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JUDGES STAND *y charles hatton SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., June 8. — This tourist thought Massachusetts Handicap Day one of the most enjoyable of the 1950 season, and Suffolks popular prexy, John C. Pappas, is arranging a good show in presenting ttie seventeenth running of this 5,000 stake next Wednesday. PerhaDs vou recall that last year Don Ross good, gray Cochise won this mile and a quarter event in track record time of 2:01%, as the climax of a program which included a style show, old-time jockeys race, a race for gray horses and a fascinating glimpse "behind the scenes" in the stable area for the public. We liked especially this last extra, added attraction, and thought it one that might well be copied by tracks in other states. And for the same reason Hollywood Parks paddock before the stands strikes us as a good idea. After all, one can wager on anything. The public must be interested in the horses, and in racing as a competition among thoroughbreds representing generations of selective breeding, rather than merely as a gambling device. Thats the sort of thinking which gets racing into trouble. Rappas has arranged for special buses to convey the patrons on a tour of the stable area again this year. The Massachusetts has become a traditional highlight of the New England turf season. And it has brought here such greats as Seabiscuit, Eight Thirty, War Admiral, Whirlaway and Stymie. It is assured a first-rate field again this year, with a possibility that Cochise will attempt to duplicate his success of 1950. Up to now First Fiddle is the only double winner of this event. AAA America has more handicap events than any other country in the world, and perhaps not enough stakes by comparison. The reason for the numerous handicaps is obvious. There were 3,290 racing days last season. The weight differential in stakes is less than in handicaps, and if all the features were stakes we should soon find ourselves running a lot of walkovers and races having minus pools. Speaking of handicaps in general, and the Massachusetts in particular, it is noted that Menow and War Relic were the only three-year-old winners of this event. Massachusetts Handicap Holds Promise Burton Finds Scale Favors Three-Year-Olds West Virginia Racing Well Regulated Golden Opportunities Ahead for How Recently.at Waterford Park we saw a maiden three-year-old, defeated in 40 previous chances against horses of his own age, venture against older runners and win his first race. Commenting on this, the noted handicapper, Fred Burton, remarked that--"It is a fallacy to think that a three-year-old is at a disadvantage against older horses. On the contrary, the weight scale affords them the best of it. I have never known an experienced horseman who shared the theory it is a mistake to run a three-year-old against older horses. The weight scale was drawn up more than a century ago. And racing ever since has proved it tends to favor three-year-olds." This observer has heard Jack Campbell express pretty much the same opinion, especially concerning three-year-olds in the fall. ▲ A: A West Virginia racing is as sanitary as that in any other state, and it is supervised with less friction, tedium and protocol than some other areas seem to think necessary. The Mountain State is fortunate to have an experienced group of commissioners and stewards. The commissioners are chairman Mont W. Mclntire, Frank Brooke and Gordon Fought, and the stewards include state steward Andrew "Snooks" Winters, R. Norman Charlton, Bill Hamilton and Myron Davis. They all work in close harmony, and the commission has been working hard to develop the turf sport in the state. For example, we think that they were strong advocates of the highway improvements which made Waterford possible, and were sure the funds appropriated for this purpose will prove a sound investment for the state. Commission steward Winters also is a state senator. A native of North Carolina, he matriculated at the University ofFlorida, once tried out with a big-league ball club, and some years ago began his career as a racing official at Dade Park. He is, incidentally, a relative of Leslie Combs. Brooke has been a commissioner ever since the state had a commission and is a thoroughbred breeder. Mclntire is almost as well known to football fans as he is in racing circles. He was for some time coach at the University of West Virginia. We know of no commission that devotes more time to the job. A A A How would doubtless be voted the three-year-old filly champion of 51 were a poll taken at this time. Indeed, Herman Delmans Kentucky Oaks and Coaching Club winner is the only divisional leader the writer can see with any clarity the first half of the season. It would be interesting to see her meet the colts in the Belmont Stakes. And she has an opportunity in 00,000 worth of filly races in Delawares New Castle Handicap, at a mile and a quarter June 30, and Arlingtons mile Matron Stakes on July 14. How is a small filly and Senor Horatio Luro doesnt train her hard, but she has much, quality. It appears that tnc only ones of her age and sex with the remotest chance of deposing her are Sickles Image, who was under a vets care joining up to the Kentucky Oaks, and the revitalized version of Aunt Jinny, who trained off in the spring. Filly stakes have been increased this year, and there is a vintage crop to compete for them. AAA Turf ana: Waterford steward Myron Davis hails from Massoula, Mont., and is a former rodeo star. Rode against the fabulous Pablo Martinez. . .Reports have it Massachusetts* Syndney Goldfine put 25,000 into Scarborough Downs in neighboring Maine when it was low on funds, on the assumption he would have a fair chance with this investment. Then came the anti-night flat racing law. One columnist describes the legislation as "a prime example of political hoodlumism". . .Despite repeated warnings on the public address system, some of the verdant Waterford turf goers have destroyed negotiable "tote" tickets. One imagines early days of the meet will result in a large uncashed ticket business. . .The stallion, -Bull Moose, contributes notably to filling the races at the halfers around Maryland and West Virginia . .The routine bill to repeal the racing law appeared briefly in Michigans latest legislative session.
