view raw text
JUDGES STANDI By Charles Hatton Name Horses Point -for Delaware Features Edward Farrell on Horsemens Investments , Bel Air Makes Innovations for May Meet Arroz Goes West for California Stake Races PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 17. Delaware Park will be the scene of some of the most important racing in this area for 33 days, beginning May 29. Don Ross and his associates offering an attractive roster of 14 stakes events during that period. The non-profit Stanton club is among those sponsoring races for fillies and mares and, indeed, its richest added money event is the climactic New Castle Handicap of 0,000 added for this sex on July 5. It also will renew the Delaware Oaks, at an increased value of 7,500 added. The Delaware Oaks this season attracted a record number of 77 nominees and has an estimated gross value of 0,510. The public seems to like filly stakes and the Oaks at Louisville and the Black-Eyed Susan here at Pimlico developed something of an amazon in Real Delight. She is not in the Delaware race, but it has attracted Parading Lady, Stagestruck, Plynet and others of much promise. Delaware also will renew the 5,000 Kent and the Leonard Richards of 7,500 added, and these events are open to three-year-olds of both sexes. There is a rather interesting prospect that Greentrees Tom Fool will be seen in one of these stakes. Many still want convincing he is not potentially the best of the 1952 three-year-olds, distemper having knocked him out of the Derby and Preak-ness. Greentrees Hall of Fame brought off a double in the Kent and Leonard Richards last summer. Spartan Valor, who is generally regarded as the most horse in the handicap division, is a candidate for the 5,000 Sussex Handicap of a mile and a quarter on the Fourth of July card. And the Georgetown and Indian River Handicaps of 0,000 each are expected to attract the leading steeplechasers again this summer. Altogether, this promises to be one of the best meetings in the history of the Delaware Steeplechase and Race Association. Once upon a time an irate group of horsemen stormed into the general managers office at a Canadian track to "put on the show." The manager was distributing purses in the sum total of 69,0000. Patiently, he listened attentively to the showmen, awaiting a pause. When it came, he said, "Very well, now may I make a proposal? I will pay 69,000 for the horses here, and I will put on the show!" Seriously, horsemen do have a tremendous investment, as we are constantly reminded these days. And Marlboros Edward Farrell, who has proposed a formula of graduated purses based on "tote" business and horses values, has some interesting thoughts concerning the investment. "According to.the purse distribution in present-day condition books," he says, "a man who has a ,000 horse runs him for four rewards. If he wins, he receives 00, second 50, third 00 and fourth 0. When he wins a race he earns 70 per cent on his investment, when he runs second 15 per cent, third 10 per cent, and fourth 5 per cent. In a majority of cases the investment may increase its percentage in cost. And with graduated purses there is increased opportunity. While trying to make the most of his investment the horseman is, in a majority of cases, subject to losing his investment. But only by being claimed at the price he is entered for, which usually is the amount paid for the horse, or a greater sum. Now let us consider the man who pays 1,000-for a horse. According to my formula he would run for a ,000 purse, and according to the purse division he would earn ,250, or 29.5 per cent on a much larger investment for winning a race, 9 per cent for second, 4.5 per cent for third, 2.25 per cent for fourth. He must win three and one-half times to the ,000 horses one and one-half times." Even Farrells formula, which calls for a sharper graduation of purses than is customary, does not place any premium on superior class. But he thinks that "if such a formula were adopted by the NASRC and established in every racing state, there would be a wider distribution of the higher priced horses. Most of them now are in thickly populated racing areas, handicapping their own chances through overcrowding." Ray Bryson and his associates look forward to a most successful meet at Bel Air, the six furlongs oval which will be the rustic scene of Maryland racing for 10 days beginning May 21. Bel Air will become the first track of less than a mile in circumference to have the film patrol in this area, and Daily Double machines also will be installed for this meeting. Turf course events proved popular there in 51 and will be carded again this season. The club also has acquired a pulvi-mulcher, a machine which pulverizes the track to a depth of six inches, and removes Tany stones. Purses will range from ,200 to ,500 and it is expected, optimistically perhaps, that the daily average play will exceed 20,000. Mrs. Heighe, Frank Bonsai and Dion Kerr are among those who plan to race there for the first time at this meet. Turf ana: Mrs. Gordon Guibersons Arroz goes to California, is to appear once or twice at Hollywood Park, then point for the Maturity. . .Bel Air has one of the longest homestretches in Maryland, second only to Bowies... Owner of a Preakness eligible was playing poker last week, drew to an inside straight with the remark, "If I fill it, Ill run in the Preakness." Filled the straight but reneged on the race. . .Janon Fisher showed us some likely yearlings by Tide Rips at The Caves recently. Has bred a War Admiral mare to War Relic as an experiment in inbreeding. . .Vaughn Flannery, Pimlico treasurer and artist, declares, "Delaware has the ideal racing law". . .Blenlin, poor but honest, has been claimed four times since December, but came back gimpy after her recent good second at a mile and a sixteenth. Has some breeding, by Head Play out of a Blenheim II. mare . . . Steward Bill Harron is for the Jockeys Guilds 10-day minmum suspension. . .II. S. "Tommy" Thompson, assistant secretary at Pimlico, recalls that August Belmont and H. P. Whitney frequented the Alibi Table . . . Jack Needles plans his first visit to Arlington Park this summer. . Bel Air has a seating capacity of 10,000. . .Residence at The Caves is an architectural relic of logs, more than 200 years old. One of the most delightful homesteads in the East. Tack hangs beside the entrance, Salvators stirrup cup is over the yawning stone fireplace, and everywhere are canvasses of old turf idols . . .An offer of 5,000 is said to have been calmly rejected for G. R. Peterson at Randall Park last summer.
