view raw text
JUDGES STAND by charles hatton ARLINGTON PARK, Arlington Heights, HI., June 25. — The meet on Arlington Heights already has set a new opening-day record for attendance and play, enjoyed one of its best Saturdays last week-end, and the most important racing has yet to come. The Futurity, Lassie, Matron, Classic and 00,000 Arlington Handicap will bring many of Americas finest horses to this course. Of course it is the class of the sport that attracts the crowds and stimulates the play, and the state of Illinois will share in the meetings success. Racegoers will think we are being pretty obvious, but these elementary factors appear to have escaped some of the legislators at Springfield. They have passed one bill which increases the "take" to 14 per cent and breakage, and are giving another serious consideration which would discourage owners from shipping championship performers here. The trend toward increased mutuel tariffs has proven detrimental to both state revenue and high grade competition. And in making that statement we arent just conjecturing or expressing an opinion. The law of diminishing returns has been at work in every area which has an exorbitant "take." For instance, New Yorks "take" was boosted 5 per cent in 1946 to aid local governments "To build roads which go nowhere" as Ashley Cole once remarked to us. During 1946 business at New York track fell off 27 per cent while 21 other tracks about the country showed an increase of 4 per cent. In 1947, national play was down 11 per cent, but that in New York dropped 36 per cent. Similarly in 1948, play was off 18 per cent nationally, 43 per cent in New York State. The authorities then woke up and voted a gradual tax reduction of 1 per cent per year, so that by the end of 55 the 5 per cent will be dissolved. One would think that with such an object lesson legislators elsewhere would be content to profit by New Yorks experience. But here in Illinois they have increased the "take" to develop a lakefront which already has miles of parkways and beaches. This measure combined with the stall bill lends Object Lesson for Illinois Legislators Matron May Prove Richest Filly Race Ever Counterpoint Due for Classic About July 12 Sickles Image form of Chicagos Fillies to beautiful vistas of cheap racing, a decline in public appeal and interest, and a corresponding decline in revenue. AAA Arlingtons Matron may prove to be the richest race of fillies and mares in the history of the sport. If as many as 14 of the 39 remaining eligibles accept handi-capper Jimmy Kilroes weights, this mile feature on July 28 will have a gross value of 2,775. Hal Price Headleys Lithe, who won both the last two Matrons, is eligble again this summer, along with Sickles Image, Aunt Jinny, Shawnee Squaw, Heres Hoping and Bewitch. So far as we know the richest filly-and-mare feature decided up to now was the Beldame of 1949, which had a gross value of 2,200, and yielded Miss Request a net purse of 3,600. Ben Lindheimers increase in the Matrons value hardly will make yearling fillies any less desirable at the forthcoming sales. AAA C. V. Whitneys Belmont winner, Counterpoint, current leader of the three-year-olds, will arrive here from Long Island on or about July 12, according to present plans. "Id like to have him on the grounds at Arlington a long week before the Classic," trainer Veitch observes. "Well probably ship by train. He has always shipped well, and I have never had a more sensible horse." Jockey Dave Gorman, whos part patrol judge, is to have the mount on Counterpoint in the Dwyer, which precedes the colts classic engagement. Veitch, incidentally, considers Counterpoint a more capable horse than was Phalanx, with whom he won the three-year-old championship several years ago. "He is a rather thin colt, but he has better action and more speed," the trainer said. "I should guess he is 15.3, or will be when he matures." Counterpoint ran in blinkers in the Preakness, and the Withers but not very well. Veitch thinks they may have served to focus his attention on racing, however, and adds that he ran like a different horse when they were removed. The New Yorker liked the resolute way in which Counterpoint held on and regained the lead after his kinsman Count Turf passed him int he Belmont. AAA Arlingtons three-year-old fillies shall have to improve to beat Sickles Image, judging from the form of the Cleopatra Stakes here the other day. And Aunt Jinny was the only one of the field that hadnt had a race. The Cleopatra was the sixth success in 10 starts this season for Clarence Hartwicks itinerant filly, and she was second or third in the other four. She is completely imperturbable, which helps her to campaign so consistently. How is eligible for the Matron and the Classic here, but Walter Jeffords told us at Delaware Park recently his Kiss Me Kate has no local engagements. She is training for Saturdays 0,000 New Castle of a mile and a quarter. How is weighted at the top of the three-year-old fillies these days, and her appearance would give the Matron more significance. AAA Turf ana: The Illinois Racing Board and New York Commission has supplied Tokyo Horse Racing Offices with copies of their annual reports and proceedings . . . Dixianas Heres Hoping has not started to date in 51, but is training steadily for the Matron. . .Middle distance racing is proving good business at Delaware Park, where the management has authorized bonuses in extra races of a mile and a sixteenth or farther . . . Sportsmen and breeders are deeply interested in the school for farm managers, such as Greentrees Clarkson Beard suggested. Walter Jeffords has forwarded copies of lectures at a similar school in England. . Allen Brewer is at Stanton, sketching Don Ross Greek Song, 1950 Classic winner. . . The Washington Park Handicap has an estimated gross of 60,000, the Arlington Handicap one of 50,000... Buddy Raines may bring several Brandywine two-year-olds here with Cochise.
