view raw text
JUDGES STANDI By Charles Hatton 1 Suggest Pimlico Operate as Non-Profit Track • j Maryland Studs Stage Baby Parade Today See Successful Meeting at Delaware Park Mahoney May Win United States Senatorship PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 14. For several weeks now, there has been a growing sentiment here in the Baltimore area in favor of operating Pimlico on the non-profit basis of Delaware Park and Keeneland. On Monday night, Charles W. Williams, a Maryland breeder, outlined to members of the HBPA a plan to be submitted to Pimlico trustees, calling for a non-profit organization with all profits going to. charities after all indebtedness and operating costs are paid. To the writing, it has not been formally presented Pimlico heads. General Reckord read of the proposal and said, "Speaking entirely "for myself, I must say that the general outline parallels thoughts that I had had on this matter for some time." Vaughn Plannery, treasurer of the Maryland Jockey Club, is of much the same mind in the matter. How major stockholders, such as John Schapiro/Bob Kleberg, Arnold Hanger, John and E. Barry Ryan, C. E. Tuttle and Alfred Van-derbilt will feel about it we do not know and shall not attempt to guess. There are some interested parties who consider it an idyllic dream, subject to rude awakenings when exposed to realistic legalities. Reckord opines that if such a plan as Williams outlined were to be successful, it would be necessary, among other things, for the mayor and city council to rezone the 25 acres adjoining the track, changing it from residential to commercial. As you doubtless know,. Pimlico has plans for large-scale reconstruction when federal regulations permit. There is also a question in many minds if the authorities would sanction Pimlicos reconversion to a non-profit track after all these years of operation under the usual tax set-up. But those who favor the plan declare, "Where there is a will there is a way." Whatever all this discussion of ways and means of advancing Pimlico racing comes to, this corner feels confident that its future is secure. The sport on the traditional Hilltop has become an institution to Baltimoreans, and the success of the present meeting, despite some inauspicious weather, dates conflicts and the plants archaic facilities, is very significant. Marylands yearling shows are fun and there are 81 entrants for the eighteenth annual "baby parade" on the clubhouse lawn here tomorrow morning. Our Blue Grass neighbor, Charley Kenney, will be the judge, making any future appearances in the Free State incognito. A. G. Van-derbilt frequently wins these things, because the yearling progeny of Discovery always are substantial specimens, and he has six Sagamoreans in the show this spring. C. E. Tuttle, Ray Bryson, Bruce Livie, Arthur Hullcoat, Jouett Shouse, Walter Edgar and Alan Clarke also are among the exhibitors. Maryland stallions represented are Discovery, Occupy, The Rhymer, Grand Slam and High Lea. An increasing number of Maryland mares have been shipped to Kentucky for the breeding season in late years however, and the get of the local progenitors shall have to outlook colts and fillies by such Blue Grass sires as Polynesian, First Fiddle, War Relic, Shut Out, Our Boots and Alsab to win. The judges at these shows make their selections without benefit of knowing the entrants pedigrees, who bred them and so on. One of the best race horses to come out of the Maryland show in recent years is Senator Joe, who did not win the "blue," but recently set a track mark at Pimlico. Willie duPont judged Wise Scholar best of the Timonium show yearlings in 51, and Princess Lygiar won the Virginia exhibit in 50. So sometimes the best-made yearlings are among the best race horses. On the Pimlico program Thursday afternoon is a ,500 purse, _,. called the "Back Again," which is for two-year-olds shown at last springs yearling show. People have said some inexpensive things of the general quality, or lack of it on the part of Maryland-breds. To say they do not compare with the Kentucky product is a little, like saying Hill Gail is • , not another Citation. The Free States bloodstock industry is less commercialized than Kentuckys, most of the local breeders rearing horses for the pleasure they afford them. Delaware Park will attract many of the strings now active at the Maryland Jockey Club meet, along with some from New York. Others racing on the "Old Hilltop" will be campaigned at Randall Park and Waterford. Don Ross and his associates -in nearby Delaware Park hardly can help being optimistic patronage will justify the increases announced in their distribution. Not only is the trend upward, but the Delaware Memorial Bridge makes it easily accessible to motorists from the Jersey side. The Stanton meet opens May 29, running 33 days through July 5. Delaware, again will offer assorted steeplechases, and play on these events in New York is gratifying. One of the non-profit clubs most important stakes, the Delaware Oaks on June 21, this season will gross about 0,000. Real Delight and Whirla Lea are conspicuous absentees, but Rose Jet, Sufie, Parading Lady, Landmark, Flynet, Cinda, Big Mo and others assure a crack field. Turf ana: George Mahoney, who headed the Maryland commission during a stormy interlude in the states sport, recently won a primary for U. S. senator from Baltimore County, and many think him odds-on to win the election. He is a friend of racing. . . . Pimlico goes in for colorful touches in presenting its sport. On "Black-Eyed Susan Day," the outriders braided several of the states flowers into the tails of their mounts. . . . The horsemens strike in Illinois is not the only one which concerns track operators. There is also the gas strike. This could work a hardship on country courses. . . . The Wall Street Journal recently made a prophecy the federal restrictions on racetrack construction would be relaxed this week. . . . Joe Cascarella, secretary-treasurer at Laurel, was a Pimlico press box visitor. . . . Yancey Christmas may farm out his stallion, Rough Pass, a winner in good company from" five and a half to a mile and a half, and Bimelechs rival in a Pimlico Futurity. He has had a very few mares, is reputed to be a potent horse. Might interest new breeders in new western racing states. . . . Ben Jones said after the Black-Eyed Susan, "I wish she Real Delight were in the Preakness." .... We had the impression she could, as . Eddie Arcaro estimated, have won it in 1:49, though that is well under the 1:5056 track record.
