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JUDGES STAND by charles hatton SUFFOLK DOWNS, .East Boston, Mass., June 9. — Interest is growing in the Massachusetts Handicap, and with any luck in the weather, the attendance Wednesday may set some sort of record. Several columns ago it was noted that the national increase in track crowds this season now is one 01 some e per cent compared with 50 statistics. John Pappas meet is bettering that average with an increase of 9 per cent. The play is up 18 per cent, which also exceeds the national average by about 4 per cent. All of which is highly gratifying to the East Boston club and suggests to us that it is "putting on a good show." Among other factors, the 36 per cent winning choices has been helpful. It is of particular importance at long meets that arent in resort areas. Thdugh the Massachusetts is by no means the richest U. S. handicap, with 5,000 added, it has the support of prominent Eastern stables and a significance beyond its monetary value. In this connection we note that every one of its winners from the 1935 inaugural through 1948 has been retired to the stud. These include Menow, Fighting Fox, Eight Thirty, War Relic, Market Wise, First Fiddle, Pavot, Stymie and Whirlaway, now under lease to Marcel Boussac in France. No mare has yet won Suffolks most coveted stake, though Gallbrette, Elpis, Fair Knightess and Harmonica placed in it. The Massachusetts was run at a mile and a furlong until 1948, when Pappas increased the distance to the more popular and exacting mile and a quarter route. Cochises 2:01% stands as a challenge to the field in this seventeenth running of the stake. A A A Suffolk is among the Eastern clubs which have constructed turf courses, and this picturesque phase of the sport appears popular with Yankee racegoers. For example, seven ,000 grass horses produced a pool of 5,726 the other day. Ben Lindheimer revived turf course racing on the present scale- and has made it something more than merely a novelty at Arlington and Washington, to where stakes decided on the grass are attracting many Suffolk Increases Top National Averages Turf Racing Proving Popular Down East Swinebroad Optimistic Over 7957 Sales Apprentice Leading East Boston Riders "Eastern "Name Horses." Jack Dress notes that of the 25 official distances at which horses race on the turf in the XJ. S., the records for nine were established at Arlington and Washington. Arlington, Washington, Atlantic City and Monmouth all are placing greater emphasis on grass racing this summer, inspired by their obvious public appeal as reflected in an analysis of play. AAA New England horsemen include several patrons of the yearling sales and we have been asked since our arrival here if we thought the market would be as good as that in 1950, when a grand total of 1,739 colts and fillies made an average of ,920.82. We should think it will be better. And it might be added that auctioneer George Swinebroad shares this opinion. The first major sale is that of four days beginning July 30 at Keeneland and there are some nice youngsters by such proven sires as Mah-moud, Alibhai, Count Fleet, Heliopolis, Eight Thirty and Princequillo that have been "selected." Along with some of the second crop by Payot, and the first by Shannon II. The fashion hx,sires varies. For example, eight colts and three fillies by Princequillo brought an average of ,900 last summer. This didnt quite place him among the 20 leaders on the score of average price per head. But that was before Hill Prince solidified his claim to the three-year-old title and went on to become the "Horse of the Year." And before How emerged as a championship contender. It will be interesting to note what they bring this year. When the first Pavots hit the ground, it was reported here that they were uniformly smooth individuals. That was reflected in the fact six of them averaged ,733. Now that Cigar Maid and The , Pimpernel are "the form" of the two-year-old colts and fillies here in the East, the progeny of the Jeffords stallion are bound to be more popular.. American racing last year developed two outstanding apprentices in the champions, Willie Shoemaker and Joe Culmone. This tourist has noticed that comparitively few apprentices are .registered at tracks in the Midwest this season, and Michigan has revised its rules to provide ~ only a five pounds allowance. The most successful-"bug rider" we have seen is Suffolks R. Borgemenke, who is 20, a product of Cincinnati, now resides in Newport, ana nas riaaen more man ou winners at wus meeting. Another apprentice, C. Burr, is his closest rival for the Suffolk title. There is a theory that the defense program accounts for the thinning ranks of apprentices. They are to meet in a special match race on the Massachusetts Day program Wednesday. Dick Connell remarked to us recently in Detroit thathe hopes to have a quota of them at Hazel Park. A- really clever apprentice helps any meeting. AAA Turf ana: A. B. Hancock, Jr., writes that his new crop of Claiborne foals include "an Ambiorix colt from Black Wave, the dam of Jet Pilot. Also a colt by The Phoenix from the Hyperion mare, Highway Code... Fred Burton inclines to agree with Larry Bogenschutz that Count Turf may prove the champion of his division. . .Glen W. Tom-linson, who resigned his Darby Dan post effective July 31, writes us that he plans a vacation at his place on Buck Lake, Deland, Fla The Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association may move for closed claiming in Kentucky, which now has closed claiming in two-year-old races. . .Sagahash ran to be claimed for ,000 at Waterf ord the other day, while he might be bought privately for 00 cash, according to an advertisement in the secretarys office. . ."Boots" Jones now is showing the Audley Farm colors, made famous by such as Princess Doreen, Easter Stockings and Gallant Knight, at Water- Mord Park. . .The new Chester, W. Va., course once was an- apple orchard, is surrounded by several remaining acres of trees. . .Al Boyle had hoped for a 00,000 daily average play the first meet, is not too disappointed it hast quite attained that sum, feels it only needs time, promotion, education of the public.
