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R E F L E C T I O N S B* nelson dunstan NEW YORK, N. Y., May 21,— Delaware Park will throw open its gates next Saturday for a 32-day meeting that will offer fans in Wilmington and neighboring cities the highest brand of flat racing and steeplechasing. Those in attendance, on opening day will immediately note that the grandstand and clubhouse have been enlarged and that the seating capacity has been increased by about 65 per cent. Other new features at the Wilmington track will include a reserved seat section, earlier post time and more frequent train service. The total outlay in stake money this year will be 05,000 • and that has been spread over 15 events, five of which are for steeplechasers and hurdlers. The three richest events of the meeting will be the 5,000 Kent, for three-year-olds at a mile and a sixteenth on Saturday, June 11; the 5,000 New Castle Handicap on June 18, for three-year-old and older fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth, and the 5,000 Sussex Handicap for three-year-olds and older horses at a mile and a quarter on June 25. The Leonard Richard Stakes, for three-year-olds on July 2, and the Delaware Oaks for three-year-old fillies on July 4, both have 0,000 in added money and both are .at one mile and a furlong. AAA The Kent at Delaware on June 11 will conflict with the 5,000 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park and the question is, "Who goes in what?" Many of the top three-year-olds are eligible for both events and the lists include the Maine Chance Farms Mr. Busher, who was considered second only to Blue Peter as the two-year-old champion of 1948. While in South Carolina this winter, Mr. Busher struck himself while rolling around in a •sandpit and, as a result, had to be taken out of all the early spring classics He is now training soundly and will soon be up to a race. As the Belmont is at a mile and a half, the Maine Chance contingent may decide to -send this son of War Admiral to Delaware for the Kent. Olym-pia would also appear to be better suited at the mile and Delaware Park Opens Meet This Week-End Kent, Belmont Stakes Both Run on June 7 7 Offer 0,000 Jersey Stakes on Saturday Suburban Drew 64,000 Fans Last Year a sixteenth of the Wilmington race and he could be one of those to go to the post. It seems safe to say that Old Rockport, Palestinian, Ponder and still others who seem capable of negotiating the one and one-half miles will remain in New York for the 5,000 race which is the third leg of the "triple crown." AAA The three most important weeks of the Belmont meeting are still ahead and the coming mid-week feature will be the filly division of the. National Stallion Stakes which, at five furlongs, will be run over the Widener course. Fillies will also hold the spotlight next Saturday when the 0,000 Coaching Club American Oaks, at a mile and three-sixteenths, will have its thirty-third running. This event, which so often points out the champion three-year-old filly, closed with 98 nominations and although Myrtle Charm was not named, practicallyevery top miss of that age and sex in the East is eligible. Calumet Farms Wistful, winner of the Kentucky and Pimlico Oaks, is a certain starter and shapes up as the one they, will all have to beat. Among those who will oppose her is Herman Delmans Flower Bed, who is now back in the best of form as she demonstrated by winning the sixth race at Belmont yesterday. Practically the same fillies who are named for the Coaching Club are also eligible for the 0,000 Delaware Oaks which will be the feature event at the Wilmington track on July 4. Myrtle Charm is not named for this event either, but Maine Chance may have a coldrbearer in Admiralla. In this event, as in the Coaching Club. Wistful shapes up as the decided favorite. AAA Garden State Parks successful meeting reaches its peak on Saturday with the running of the 0,000 Ran- cocas Stakes for two-year-old fillies and the 0,000 Jersey Stakes for three-year-olds at one and one-quarter miles. Practically every one of the leading sophomores of the season are eligible for the Jersey and with its strategic placing two weeks after the Preakness and twoeeks before the Belmont, it should draw a fine field to the post. The meeting at Camden will close a week from Monday with the running of the William Penn, a five-furlong race for two-year-old colts and geldings. After the closing of Garden State, there will be a lapse in New Jersey racing until June 20 when Monmouth Park will open for its summer season that will " extend through August 10. This meeting will clash with that at Saratoga and so, too, will the Atlantic City meeting which will open on August 11 and continue to October 1. This year, Garden State Park will stage two meetings and the second one will open on October 3 and then bring the New Jersey sport* to a close on October 26. A A A Suburban Day has always been one of the most popular of the New York season and the main reason for that is that it is Decoration Day. Last year almost 64,000 fans were on hand at Belmont Park to see the filly, Harmonica, defeat Stymie and four other older horses. While the crowd may not reach that high figure a week from Monday, it is certain that one of the largest throngs of the season will be on hand for the 0,000 event and especially so if Coaltown goes to the post. The weights are to be released by racing secretary John B. Campbell Monday, and, needless to say, the fans will eagerly scan them to see what the Calumet speedster has been assigned and what concessions have been given those who will oppose him. Handicappers are of the opinion that if Coaltown answers the bugle, he will have the event at his mercy. But the question of his starting depends solely on the weight he will be asked to carry. Only 48 were nominated for this race which* is generally regarded as the premier handicap event of the American turf. Among those on the list of eligibles are Better Self, Loser Weeper, Mount Marcy, Doubtless n., Bug Juice, Vulcans Forge, Three Rings, Pilaster, Conniver and others.
