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JUDGES STAND bycharles hatton DETROIT, Mich., June 4.— The local division of the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association will have an election of officers on Thursday, and it is indicated representatives of the organization will meet with Michigan Racing Association executives the following day to discuss purses. Walter Coleman, a very fair and competent representative of the HBPA, observes that "The horsemen have the utmost confidence In E. E. Dale Shaffer." We think that Shaffer showed clearly enough it is merited when the MRA maintained its distribution at its first meet at tl.: Fair Grounds. And it is understood that there was an agreement concerning distribution many weeks ago, based on the 1950 business in the area. Among other questions which usually come up in these conferences is that of an equitable purse minimum. It has been increased in several areas as the trend soared. Of even more importance to the development of the quality of the sport is the graduation of purses to be more commensurate with the actual worth of the horses. There is something economically unsound about a minimum which enables 1,500 horses to race for purses worth as much or more than themselves. In Maryland and at Garden State Park, Narragansett and Lincoln Downs there is a rule that horses that couldnt win for ,500 or more since July of last year are disqualified from competing. Detroit contemplated the rule this year, but probably wont put it in effect until 1952. We think that other major tracks will adopt this regulation in future seasons. In this way some of the bad horses will be eliminated. The process might be expedited were tracks to adopt Max Hirschs suggestion of writing fewer weight allowances for cheap horses. AAA ■w Detroit racing appears to be on a sound footing at Lansing, where the legislative hopper was refreshingly free of measures affecting the sport at the session just concluded. The Michigan law provides a take of 11 per cent, of which the tracks share is 6. Racing interests think it would be nice were the clubs afforded 7 per cent to help developing the sport, but not at an increase in MRA Contemplates Rule Against Bad Horses Racing on Very Sound Footing in Detroit Pur Sang Prospect for Arlington Classic Busanda Adds Interest to Rich New Castle the overall "take." Chicago tracks share is 8 per cent of a total of 13. There is an example of the consequence of an exorbitant "take" in neighboring Canada. It has stifled Canadian racing, though it was competition with the Fair Grounds that precipitated the decline of Devonshire, Windsor Park and Kenilworth just across the river. If you have wondered whatever became of them, Windsor now is a public park, the Kenilworth stand razed, the track now is a training center for the Kenilworth Farm horses, and the Devonshire stand burned. Kenilworth was the scene of Man o Wars match against Sir Barton. Detroiters supported high class racing at these neighboring tracks, wagering an average of 00,000 daily. AAA Lincoln-at-Washington patrons saw Pur Sang recover the form he showed in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last fall when he won the recent Peabody Memorial. His success occasioned a good deal of rejoicing here, for he is owned by Rueben "Ruby" Kowell, the well-known proprietor of Detroits Seward Hotel; Kowall purchased the colt privately from Keene Gurnee last season, for a reported 0,000, and he was well bought, though he hadnt won in 10 starts in a pillar-to-post campaign coming up to the Peabody Memorial. By a rather unprofitable coincidence Count Turf had a similar 1951 record going to the post for the Kentucky Derby. Pur Sang was raced in the Motor City last ylar and may reappear in a special event at Hazel Park. John Bell, who has experimented with inbreeding to prepotent mares, will be interested that Pur Sang is inbred to Jeanne Bowdre, a foundation dam of the late Jack Keenes stud He is a more successful performer than was his sire, Side Boy, to whom he has attracted some attention. Pur Sang now is trained by the versatile Johnny Zoeller. who used to ride for George Widen er, and managed the Alsab Farm. The colt has shown a choppy way of going at % times, but as Johnny Gaver has observed, he usually finishes running. Pur Sang is a candidate for the Classic and American Derby during the brilliant Arlington and Washington season. AAA Deleware Parks 0,000 New Castle gained some interest when Oeden FhiDDs Busanda became one of the few of her sex ever to win a Suburban. It was probably the most historic thing that has occurred thus far in the 1951 turf season. "Busanda is no stranger to Delawarians, as she won there last summer, and she fancies the mile and a quarter route of the New Castle. She is among the last horses -bred by the late Col. E. R. Bradley, though owner Ogden Phipps is recorded as her breeder under Jockey Club rules. Some years ago the master of Idle Hour Farm, casting about for an outcross, decided to breed several mares to War Admiral. This happy inspiration resulted in Bee Mac, Busher, Striking and Busanda. When they were two-year-olds and Striking was winning races, some of those about Mr. Fitz training establishment thought Busanda might eventually prove the better mare. Skeptics were reminded that there is always "a better one in the barn." This is one instance in which it was true. AAA Turf ana: The MRA proposes a race weekly for Michigan-owned horses. . .Tommy Barrow had four sets of riding instructions on Golden Bolt the other day. He followed Mrs. George Krehbiels and won a race the mare apparently had lost in a, photo-finish. . .Detroit Parks Memorial Day crowd of 28,063 was a new track record. Cars lined the highways for two miles as the second race went postward. . .Mrs. Alice M. Moore writes that The Dudes book already is half filledfor 1952. . .The MRAs George- Haggarty is a former basketball star. . .Pimlicos Black Eyed Susan should assume more importance as a shorter race. . .Entries still come slowly at Detroit. Several horsemen have been clever enough to take advantage of the situation, winning races in the absence of better horses that are waiting. . .Billy Evans, general manager of ~ the Detroit Tigers, and Red Jones, former American League umpire, were recent MRA visitors.
