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•JUDGES STAND *y charles hatton LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 10.— "Its really remarkable," Paul Ebelhardt was saying, "the attention Ben Jones pays to detail. For instance, on Derby day, he handled Ponder just as if he were running Citation. He walked the colt from the barn around the track with a pony, to let him have a look at the noisy crowds hanging on the rail, and the boys perched on the sheds. Old Ponder sort of leaned on the pony the first furlong, finally decided nobody was going to hurt him, relaxes and came to the paddock ready. Ben didnt want him in there, either, too early or too late, which would have been an imposition on the others, checked the time the bugle would blow, and timed everything to the steenth degree. Those little things pay off. Some thought it a mistake to have 130 pounds on the colts back 25 minutes before post time. All it did was flex his back muscles and make him eager to have the tack back on, to go out there to do some running." fonder was the only entrant to walk over the course before the Derby, as his sire before him was in 1944. By the way, Ebelhardt notes that Ponders dam, Miss Rushin, was bred at Calumet, showed no particular promise in her yearling trials, was fired that fall and reserved for breeding. The Wrights bought her dam, Lady Erne, from A. B. Hancock for ,000 in 1937, when she was in foal to Blenheim IT. Lady Erne now is 15, and was sold to Frank Frankel for 0,500 at the Keeneland fall sales a couple of years ago. She has a bay yearling Blenheim II. colt who is a brother to Miss Rushin. Ponders dam has a yearling Sun Again filly, is past due to foal to Priam II., and, of course, is to be returned to Pensive. AAA Jimmy Kilroe was here several days in the interests ~ of the Arlington-Washington meets and tells us that he plans to fly to Chicago at the end of Belmont on June Jones Attention to Detail Pays Off No Shortage of Horses Seen In Midwest Floridians See Benefits of Racing Dollar Mrs. Lehmanns Namesake Flashes Speed 11. "This will give me about a week in which to check reservations, before the opening at Arlington," he said. "And I should then have a pretty clear idea of the horses well have to make up the cards." In case you hadnt noticed, the Downs entries often are slow closing, and this was particularly true of Derby Day overnighters. We should have thought they would be eager to run that day. There are a record number of horses on the grounds, but a good many of them appear to be only training here. Other tracks have the same problem each spring: and Kilroe wonders if purse values are the solution, since maidens ship out of New York to run for purses ,000 cheaper. Racing material in the Middle West will be spread a bit thinner, when Detroit Fair Grounds opens on Friday, and the opening of Lincoln-at-Washington nears. More of the horses may then be ready to run. * A * Sam McCormick and Everett Clay of the Hialeah club were visitors over the week-end, and we learn that plans already are going forward for the next season there. Florida is one state in which the residents are well aware of the value of what is called "the racing dollar." Recently an illustrated pamphlet was published, to show some of the civic benefits of racing revenue. Mostly it goes for school systems, highways and the OAP fund. But each county may spend its share in the way it chooses, and four built hospitals, 10 built court houses, 13 built new jails, and other paved the streets in the county seat and built a water works. Perhaps the turf interests in other states might take a leaf from Floridas book, so to speak, and show residents that the sport is not the "drain on the community" it is frequently painted. For one thing, Kentucky tracks contribute generously to the states educational system, though an anti-racing paper stated that they do not. By the way, Hialeahs crowds showed a slight increase over those of 48, though the per capital play was 4 per cent off, and the club this summer will extend its stand. AAA- Duchess Peg is the first two-year-old B. A. Jones has saddled for Warren Wright this season, and she won her initial start like a nice sort. If it interests you this one is a wide little chestnut filly by Whirlaway out of Some Pomp, and she is a half sister of the Futurity winner and sire, Some Chance. Duchess Peg is an eligible for the 0,000 Debutante on Saturday, and Calumet won this event in 47 with Bewitch. Perhaps it doesnt really matter very much, but Duchess Pegs time in her first venture was a flat minute, which was a shade faster than any of the last seven Debutantes have been run. Incidentally, she was named for Mrs. Otto Lehmann, and the name, The Duchess, was disallowed for her. Lehmann was present to see her first start and watched the race with Warren Wright. The fillys smart showing encouraged her people to think pretty highly about some of her stablemates that have yet to appear. AAA Turf ana: Abram Hewitt will judge four classes at the annual Maryland yearling show, Pimlico, on Thursday. . . . The Fat Lady is a prospect for the 5,000 Tulip Handicap next month at Detroit. . . . Californians here for the Derby have priced some Kentucky horses. . . . Hirsch Jacobs has made stakes nominations at Arlington-Washington. . . . Not many thoroughbreds are faring any better than the quarter horse, Stella Moore, who ran Olympia to a neck in Florida. . . . Wine Lists dam. Fizz II., won minor English stakes. . . . Wistful may appear next in the Pimlico Oaks.
