Judges Stand: Colonel Mike Interesting Kent Prospect; MRA States Position on Annie Oakleys; Eppy Ish Reminds Clem of Pan Zareta; Delaware Park Times Reliable Gauge, Daily Racing Form, 1949-06-09

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I JUDGES STAND *y carles hatton STANTON, Del., June 8.— When first the Delaware Park Club decided to offer its 5,000 Kent on Belmont Day, it was felt that condolences were in order, but Saturdays renewal of this mile and a sixteenth event has all the elements of a good [horse race. There was some regret this morning when Olympia was de clared from the race, but it was indicated that Eugene Jacobs Colonel Mike will go, along with Woodvales Lady Dorimar, Greentrees Wine List, William Helis Benve-nuto, Crispin Oglebays Noble Impulse, Edward Laskers Hedgewood and, perhaps, Brookmeades Going Away and one or two others. All of which suggests that it is going to take an interesting amount of winning. Colonel Mike is an improving sort of colt, and he had Ponder straighter than a yard of pump water, so to speak, in the Peter Pan at Belmont. Just before that, he was third when Palestinian ran a mile and a quarter in 2:01% in the Jersey Stakes. We may say that he is a distinct bargain for young Jacobs at the ,500 for v/hich he was claimed as a two-year-old. By the way, he likes to come from off the pace, and he is to have up Conn McCreary, who should fit him perfectly. Wine List and Noble Impulse are among the speediest of the seasons three-year-olds and, if the track is fast, the winner of the 3Kent may have to approximate Natchez stake record of 1:42%. This, incidentally, equalled Plucky Mauds track record. AAA General-manager Bryan Field of the sporty Stanton course takes pretty much the same dim view of "papering the town with passes" as E. E. Dale Shaffer does over at Detroit. Field stated his position in the matter in a guest column here during our vacation. The Michigan Racing Association editorializes a bit on the subject in its programs. Among other things, it makes the point that "The MRA is opening its gates during a time when some tracks are experiencing a decline in their business. Some race tracks in recent years have been content to operate solely on their share of the mutuel wagering. In many racing sections, you can pick up a pass to the track in any cigar store or bar. This is a distinct evil. It lowers the dignity of a great sport. It means that purses are small and that racing is not of as high a caliber as it should be. Michigan Racing Association cannot possibly Colonel Mike Interesting Kent Prospect MRA States Position on Annie Oakleys Fppy Ish Reminds Clem of Pan Zareta Delaware Park Times Reliable Gauge present the type of racing its management envisions if it depends entirely upon the tracks share of the mutuel betting. By adopting sound business methods, by looking to the gate receipts and concessions for our margin of profit, we hope to be able to present the finest in racing to the people of Michigan. . . . We do not pretend that we are offering something for nothing. May the attendance records show that we are presenting a sports spectacle that is well worth the price of admission." AAA Our good friend Clem McCarthy is reminded of Imp and Pan Zareta by our recent note that Happy Issue had won her one hundred fortieth start, and that there is not another. mare among winners of 5,000 or more who campaigned as long and arduously. Clem writes, "If you insist upon using money winnings as a standard of comparison, your point is well taken. Personally, I pass it. A horse -incapable of inhaling Colins dust can win more than 00,000 in seconds and thirds in this frenzied era of finances. Yet Colin, himself unbeaten, could garner only 80,000. Man o War earned only ,950 for walking home in the Belmont, whereas 27 years later, Tide Rips was beaten five lengths by Phalanx in the Belmont and got 0,000 for running second! Youve read enough racing history to know Imp, "The Coal Black Lady." Happy Issue is nine, Imp retired at seven. She also raced against the tops wherever she appeared. Well, at seven, Imp packed 122 in a handicap at Morris Park at a mile and a quarter, and beat Advance Guard, and it was Imps one hundred sixty-sixth start! She not only won her one hundred fortieth start, but eight more." Clem then recalls our old favorite, Pan Zareta, and notes that, "At seven, she not only won her one hundred fortieth start, but two more, and the last one a handicap, under 122 at Latonia. So small were the purses, and so comparatively few the stakes, in their times, that Imp could collect only about 0,000, and Pan Zareta, 9,000. Yet each of them, in six campaigns, ran many more times than Happy Issue has in eight. If you will skip the fair sex, Charlie, Logan won his three hundred thirty-second start, and won 38 races after his one hundred fortieth. And your old friend, Tippity Witchet, won his two hundred sixty-fifth." What Clem is saying is that Eppy Tsh reminds him of some pretty tough horses. AAA Delawares race course is one of the most carefully manicured tracks in the country, and it doesnt vary a great deal from one season to the next, so that we are inclined to take the new track records seriously. Winter Wheat has set the six-furlong record at 1:10% at this meeting. Bridal Shower was near Beaugays five furlongs in :58 when she won a division of the Polly Drummond in :58% in front of no less nimble a runner than is Bed o Roses, who was giving her nine pounds. Bed o Roses had won the Rancocas and National Stallion, was beaten a zip on the post by Rare Perfume in the Fashion, which was run in :51%, just a fraction off the world record. A few days ago at Detroit, we saw High Frequency, who was third in that dash, qualify for the Powder Puff when she ran in :59%, fastest time of the Fair Grounds meet, with impressive elan. All of which tends to bear out the opinion of James Gruber, former jockey, racing official and clocker, that two-year-olds are the most reliable,, as an age group. "Not many of them have been hurt at that age, you know, and usually they will run to their works," he said. AAA Turf ana: The MRA was beset by a whammy last week-end when well-played horses had to be excused from each end of the Daily Double, and there were four pay-offs on the first two races. . . . Vernon Morgan, Reuters sports editor, notes that no "blinker horse" has won an Epsom Derby. Whirlaway may not have won the Kentucky Derby without a one-eyed hood now called a "Whirlaway blinker." . . . Nearco, sire of the Epsom Derby winner, Nimbus, traces to a Lexington mare of an old Georgetown, Ky., family. . . . The MRA track was the scene of a bit of extra curricular sport last week when jockey S. Luce punched apprentice L. C. Cook on their way back to the jockeys quarters. He won that decision, but not the stewards. Seems Cook had him in close in a race. ... Sir Sprite has won 36 races, all at Detroit. But he wins there on the turf course or loam, muddy or dry, sprints and distances. . . . Shivaree and Charivari are racing at Detroit.


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800