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JUDGES STAND By Charles Hatton Detroits Name Horses Are Fillies Biddy Jane May Perform Before Homefolks See Record Crowd for Ohio Derby Revival Mich. HBPA Moves to Eliminate Bad Horses DETROIT, Mich., May 28. Detroits best known "Name Horses" chance to be fillies. These are Clarence Hartwicks itinerant Sickles Image and "Jimmy" Collins rotund two-year-old Biddy Jane, recent winner of Garden States Rancocas over the best eastern fillies. Sickles Image was third here opening day, behind the less-renowned filly Dixie Flyer. The Sickletoy four-year-olds large and loyal Detroit following hopefully expects that she will improve. We might say in extenuation of her performance that it was her first start since February at Santa Anita. But then Dixie Flyer was making her first start since last November at Churchill Downs, and concluded her 51 campaign as she began this one, by winning at Sickles Images expense. Dixie Flyer campaigned well at Motor City tracks in past seasons and excited an offer of 0,000 as a three-year-old two years ago. Biddy Jane is locally owned and may be shown to the homefolks after her Chicago foray. Collins picked up this lively little chestnut daughter of Psychic Bid at the Keeneland yearling sales for ,700. She tied a Gulf stream track record and was second to Bubbley in the Debutante on Derby Day. We may as well say at once that Bubbley, a 16 hands sister to Real Delight, impresses us as having more breeding and perhaps, more future, but Biddy Jane showed a great deal of pluck in both the Debutante and Rancocas. Possibly she will be pointed for Lincolns 0,000 Miss America on June 7. Turf ana: Mrs. E. E. Dale Shaffer is racing: a string here, and maintains a small stud at C. A. Kenneys Springside in Kentucky. Among: the mares is the old Detroit favorite, Miss Mommy, who first foal, a stylish Priam n. filly, is to race here in 53. . . . One of the 20 yearlings the Agra Khan will offer Spa sales patrons is a filly by Sayajirao, out of a three parts sister to Noor. . . Coleman Kelly tells us that South Americas champion, Yatasto, finally has been beaten, in a stake in which he broke down. Rapped himself before the race, and there is much public indignation he was started. The horse, incidentally, was named for the famous Argentine memorial to General San Jose Martin. . . . The topsoil of the front stretch, where the trotting track enters the main course, is removed for the night trots here. . . . Horsemen appreciate the improved drainage in the MRAs stable area. . . . Lincoln-at-Hawthorne has been a great meeting for mud runners, with only one fast track in the first 10 days. . . . Little Pete Wideners Pines of Rome, whom Danny Stewart is racing at Chicago, is a half-sister to .Misty Isle, may be a candidate for the stake named for that filly. . . . Both the riding Cook brothers, Lois and William McKinley, are active at this meeting. ... A ,000 horse can win ,170 in one race at Detroit this season. . . . Clifford Mooers has a clever mudder in the three-year-old Skytracer filly,. Sky Maid, who all but drowned some colts last week-end at Hawthorne. She was saddled by Roy Waldron, who never before has raced at the Chicago track. . . . Real Delight came out of the Black-Eyed Susan with a large skinned area on her right shoulder, the result of a tack buckle turning in the race. Kept her out of training several days, but obviously not long enough to make her "short" for the CCA Oaks. The revival of the Ohio Derby on Saturday has only ,000 added, but it holds far more importance, measured by public interest. There are 2,000,000 Ohioans within a 60-mile radius of Cranwood, where Lou Pondfield will stage this tenth running of the states most famous horse race. And from here it appears a question of how many patrons Cranwood can squeeze into its confines, and how much it can handle with the present "tote" facilities. Under Pondfields management, the play showed a gain of 120 per cent last season. The miniature Cleveland course this year has more parking, seating and "tote" accommodations, and a new clubhouse, small, but furnished in the best taste. The Ohio Derby was thought up at Maple Heights in 1924, when it was won by the fabulous Black Gold, winner of four Derbys including Kentuckys. Such as Boot to Boot, Easter Stockings, Spanish Play, Clang, Whopper and Springsteel competed in various renewals before it was abandoned at Thistle Down in 35. How this field will compare with those -of past years we are not prepared to say, but it is nice that Messrs. Pondfield, Boshamer and Lesnick have revived the race. In addition to the monetary award, there is a handsome silver trophy. When the Cleveland Raceways can do so legitimately, they plan to rebuild Thistle Down. Dr. Harry Lindy, vice-president of the Michigan division of the Horsemens Benevolent Protective Association, has some refreshing views on the relationship between management and horsemen, and as nearly as we can determine the olive branch hangs high here in Detroit. Lindy tells us that he is a for the elimination of bad horses, b the graduation of purses, and c "Whatever is best for all parties concerned, the public, track and horsemen." It is his position, "Racing here has tremendous potentialities. There is an improvement in the calibre of horses at this meeting, and some stakes are planned for next year. I feel sure that in five or six years, it can be developed into one of the most important racing centers. Detroiters are becoming accustomed to driving here to attend, and - Livonia is growing rapidly. Some 600 apartments now are being constructed within a mile of the track, and industry is moving this way." Dr. Lindy fully realizes the future of Detroit racing depends upon programs having public appeal, so that the associations business will make it possible for the sport in the area to achieve its maximum potential value to all those interested in it. His thinking seems to us sound. The "elimination of bad horses" is not just an empty phrase, but an objective program. The Michigan HBPA has an extensive filing system recording the performances of all horses here. It recqmmends chronic also rans in the cheaper races be disposed of, and that the clubs refuse them stalls. "An occasional owner objects," Dr. Lindy says, "but 85 horses already have been eliminated in this way in 52, and more than 100 others since the program was adopted." Lindy is taking a more active part in the national affairs of the HBPA and was present at Chicago recently when things came to an impasse at Sportsmans. He says, "I plan to suggest that we move for Continued on Page Forty I JUDGES STAND By CHARLES HATTON Continued from Page Forty-Four a discussion of purse policies at least 30 days before a meet opens, when the national directors meet in New York next month." He recognizes that the final decision with respect to the book is the prerogative of the associations and their secretaries, but feels misunderstandings such as that in Chicago may be avoided in this way. He also sees the necessity for arriving at a sound minimum purse, observing that, "We are only guessing now. I propose to suggest that racing make a scientific survey, as other major ; industries haye done, to fix the value of a fair, economically sound minimum."
