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BETWEEN RACES *y 0SCAR 0TIS ARCADIA, Calif., June 10.— The current year in the West promises to be of the "vintage" type insofar as apprentices are concerned. Not in a long time have so many promising youngsters turned up in the saddle, and at long last, since the outbreak of the war, to be exact, the production of "bugs" seems to be returning to normal. The West, of course, is pardonably proud of its " record in the development of top -flight pilots. Their names are so numerous as to lack space for listing, but you can start the list with Eddie Arcaro, and go on from there, if you so desire. There is no question but that Gordon Glisson is the best pilot developed on the Pacific slope since the war, a conviction strengthened by the boys brilliant riding at Keeneland. Churchill Downs, and more recently in New York. Glisson, of course, had been a standout in California before embarking for greener fields east of the Rockies, leading the league, for instance, during the rather competitive Santa Anita track last winter. California fans already, however, are looking to a lad from Caliente and who has made his debut here at the transplanted Hollywood Park meeting, to replace him as the kingpin "bug" when the Glisson allowance expires early next month. This is a Phoenix-bora 16-year-old named Glen W. Lasswell, son of the veteran rider. A Vintage Crop of Apprentices in the West Caliente Development, Lasswell , Held Tops Northwest Also Has Excellent Bug Roster Billy Lasswell. The boy set some sort of a record at Caliente the other Sunday, riding four winners on the day he broke his maiden. Jimmy McGill, presiding steward at the Mexican border track, in the absence of George W. Schilling, who is currently on the Canadian prairie circuit for the summer, says Lasswell is without doubt one of the most able apprentices he has ever seen. AAA McGill bases his observation on the innate intelligence of the lad as displayed during the first race he won. Lasswell appeared to ease out of close quarters on the backstretch, came around his field to win anyway. McGill questioned him after the race and asked if he hadnt been in a bit "tight." "No sir," responded Lasswell promptly, "I saw a jam developing and said to myself I had no business up in there so I eased back before I could get into trouble." C. L. Clayton, the San Ysidro breeder Gipsy Minstrel, who owns the Lasswell contract, says that on the surface, he might be criticized for starting the boy off too soon, but that such criticism does not take into account the long apprenticeship put in by the boy. Lasswell learned the fundamentals on what might be termed "spare time." Every morning, before school hours, he reported to the Clayton farm near San Ysidro and galloped horses, and each afternoon, when school was over, came back for more education. Lasswell has broken a number of yearlings, and has been tossed countless times, but he never failed to remount and finally master the horse. In addition to the close supervision of Clayton, Lasswell learned a lot from the veteran rider, Frank Wilbourn, and Ralph DeBelloy, who advised him from time to time along the line and helped him correct his few mistakes. Lasswell is short and stocky, rides at 102 pounds. For one so small, he has comparatively tremendous hands* but the chances are he will "not get big." AAA Up in the Northwest in recent days no less than four budding novices have graduated into full-fledged apprentices, and such a competent judge as Bill Kyne advises that the quartet makes up a likely group. The boys to reach the charmed circle for the first time are Al Ventrella, Bud Giacomelli, Sam Massaro and Eugene Gifford. Ventrella, from Staten Island, New York, has barnstormed the nation for the last two years, finally began to get the knack of things under the Kyne klieg. lights. Giacomelli, 23, is from the cow country near Continued on Page Thirty-Nine BETWEEN RACES I By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty Sonoma, Calif., and handles himself like a veteran. Massaro, of Chicago, had galloped horses for five years before he got his big opportunity to ride. Gifford, just turned 16, received his education with horses in the tall weed sector of Idaho, an area becoming known in the West as "Parke Acreage," in reference to the multitude of Parkes who made good, first as riders, and more lately as trainers or officials. These boys will continue their educational chores at Longacres and probably the early fall meeting at Spokane before trying their luck on the major California circuit. Seattles Pete Pederson sends word that a half-dozen novices are on the grounds at Longacres who have had enough seasoning to be given a chance during the season opening there on the 24th. And it will be an unusual year if Vancouver racing does not produce at least one worthy apprentice prospect. AAA HORSES AND PEOPLE — Portland Meadows, while not shattering many records, is doing all right and will finish its meeting as per schedule. . . . General manager Bill Kyne believes that Portland is "sound" for horses under a long range view. . . . Elmer OConnell, who races at Caliente the year around, has a "small" farm adjacent to the stable area on the backstretch. . . . OConnell has reported three foals to date, all sired by his one-time speed star, Igorote. . . . Two arivals are fillies, produced by Lasahri and Wave OGlory, and the colt is an offspring of Reverse Roll. . . . The three mares campaigned with courage during their racing careers in the West. . . . The OConnell farm, the only thoroughbred establishment in the territory of Baja California, Mexico, consists of spacious paddocks in the back of his private barn in the stable enclosure. ... If Spotted Bull, speed king of the Jaclyn Stable, learns to allow himself to be rated, he will be a definite threat in allArlingtonPark sprints. . . . The Jaclyn Stable, now the sole property of Dr. Leon and Blanche Levy, of Philadelphia, will ship to Atlantic City at the conclusion of the Arlington session.
