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JUDGES STAND *y chauis hatton LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 7— The Calumets are beginning to take a rather "Wistful" view of the countrys Oaks events, now that their filly of that name has won the historic Kentucky version. We should think it would be pretty difficult to find a better prospect for the Pimlico Oaks. Coaltowns half-sister doesnt have anything like his flair of early speed, and she was shuffled about in the early stages of the Kentucky Oaks, but then outstayed the field and won with her ears up. Tall Weeds hardly ran her race, for she was blocked going into the first turn and, in snatching her out of trouble, Arcaro jumped her in front of her stablemate, Lady Dorimar. It is to the Dorimar fillys credit that she got back on stride and was third. The Fat Lady saved some ground and ran easily the best race she has shown up to now in finishing second. The time of the Oaks was 1:47%, which was the smartest since 1942 when Miss Dogwood won in a flat 1:47. This confirms the opinion it was a particularly good field. Wistful. Lady Dorimar and Tall Weeds are going to entertain over East, to all present indications, with a prospect they will be active in Arlington-Washington-Detroit filly stakes in the summer. AAA The Preakness will climax next weeks racing, but there is much of interest out here in the Middle West. The brave new MRA opens its first meet at Detroit Fair Ground on Friday, and the local Downs club opens its Debutante Stakes for two-year-old fillies on Saturday. The Michigan Racing Association hopes to give Detroit-ers a modern new course in 1950, but it has renovated the stands and stables at the Fair Grounds for this meet, and we should think that the crowds and the horsemen will be pleased with these improvements. E. E. Dale Shaffer tells us there now are several hundred * horses on the grounds, among them some lively pros- Wright Takes Wistful View of Oaks Races MRA Opener Enlivens Week in Midwest Traditional Debutante on Downs Program Hirsch Jacobs Views on the Cap Weights pects for the Curtain Up, as the opening feature is called. This stake has 0,000 added, and is at six furlongs. It will be followed on Saturday by the 5,000 Border City Handicap of a mile and a sixteenth for three-year-olds and up. Charley McLennans condition book covers the first 15 days and there is a generous assortment of ,000 and ,500 overnighters. Its the sort of book which should not require a great deal of rewriting. The MRA has some very able men in the key positions, what with McLennan, Boots Dickerson, George Odom and the Ma-honys. and it will offer a splendid program. It will be surprising if turfgoers in the Motor City do not make it an immediate success. AAA The Debutante is the Downs traditional spring test of the new crop of two-year-old fillies, and, usually, it takes a high-class filly to win it. For example, the last three winners were Blue Grass, Bewitch and Acoma. Calumets Duchess Peg won her first venture like a good sort, and Luke Combs trotted out a nice filly called Swing Again, who won her only start back at Keeneland. This one is by Sun Again out of old Susi Q. by The Porter, and Combs doesnt think any more of her than he does of other members of the family. Then, there is Joe Kroecks round little Requested filly, Miss Stephanie, who ran down Radiant in the mud at Lexington. Kroeck likes to think she may turn out as well as Blue Helen. One that showed speed in the winter is Aunt Jayne Z, who set a track mark back at Hot Springs. She is by an hitherto unknown horse named Shakamak and races for James C. "Jim" Ellis, who gives the sum mer meets down at Dade Park. But then, perhaps, the race will develop one capable of beating any of these. AAA The 130 pounds maximum in handicaps seems to have started quite a symposium in turf circles. It would be presumptuous of us to attempt to dictate tracks policies in these matters, or to criticize anyone who doosnt choose to accept a certain weight, and we have no intention of taking any such untenable position. However, we do feel that there is something to be said for Hirsch Jacobs views on this subject, since he has a horse who may be required to carry more than 130. Indeed, it is one of his fondest hopes that Stymie will come back that good. "Lets suppose that the second best horse in a handicap, in which the maximum is 130. gets in with 110 or 112, Jacobs poses. "Something may happen to the topweight that will cause him to be withdrawn. This would make the entire handicap appear pretty silly. For the weights on the starters would vary a great deal with those they would carry under ordinary circumstances. I think it has been well said that there is something erroneous about a handicap which produces a l-to-5 shot." One argument which often is advanced in favor of the maximum is that more than 130 will break down the horses. We notice this one is not advanced by horsemen, however, and those with whom we have discussed the matter think the tracks. far more than anything else, break down the horses. AAA Turf ana: Apprentice Jerry West may lead Downs bugs. His rival, Bill Glisson, is going east. . . . Final statistics on Keeneland show the average daily attendance off only 14 persons, the average play 0,000. . . . The decline is in per capita play. . . . Tre Vit does well lor a rheumatic mare, and is training to meet Coaltown or whoever in Chicago sprints. . . . The MRAs directorate includes 11 breeders, among them Wright. Shaffer, Mcllvain, Knight, Combs and little Pete Widener. . . . Woodvale will race a division in New Jersey.
