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JUDGES STAND by charles hatton It seems that everywhere this tourist goes racing men are. interested to know, "How is Detroit?" We think that the public response to the "Name Horse" racing offered by the MRA is gratifying to the new club, and perhaps a little disconcerting to those who predicted it would leave Detroiters cold. Some of them gaped in wonderment at the "tote" board, and others may have been shut out at the mutuel windows for a few races, owing to the lack of any prodding to "Hurry up and place your bet" over the P. A. system. The parades at the Fair Grounds are limited to nine minutes. Other nice touches are the band in the inner field and a real live bugler, instead of the usual canned music. There is also the presentation of trophies to the owners of the stakes winners. These are on display in the winners enclosure, and are admired on all sides by the crowds. Incidentally, they represent some 0,000 worth of the silversmiths art. Naturally, it takes a little time to accustom the public, to an almost complete lack of "Annie Oakleys," and some of the better customers for these voiced their disapproval of the pay-as-you-go policy, just as you might guess. However, we think that the attendance figures show there are few reactionaries. The clubhouse crowds are large and the demand for boxes far exceeds the supply. We shall not be at all surprised if some of those now enjoying the MRA sport turn up at the ringside here at Keeneland in July, to purchase colts and fillies for next summers meet at the proposed new course. AAA Delegate helped make Lincoln-at-Washingtons opener highly enjoyable for the favorite players when he ran six furlongs past two lakes and a crowd of 9,221 in 1:11 M; in the 0,000 Crete Handicap. This was his third / stake in five starts this season, and we should think it would be pretty difficult to have a better prospect for the 0,000 Steger on May 28. The first days attendance % Public Approves New Detroit Policies Delegate Entertains As Lincoln Opens Downs Closes Successful Meet Saturday Wistful Will Reappear in Middle West was a trifle off last years 11,131, but Pete ODonnell is optimistic that things will pick up when the weather is more settled. The Homewood park never looked more inviting than it does this spring. By the way, we note that racing secretary Larry Bogenschutz, who has found it rather hard to fill Downs races, was able to close them fairly early Monday, and even had some also-eligibles. AAA Col. Matt Winn will close a successful spring meet up the road at Churchill Downs this week-end. The sport these last few days will not be altogether routine, for the 0,000 added Churchill Downs Handicap will bring together a smart field of sprinters on getaway day. These may include Southern Pride, who was prompting Bewitch when she set a track record of 1:10% in the Iuau-gural. Crowds and play at the Downs both were "up" compared to 48 through Derby week. Statistics since the Downs classic indicate that turfgoers in the three Falls Cities still are interested, though some of the horsemen have shipped north. The Churchill Downs Handicap is the clubs oldest spring stake for sprinters, and it has been won by such clever performers as Best Seller, Traff ic Court and Equifox. Coincidentally, the two latest renewals were won by Dark Jungle and George Gains in identical time of 1:25 for the seven furlongs. The venerable Armed, worlds richest gelding, still is on the grounds and a candidate. Everyone, of course, knows that he isnt what he used to be, but he set a busy pace up the backside in the Clark Handicap, and the crowds still cheer him. "She can beat any of the colts," Ben Jones is quoted as saying of Wistful, and a good many of those who saw . the Kentucky and Pimlico Oaks seem inclined to agree. We should think it would be difficult to pick one to beat her in the Coaching Club Oaks. Wistful is coming to Arlington for stakes engagements there, and to Washington Park, after her foray over east. If it interests you, she is by Sun Again out of Easy Lass, who is the dam of Coaltown. "I suppost thats the best broodmare we have," farm manager Paul Ebelhardt estimates. "She has a yearling brother to Coaltown now who is a nice colt." Wistfuls technique differs noticeably from that of Coaltown. Whereas the son of Bull Lea customarily dashes out of the gate like a quarter horse, Wistful is pretty casual leaving the post, but she is an awfully hard-hitting miss from the quarter-pole home. It would be interesting to see Wistful try the colts. There are many rich races exclusively for the three-year-olds of her sex before her at Belmont, Arlington and Washington this summer, however. It probably depends, to some extent, upon how Ponder fares in the colt races. A A A Turf ana: Some of the Detroit sport is televised. . . . Roosevelt Raceway outdrew the Belmont opener, racing under the lights. . . . Charley Kenney was hanging some old portraits of horses in an MRA office. "Better switch these two, they were not contemporaries," Kenney suggested to a porter. "I never heard of them contemporaries. They look like palominos to me!" he replied. . . . Moody Jolley looks for a very successful Keeneland summer sale. . . . Jimmy Jones, in Detroit recently to check the finish camera, anticipates the Florida dates vote will be close. . . . Track day laborers minimum now is .50 and 40 hours weekly. ... Starweed was 18 when Tall Weeds was foaled. . . . "They may outrun her, but they wont outgame her," Pete Battle says of The Fat Lady . . . Piet will be closer when he draws closer to the rail in the gate. . . . Lincoln-at-Washington and the MRA have well-guarded stable areas.
