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REFLECTIONS « By Nelson Dunstan— Stand of Maryland Commission Commended • Rich Events for All Divisions in Offing Release Suburban Weights on Week-End Real Delight Is One to Beat in Oaks NEW YORK, N. Y., May 21. The Maryland State Racing Commission is to be commended for its decision in relation to Pimlico. The principle that racing dates aaies belong Deiong to io the tne state, siate. and auu not nub to hj the mc a. race track is sound. dates aaies belong Deiong to io the tne state, siate. and auu not nub hj mc a. There is no question but that public opinion in Baltimore played an important part in the commissions decision. When it became evident that there was a possibility that Pimlico might be eliminated, the public and the press were immediately aroused. The commissions decision that Pimlico must rebuild its plant will ha,ve the support of all turf lovers in the State of Maryland. The tradition of Pimlico is important, but it is even more important that Maryland racing fans be afforded the facilities they deserve. Pimlico should rebuild its present plant, and ii if that Liiai is is not not possible, possiDie, there niere is is no uu reason lettauii ii if that Liiai is is not not possible, possiDie, there niere is is no uu reason lettauii why the Maryland Jockey Club should not build a new and greater Pimlico on another site. At present, what Pimlico needs more than anything else is leadership. Unless that leadership comes, all the edicts of the racing commission will be of little effect. With the Derby and Preakness now in the chart books, racing is in one of those periods that gives us time to consider what has already taken place and what is to some. Pimlico closed last Saturday, and many of the horses who were stabled there have moved over to Delaware Park for the 33-day meeting which opens next Thursday. Hollywood Park in California, with an impressive opening Friday, and Arlington Park in Chicago swinging into action on June 16, it is apparent that there is going to be considerable thinning out of the horses in both the three-year-olds division and the handicap ranks. There has been considerable discussion about whether the current three-year-old cvrop is good, bad, or indifferent, but, regardless of that, there can be no denying that our handicap division is short in "name" horses this season. It is somewhat ironic that in a year when stall space at all tracks is at a premium, we have so few older stars for the many important races ahead. When horses are raced the year round, as they are now, it is natural that many will be sidelined for some part of the season. The Massachusetts Handicap, Queens County Handicap, Edgemere Handicap and other races that will follow the Suburban on May 30 should draw good fields, but what about the period following the_ opening of Arlington Park on June 16? William Helis, Jr.s, Spartan Valor is the talk of the East, and racing fans are keenly awaiting John B. Campbells Suburban weights, to be announced Saturday. Now a winner of seven straight races, your guess is as good as ours as to what the veteran secretary will assign to the son of Attention. Among the 50 nominated, are Count Turf, Intent, Crafty Admiral, Bryan G., Be Fleet, Hall of Fame, Alerted, Mameluke and Battlefield, just about the cream of the eastern older horses now in training. Intent is still at Hollywood Park and will remain there. If last Saturdays racing is any criterion, the much-touted Big Dipper H. will require a few more races before he can meet the kind who will race in the Suburban. He ran dead last in the seventh race at Belmont. Mameluke was a surprise winner over Battlefield and One Hitter in the Metropolitan Handicap, and in all probability, that trio will come out to face Spartan Valor in the Suburban, provided, of course, the Helis connections accept the weight. Win or lose, that will be Spartan Valors last race in New York until the fall, and the Sussex at Delaware on July 4 his last in the East. Then he will move out to Chicago for such rich events as the 00,000 Arlington Handicap on July 26 and the 00,000 Washington Park Handicap on September 1. The week-end feature at Belmont Park is the 0,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at a mile and three furlongs for three-year-old fillies. This race has always been a factor in pointing out the champion of that sex and age and, should she be a starter, we believe the Calumet Farms Real Delight will stand out, just as Spartan Valor now does among older horses. Watching this daughter of Bull Lea — Blue Delight win the Kentucky Oaks, we were of the opinion that she is one of the best of her sex to come up in the past decade. She then went on to win the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico and a victory in the Coaching Club would put her far in the lead of her opponents for championship honors. And we say this regardless of the many events still ahead. No less than 50 fillies were named for Saturdays headliner and if Real Delight is to be thoroughly tested, this should be the race. Like Spartan Valor, she will probably move to Chicago as all Calumet horses have in recent years. At the Windy City courses, she will have the 5,000 Arlington Matron and the 0,000 Misty Isle Handicap, along with such races for three-year-olds and older horses that the Jones boys may select for her. When, as three-year-olds, they started Bewitch and Two Lea in the Modesty Handicap, which is for fillies and mares three-year-old and over. Following the Coaching Club, the colts will have their innings in the National Stallion Stakes at Belmont on May 28, and the Christiana will follow at Delaware Park two days later. It is hardly possible to separate the juveniles in May, but two that have impressed this writer as above average, are Alfred G. Vanderbilts Native Dancer and the Brookmeade Stables County Clare, a brown colt who speaks well for the Shannon U. youngsters that are still to make their debut. A total of 318 colts are eligible for this five-furlong event, but how many will pay the starting fee of 50 is a question at this writing. The National Stallion and the Christiana are two of the important races that lead up to the June and July events scheduled at tracks throughout the country. The richest of the coming races for these babes is the 0,000 Arlington Futurity, which, at six furlongs, will be run on July 12. By that time, we dare say, others will have projected themselves into the scrap that comes every year for two-year-olds honors. For the moment, it is idle to go beyond the National Stallion and the Christiana Sakes here in the East.
