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JUDGES STAND *y CHARLES HATT0N Lincoln-at-Washington enjoyed a successful opener, considering the cold rain which fell on the first of its 30 days. Up to now the Chicago, season has gone very well, with Sportsmans play up 1 per cent and the attendance 2 per cent. Perhaps this meet also will be concluded on the brighter, or "plus" side of the Trend of Racing, with a bit of luck in the weather. The play last summer averaged 05,403 and the crowds 12,484. Unlike some other clubs, those in Illinois are not threatened by adverse legislation, so that they can proceed with plans for the season in some confidence. There is an off-the-course betting bill, but it does not seem to have much support. Yesterdays Crete drew a high-class field and general manager Pete ODonnell expects that some of the livelier two-year-old colts will turnup in Saturdays 0,000 added Joliet Stakes. Go Jeep Go, an eligible for Wednesdays Lansing at Detroit Fair Grounds, also is in the Joliet, which is, incidentally, the first two-year-old stake of the Chicago season. Others of more or less promise that may start are Black Sambo, Curtice,. Wisconsin Boy, Dominion, Air Mail and Sigh Man. It will take a genuine stake horse to win it. A A A Chicagoans will be interested that Ponder is coming here before many days, to train for engagements in Arlingtons Classic and Washingtons American Derby. Calumets luck in these events hardly is so traditional as it is in the Kentucky Derby, nevertheless it has managed to win its share with Pot o Luck, Twilight Tear, Citation, Whirlaway and Fervent. By the way, the pedigree experts do not appear to attach any importance to it, but there is a certain similarity in the pedigrees of Calumets 1948 Chicago Attendances, Play Looking Up Ponder to Race at Arlington, Washington Royal Oak Features First Week at Detroit Lincoln, Fair Grounds Sharing Jockeys and 49 Derby winners. Each is a grandson of the Epsom Derby winner, Hyperion, Citation through his dam, Hydroplane II., and Ponder, through his sire, Pensive. The Hyperions usually stay well enough, though some of them have had rather shelly feet, not unlike the Star Shoots. We are assured that neither Citation nor Ponder has inherited this characteristic. .Up to now American breeders have not seemed particularly excited about Pensive, though English visitors to Calumet always say nice things about his pedigree, and one even considers shipping a mare to the U. S. to be bred to him. Ponder could not run down the Preakness field, but there is a theory that the mile and a half of the Belmont Stakes, on the big Nassau County course, will be more suitable for him. « A A A The Royal Oak on Saturday is easily "The Race of the Week" at the Detroit Fair Grounds. It isnt every day a three-year-old filly can run for 0,000, and it will be surprising if the new MR A stake doesnt have a high class field. Perhaps Mrs. Dale Shaffer will start the-one-to-beat, in The Fat Lady. At any rate she shipped to the Fair Grounds in good fettle, if a bit lighter than she was when she ran second in the Kentucky Oaks at the same mile and a sixteenth route. Several years ago Coldstream was interested in buying Harriet Sue privately for the stud. Nothing came of it, however, so the Shaffers bought her sister for 5,000 at the yearling sales, named her The Fat Lady for little Candace Shaffer, and it may turn out they got the better filly, after all. Among her rivals is the Sabaths filly, Alsabs Day, who was injured at Hialeah last winter, but has been training pretty objectively. Then there is Louie Haggins high strung little Stole, who has yet this spring to quite run her race. AAA Churchill Downs leading rider, apprentice Jerry West, is to join the Detroit jockeys at the end of the Louisville meet. West rides for Harry Bensinger, is a native of Derbytown, and developed quite a following there. Benny Civitello already is active at the Motor .City, and he is a good deal better than a lead pad, as they say along shed row. The MRA has indicated that it plans to continue races for apprentice riders, except that there will be fewer of them than in the past. The journeyman jockeys took a rather dim view of the races for bug riders, just as youd think, but they developed some new riding talent. The veteran, Tony Skoronski, has been riding at the top of his form here in Chicago, and was the leader back at Sportsmans Park. Steve Brooks will be here to handle the Calumet horses during Arlington and Washington. Neither of these boys is "in restraint of trade" in the "tote" department. AAA Turf ana: Tall Weeds half-brother," Blenweed, is a winner of 51 races. . . . H. P. Headley may have a starter in the Royal Oak. . . . Lincoln Fields is renovating its clubhouse. . . . Detroits turf course is in putting green condition for the Michigan Mile. . . . Charles Kenney is a member of the MRA. . . . Train fare from the Loop to Washington Park influences the play. ... The club has one of the most elaborate of fire protection systems at any U. S. course. . . . The Homewood track also has improved the streets in nearby villages. . . . Shy Guy is a prospect for Detroits Alger Memorial on Decoration Day.
