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JUDGES STAND 1 ■By Charles Hattqn Holiday Play Encourages Cleveland Clubs Farrells Purse Formula Intrigues HBPA Shaffer Plans More Ambitious 53 Program Eastern Strings to Race at Randall Park CRANWOOD PARK, Warrensville Heights, Ohio, May 31. The premise that Cleveland may ultimately become one of the most flourishing racing centers in this country impelled Saul Silberman, Ralph Dechario, Cary Bochamer, Max Lesnick, Lou Pondfield and others to invest in Randall, Thistle Down and Cranwood. Memorial Day business at this course encourages a notion they were correct in their thinking. A paid attendance of 9,580 happily squeezed into the park and pushed, elbowed and trampled 90,614 into the tote. Fantastic as it may seem, the gates had to be closed and we are told this has occurred several times during the meeting. At the end of the holiday card, vice-president Pondfield estimated "We have only scratched the surface." En route to the city he showed us neighboring Thistle Down, describing plans for the construction of a stylish and comfortable stand and clubhouse at that mile course. "Thistle Down once was the most popular park in this area," the Baltimorean reflected. "Any number of people I have met here have told me Oh yes, I enjoy horse racing. I used to go all the time at Thistle Down/" Blueprints for the new Thistle Down paint a roseate picture of Cleveland racing in the most modern surroundings, and Pondfield feels sure that it can be unveiled in 53. Stabling facilities for some 750 horses now are being renovated, along with the colonial style administration building. These landmarks are about all that remained of the old plant after the fire. There are 150 acres of the property, with ample space for parking lots and a lovely wooded section that, would rival Saratoga as a paddock. Since Thistle Down and Silbermans •remodeled Randall are just across the road from one another, we should think that the prospect of 88 days continuous racing at the two tracks would sum up to better horses for both meets. There was a conspicuous improvement in both the play and the calibre of horses at Randall last summer, and all indications point to better entertainment this season. The Mich. HBPAs Dr. Lindy has the notion that eventually tracks will adopt some formula for graduating: purses such as Marlboros Edward Farrell has tentatively outlined. "It is the most objective approach to the problem that has come to my attention so far," Lindy observes. And he hopes The HBPA directorate will consider employing a staff of experts to make a scientific survey, in an effort to arrive at a practicable, sound evaluation of racing material. "Racing now is the fifth largest industry," he pointed out, "and the only one that has not been the subject of such a survey." Under Farrells plan, the ratio of differentiation in overnighters for platers and allowance horses would be based on the play. And Hazel Parks Dick Connell tells us he considers this the only f easable method. Meanwhile tracks are taking steps to give their overnight cards somewhat more tone, like the MBAs increase in minimum claiming price to ,000. It has been said this merely raises the values of horses that competed for less, so that they would not be barred at later meetings having ground rules eliminating horses that race for less than ,000. But that is not entirely correct. The increased purses and claiming prices have attracted horses of better calibre. Pretty much the same thing occurred at Chicago. When purse distribution was increased, and the purses graduated, many bad horses eliminated themselves, shipping to points with less high qualifications. A sound minimum is important, of course. But it is harmful to the tracks, and indirectly the horsemen, when it represents so much of the total distribution clubs can. not compete for the better platers and allowance performers. E. E. Dale Shaffer affirmed, back at Detroit the other day, that the MRA plans some stakes events next spring. This tourist feels confident that in some future season the former Kentucky Commission chairman will be in position to offer such an ambitious schedule as that presented at the first MRA meet, at the old Detroit Fair Grounds, without dipping into the red. Shaffer has bred and raced horses and fully understands the horsemens problems, as well as those of management. He conferred with the horsemen on the purse policy before this meeting, and the ,800 minimum will continue "If the mutuel play is equal to or exceeds last years." The distribution of 2.875 of the mutuel handle gives the HBPA a very real interest in helping to "put on a good show." By the way, both the management and horsemen have confidence in the fairness of racing commissioner Fred Harris. The HBPA sends copies of all its correspondence to the commissioner. He does not in every instance approve or agree, but this forthright method of "placing all the cards on the table" avoids a great deal of misunderstanding. Turf ana: Neighboring Randall Park will attract a number of Delaware Park strings. . .Brown Rambler, a ,500 claim who ran, though unobstrusively, in the Kentucky Derby, is a recent MRA winner. . .J. Graham Brown prefers the produce of what are called "hard hitting mares." His homebred Ave is a granddaughter of Advising Anna . . . The Mich. HBPA is interested in racings public relations, may offer one or two running events at States county fairs, in areas in which thoroughbred racing never has been presented. . .The 51 Peabody winner, Pur Sang, is training at Detroit Park. . .Rezoning will enable Pimlico to greatly increase its parking facilities, proceed with plans for a new stand, when such construction is legal. . .There now are 1,102 horses at the MRA course. . .Charles McLennan the other day carded three races having six different interests represented, and they were good betting races Bob Leavitt plans an Acapulco vacation Jimmy Collins will attend the Keeneland Sales, looking for another Biddy Jane. . .The Zakoor family includes owners, trainers and a jockey at Detroit. . .Detroit race track has set aside 11 boxes for horsemen. . .Randalls new barns are nearly fireproof, and electrically lighted throughout . . . Frank Christmas is among the Marylanders deploying at Michigan tracks. . .Many agreed with Charles Kenney in his choice of the best of the Maryland yearlings show. . . The recent winner Mattie Girl is a half-sister of Jet Master.
