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. — Connors Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS Chief of Chart Correspondents BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 24. — The coughing epidemic which raged in this area " during the past two . weeks weeks upset upset training training weeks weeks upset upset training training schedules and racing engagements. Racing secretary John B. Campbell, following ,a complete survey of the situation and the subsequent rearrangement of training schedules, came up with the suggestion that all races for maiden two-year-olds be limited to four and and one-half one-half furlongs furlongs and and one-half one-half furlongs furlongs and not at five as printed in the book. This suggestion was immediately put into effect and trainers who have these precocious youngsters in their care voiced heartfelt thanks. While the distance, to the average racegoer appears a trivial one, that same span in a two-year-old race is quite a distance. The coughing epidemic that visits these parts every spring affects two-year-olds more than older horses, and, so far, the efforts of veterinarians, scien-. tists and others concerned with a cure or preventative have been stymied. • Eddie Hodgson, who until he became affiliated with Daily Racing Form as a clocker, was a trainer and for years had in his care the horses of the late J. L. Holland. This men a ere included some good ones, notably Ramoneur, and others of that type. Hodgson had each year nursed his charges through the spring ailments and finally decided to do something about the situation. He was stabled at Jamaica and when ready to leave for the Empire City meeting and then on to Saratoga for the month upstate, figured out that he would have ample time for the experiment he had in mind. He called in carpenters and had them seal off every aperture in the stable. Then came a crew of exterminators loaded with all types of disinfectants and Other vermin killers. The stall floors were torn up and treated, with a solution of creosote, the chemical that is used to prolong the life of poles and other wood supports in water or when set in the ground. Then came the "big deal," the crew in charge of the exterminating job, rigged up a series of hose lengths to pumps set on a truck. The fumes were pumped into the sealed-off barn. In a few minutes a stream of rats, big as cats, found methods of exit, but their lungs, saturated by the fumes, collapsed and in a few seconds they were dead. The resulting examination revealed many types of germs carried by these unwelcome guests. The barn was kept sealed off for 24 hours and then men covered with modified gas masks entered the structure and lighted sulphur candles in every stall. Another 24 hours were required for the candles to burn out, but the barn was kept sealed for a month, and_then aired out before the horses returned from Saratoga. Hodgson reported that for several years he was not bothered with any type of illness and his veterinary bills were confined to treatment for injuries sustained on the track or in races. This treatment if applied to barns in this area might help along in the battle against disease and at the same time prove invaluable for it would get rid of a great number of rats, those carriers of disease. The cost today is higher than when Hodgson used the cure but in comparison to the purse values and value of thoroughbreds would prove a cheap investment. Mr. and. Mrs. John Hertz were on hand for the afternoon and he expressed himself pleased over the return of the Derby winner, Count Turf, to -training. The Amiel colt was under the weather, due to coughing . . Jockey H e d 1 e y Woodhouse will journey to Garden State Park on Memorial Day to ride Steadfast, owned by the Brookmeade Stable, in the Jersey Stakes . . Howell Jackson made the trek from below the Mason-Dixon line for a few days racing. He has a draft of horses in training in charge of Willie Post Trainer Dolly Byers will ship the worlds record holder, The Pimpernel, owned by William Goadby Loew, to Delaware Park for his engagement in the Christinia Stakes. . .Tea-Maker, owned by F. Am-. brose Clark, will be a starter in the Wilmington, to be run at that track on opening day. . Trainer J. P. Watts was discharged from the Man Immaculate Hospital, Jamaica, and visited the T. C. Melrose stable at Aqueduct. He will resume his duties next week as trainer of the Cleveland bonif aces horses Trainer Roscoe Troxler moved over to Garden State with Spindle, Kroesette and Tea-neck Flyer to race at that track. During Continued on Page Thirty-Nine j Connors Corner | Continued from Page Five his absence R. H. "Specs" Crawford will be in command of the division at Jamaica. Maurice OLeary came over from Jersey City to witness his two-year-old, Sir Oreek, perform in the Milliners Purse yesterday. He was accompanied by his. wife and daughter. Trainer John Gaver has decided to let up on the Greentree Stables Big Stretch for a brief while. . .There was something added to the scale room overnight. A shelf was built for the convenience of valets, who have to change jockey tack at weighing time. Heretofore that operation was completed on the floor. . . Joe Boyle came on from French Lick Springs, Ind., after witnessing the closing of that noted resort of yesteryear. . .Jockey Eric Guerin will be up on H. P. Headleys Jumbo in the Withers . J. Kingsley Macomber, a steward at Santa Anita, was among the afternoons visitors. He plans to remain for a week or so . . . Preston Burch reported that the Preakness winner, Bold, owned by the Brookmeade Stable, had arrived at Belmont Park in splendid condition. The trip from Pimlico was made by van. He also reported that a draft of 15 horses owned by the New York patroness had been shipped to Delaware Park in charge of trainer Joe Kramer to race during that meeting. Burch was highly pleased with what he regards as a Preakness present which arrived today. The gift was a tie from his daughter, who with her husband is in Hong Kong, China, on official business. . .The second issue of the overnight condition book for this meeting was released this morning . . The rain and windstorm which visited these parts last night left its imprint on the racing strip but fortunately did little damage to j the buildings, trees or shrubbery, with no flooded stables or cellars . .Trainer Sol Rutchick was highly pleased with the return of Count Turf to training. He stated that he will have the colt ready for his Belmont Stakes engagement and Conn Mccreary will do the riding. The selections are: TEOMPETA in the second; SONNY STIEFEL in the seventh, and EDNAS CHOICE in the eighth.
