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J U D G E S STAN D *y charles hatton SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., lune 12. — The Massachusetts Handicap will focus the attention of racegoers everywhere on Suffolk Downs this Wednesday, and the famous New England race may produce the eventual champion of the 1951 handicap division. The ratings in this division now are quite as un certain as they are among the three-year-olds. And we note that handicapper E. B. Pons is of the opinion that the better three-year-olds and older horses have about the same degree of class. Count Turf isnt in "The Mass," but he was nominated for it and was assigned 111 pounds. This is just a pound below the scale. The four-year-old Greek Ship was estimated at 124, two pounds below the arbitrary par for mature horses. Since three others were rated within three pounds of him, it is clear that there isnt now a standout among the Easts handicap performers. This is rather fortuitous, we think, for it suggests sizable fields, an interesting element of contention and good betting races in the many rich handicaps to come. The Massachusetts is a highlight of the New England season comparable to the Santa Anita in California and the Suburban in New York in its public appeal. It has become a racing holiday for Down East turf fans. And the crowds for this sixteenth renewal of the stake will find that John Pappas has added the conveniences and attractiveness of the park since the 1950 running. There are more benches on the lawns in the grandstand area, for instance, and new lawn furniture in the clubhouse section. Whereas the area back of the stands was an expanse of blacktop a year ago, it now has a pleasant little park the patrons enjoy. Pappas is constantly remodelling and landscaping Suffolk, and it now is among the most comfortable and eye-filling tracks in this country. AAA Suffolks match race between apprentices Ralph Massachusetts May Show Handicap Leader Burr, Borgemenke Rivalry Stirs Interest Commission Rule Bars Unsound Performers Sickles Image Is Box Office Attraction Borgemenke and Charlie Burr will have fully as much interest for Yankee racegoers as the match between Shoemaker and Culmone held nationally last fall. Each has a tremendous following here. Borgemenke currently is the leader, but Burrs rooters will tell you that it is only because the latter didnt ride the first two weeks, having sustained a wrist fracture at Gulfstream Park. He was the leading apprentice back at Hialeah. Borgemenke rode his first winner on September 16 of last year at Beulah Park, Burr on September 9 at Fairmount Park, thus their apprenticeships will expire at about the same time. We dont know that the weight allowance is essential to their future success. Borgemenke is riding for Eddie Houghton, while Bull is under Rollie Shepps wing. Shepp is training the River Divide horses for Robert Dienst, who operates the Beulah Park course. AAA The Massachusetts State Racing Commissioners, Thomas Beedem, Allan Macleod and Ira Hamilburg, have a rule similar to that in Illinois barring horses that arent serviceably sound, are known bleeders, have been nerved, trachea tubed, or novocained within 48 hours of a race. Not all states have this rule, but, of course, tracks in those which do not are in a position of ending up with a generous share of inferior racing material. The rule is posted as a notice in bold face type at the entrance of the secretarys office. Many states now have adopted Spencer Draytons suggestion of differentiating between negligence and guilt in drugs cases, and have a minimum penalty of six months. The Massachusetts rule reads that any person "adjusted guilty" shall be for the first offense, punished by being suspended and denied a license; for not less than 18 months, and for a second offense shall be thereafter ruled off and denied a license for life. Massachusetts is not among the states which have acted on the Jockeys Guild suggestion of a ten-day minimum suspension for foul riding. This matter is left to the,, discretion of the stewards. Suffolk, incidentally, has a capable board of stewards in William Almy, Jr., Leo ODonnell, Peter Allen and honorary steward John R. Macomber. Allen represents the commission. AAA Busanda beat the horses in the Suburban and we have a notion How can beat most of the colts, but one wonders if trainer Horatio Luro will be tempted to start her in Saturdays rich Belmont. Clarence Hartwick tells us that he would like to try the colts once with his Sickles Image later in the season. "I thought she handled Fanfare with as much ease as Count Turf did when they met out on the Coast," he observed. Sickles Image is said to be doing well in training for Arlingtons Cleopatra, which is her next objective. She has become a great favorite with the racegoing public in her travels, as she has that indefinable quality called "color," which is an asset to the sport at the turnstiles. Apart from being a brilliant performer, Sickles Image has personality. A horse can manage without it, and indeed many of the best have, but track crowds are fonder of Sickles Image than they are of some that have beaten her. AAA Turf ana: John Pappas new Suffolk office is in the press coop... The inner field lake at the East Boston course has been garnished with swans. . .Former jockey Jimmy Butwell is a patrol judge here. . .A vacation does not appear to have been so beneficial to De Luxe as a change of scenery was for Battlefield. He kicked an assistant starter on returning to action and failed to beat a horse. ..The Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau directs the Suffolk track police . A. B. Hancock, Jr., reports that Shimmer has a brown filly by Black Tar-quin at Claiborne this season.
