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BETWEEN RACES *y 0SCAR 0T,S ARCADIA, Calif., June 15. — As most people in the West are aware, this section of the nation affords some truly striking contrasts in the way of bloodstock establishments. They range all the way from the Somerton Farm of Wilton Woods, whose horses are raised in a true desert, surrounded by irrigated fields of lettuce to the northern mountain ranches perched on the slopes of volcanic ash from such majestic peaks as Mt. Shasta. You can add to your list of "unusual farms" that of Howard Hawks, the motion-picture producer who breeds on a small .scale, but rather successfully, at a »■ place called "Hog Canyon Meadows." Hog Canyon is unique in that its 160 acres, flatland rimmed on three sides by steep canyon walls, is entirely within the city limits of one of Californias four swankiest communities, namely, Bel Air. Previously, we had thought that the ,000 per acre valuation of the Eucalyptus Farm of Mrs. Dorothy Barrett up in San Mateo was the most expensive bit of real estate in the state devoted to the thoroughbred, but we discover that the Bel Air tax man has tabbed Hog Canyon, in the midst of some of Californias costliest estates, at from 0,000 per acre minimum to 5,000 for some of the choicer sites on the farm. "I hate to move, but Im going to have to," sighs Hawks. "The taxes on this property are simply sky high for a farm." Hawks has three broodmares on the acreage, including Lucky Star, the dam of stakes-winning Star ■ Fiddle; The Bride, dam of the consistent winner Royal | Consort, and Break Up, whose first foal, Dark Hawk, ■ks shown to initial advantage in his current two-year-Hkj form. Hawks Boasts Wests Most Unusual Nursery Tests Yearlings Against Fleet Tame Deer Horatio Luro Plans Extended European Tour Melwood Weanling Sports Perfect Horse Shoe The nearby hills abound with deer, and guests at the Hawks farm, an "open house" virtually every week, are requested not to shoot them. Other hunting is approved, however. There is one deer, in particular, who has been tamed, and has the run of the paddocks along with the yearlings. Indeed, one of the most dramatic sights visitors to Hog Canyon encounter is the deer running with the young thoroughbred stock. The deer holds his own in the impromptu paddock speed trials and, while Hawks will not officially confirm it, it has been hinted that he forms his initial opinion of his yearlings as to how well they travel with the deer. The deer has one advantage in these romps, namely, that he will hurdle small clumps of chapparel instead of skirting them, as do the thoroughbreds. Hawks, incidentally, has just returned from an extended stay in Europe, where he has completed a picture and, until shooting on his next production starts, he will devote most of his time to his racing and breeding interests. Despite the high taxes, the Hawks farm has always showed a profit on its thoroughbred operations. Everything bred at the farm can run, it seems, and in better than ordinary company. Star Fiddle was sold for 5,000 at two, and has proven worth the money. AAA Horses and people; Horatio Luro has booked passage for Europe at the close of the current Hollywood Park-at-Santa Anita, season. The good senor from Buenos Aires will spend much of his time abroad in France, and his purse will be bulging with money earmarked for possible purchases. The Luro string on the West Coast will join the .main division in New York in early August for a concentrated Metropolitan campaign this fall. Incidentally, Luro is quite "happy over an impending major event in his life. He obtains his full American citizenship papers next week. . . . The Harry Curland Catering Company sustained losses in excess of 00,000 in the Hollywood Park fire. Its kitchens were a total loss, plus tons of tableware, etc. . . . Former jockey Lynn Josephson is renewing old acquaintanceship in the Southland. Josephson now lives in Idaho/ where he owns a large packing plant. The boy has made a success of private business, applying himself to economics in the same vigorous fashion in which he rode. . . . Del Mar is stepping into the "classic" picture this summer. The track is offering, for the first time in history, a stakes at two and one-quarter miles. It will be known as the Marathon Handicap. AAA A weanling at Dr. Chester Wilsons Melwood Farm down at San Ysidro has a perfect horseshoe on his forehead. The filly so marked is by Dogaway — Wracket Lady, hence a half-sister to Barnello. The horseshoe, formed by white markings, is in the classic manner, i. e., toe down, so, according to superstition, the "luck will not run out." . . . June Bride, in winning the Oaks, became the thirty-fifth stakes winner to be bred by Louis B. , , pontinued on Page Seven BETWEEN RACES By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty Mayer. A half-brother to June Bride, a chestnut colt by Free France, will be among the 43 Mayer yearlings to go on the auction block late this year. June Bride, incidentally, was the eighteenth stakes winner sired by the late Beau Pere. His last crop in the West, six fillies and two colts, are among the yearlings catalogued by Fasig-Tipton for the final dispersal of the Mayer interests. . . . Rhodes Bull, who has graduated from claimers into select allowance company, will be tried against stakes company in the Cinema Handicap on July 2. The Cinema is for three-year-olds at a mile and one-sixteenth, and is the last three-year-old fixture on the roster here prior to the 0,000 mile and a quarter Westerner on July 9. AAA The Yolo Stable of Santa Barbaras John DeBlois Wack is not named after the California county, but rather for a 100,000-acre ranch in Arizona. . . . George Ring, the California oil man, is more than happy with his 6,000 filly acquisition, Fleet Rings, from the last Keeneland sales, and is returning to the vendues this year. Fleet Rings, a daughter of Count Fleet — Banish Fear, demonstrated extreme courage in her debut here, closing gamely after all but being knocked down near the eighth pole and graduating from the ranks of the maidens at first asking when the winner, Should Reward, quite properly was disqualified for foul. . . . Don Frankel, the Texas turfman, has joined his father, Frank, in New York for a session of Metropolitan sport. Don will return to Hollywood Park in time for the major stakes running.
