rorex Texas Sandman to training in four weeks The Sandman one of the most popular stakes horses ever to race in the West will have one more fall and winter of campaigning before being permanently re ¬ tired
