view raw text
I l JUDGES STAND ■ By Charles Hatton Filly Carters Pride Wins Ohio Derby See Further Uptrend in Yearling Market Increased Stabling Facilities Beneficial Buyers Become Parasite Control Conscious LEXINGTON, Ky., June 2. Derby Day is the same the world over and the revival running of the Ohio Derby was a lot of fun. Cars filled the parking lots and overflowed into adjacent lawns, gay crowds jampacked the of the taking a of the taking a stands, some patrons up position in the innerfield. Flags fluttered from all the roofs, a large band paraded down the homestretch tootling a stirring march, a gleaming vase was displayed on a table in the winners circle, vying for attention with visiting dignitaries. Everywhere were posies of scarlet carnations, the Buckeye State flower. The post parade was very colorful, accompanied by the mellow refrain of "Beautiful Ohio." A black filly called Cold Sky, wearing canary and red ribbons in her mane, went up the track sidewise, waltzing in perfect time. A sleek, brown miss, Carters Pride, sashayed about with a lead pony as a partner, while the favorite, a hulking colt called Dr. Noddy, ridden by the veteran Willie Pool, walked sedately along looking bored. There was the usual tense hush as the field filed into the gate at the top of the stretch, and the usual excited did when they were off. A minute, fifty-four and two-fifth seconds later, time a full second faster than the track record, Carters Pride became the third of her sex to win Ohios most famous horserace. And she did it in true Regret fashion, flashing into a daylight lead in the dash first time past the shrilling stands, and never leaving the result in doubt. y Grinning triumphantly, jockey Stanley Bielen guided her into the winners circle,* where she" poised, ears erect, under a huge wreath of carnations. Everybody patted her steaming neck, and we regret to say, a few souvenir hunters could not resist the carnations. Frenzied legmen interviewed the jockeys as they dismounted. Part-owner J. Johnson, of Lexington,- was presented the trophy, Bielen a cigarette box. Actually, Carters Pride is a very decent sort. She is by Lovely Night, out of the Flying Heels mare Dead Level, and was bred by«Melvin Carter, who is Johnsons partner in her. It seems she went through the sales for ,200 and Carter repurchased a half interest in her. She won an allowance race at Randall last summer and at Churchill Downs this spring beat some ,000 horses by what is technically known as a country mile. Whatever the future holds, she will always be famous in Ohio, as an Ohio Derby winner. The yearling sales, most fascinating gamble of them all, are uppermost in Blue Grassonians thoughts these days. And if the "Trend of Racing" is any Criterion, the annual Keeneland summer auctions, which begin July Jp 28 and extend over four days, will be marked by some new records, both for individuals and averages. The oil men who outbid mere millionaires in 51, will be back at the ringside, and already the talent scouts have been here on tours of inspection. In the catalogue this season will be several rather choice lots by Count Fleet, Princequillo and the extraordinary Bull Lea, all famed as sires of what are called "classic horses," the sort that win the Derby and Oaks. It is true that not many racing men wait on two-year-olds in the present day, but those who can afford it usually supplement their investments in bluebookish colts and fillies with the purchase of several bred for sheer zip, in order to have something to race early and perhaps carry the more expensive, less precocious youngsters. Pedigree and apparent soundness are not the only considerations with contemporary yearling shoppers, though their importance certainly is not to be discounted. For example, we have heard of trainers making stayers of congenital sprinters, but have yet to see it done. Buyers now are becoming inquisitive about things like parasite control on market breeders farms. This is understandable, for a yearling that is carrying" an aneurism about is unlikely to stay, it does not matter if he is bred like Exterminator, trained by Ben Jones, and ridden by Eddie Arcaro. Another consideration for the buyer is one of placing his purchases with a trainer who can obtain stalls. A general increase in stabling facilities, permissable under the recent Federal building restrictions, and ground rules at many tracks eliminating worthless horses, has somewhat relieved the "stall situation." * Breeders generally are interested in stabilizing "the floor" of the market, and there are several factors which should be instrumental in achieving this in July. For one thing, there are the increased opportunities for two-year-olds. For another, there is the extreme selectivity exercised in approving entrants at Keeneland summer auctions. It is trite to say, "hope springs eternal," but it has been nurtured this year by the development ol the ,700 Biddy Jane, the fact Gushing Oil was obtained for a reported ,500 and Blue Man for a reported 0,000 as a broken, trained, unraced two-year-old. These things encourage the small owner, who cannot compete in the bidding for the more fashion-plated yearlings. So also, does the emergence of young sires like Shannon H., Occupy, Mighty Story, Blue Swords and First Fiddle as horses capable of siring stakes performers. Best of all there is the economic structure and popularity of racing. As nearly as we can tell, it was never in healthier condition. Turf ana: Mark Leach is standing Psychic Bid, sire of Andy B. W. and Biddy Jane, at Greenacres Stock Farm, Greenlake, Mich. . . . Blue Falcon, a son of Mahmoud and Top Flight who once excited an offer of 00,000, now is racing for ,000. . . . Duntreath Farm in 51 sold six yearlings. Five already have earned some money. The studs 52 consignment has been withdrawn. . . . Whiria Lea has designs on the Cleopatra, Arlington opening stake. ... Mrs. George Krehbiel soon will introduce her colors, antique gold and purple cap. . . . Thursdays are Ladies Days at the MRA meeting. . . . Owners of sires standing on a live foal basis should be interested in supporting the virus abortion research program. ... It still is perfectly possible Tom Fool is "the class" of the three-year-old colts, as J. B. Campbell suspects, though Eastern critics question he is a stayer. . . . Blue Man traces to one of the foundation mares of W. C. Whitneys stud, though C. V. Whitney weeded out his dam, a mare of negligible speed, for "about 00. . . ; The stakes winner, Boojiana, one of the better young Whitney producers, is of the same family. . . . Sales visitors will find more hotel facilities here this summer. . . . A. T. Simmons has a yearling brother of Blue Man. . . • The Breeders Sales Company has covered the ramps serv- Continued on Page Thirty-Seven I JUDGES STAND I By CHARLES HATTON Continued from Page Forty ing as an entrance and exit for offerings in its Keeneland arena. . . . Jock Whitneys yearlings include a stylish brown sister to Capot who has been much admired by the Greentree Farm staff ever since she was foaled. . . . Fred Burton is a steward at Randall Park. . . . Marse Tom Piatts Stagestruck, pacesetter in the Kentucky Oaks, is a candidate for the Delaware Park version. . . . Col. P. T. Chinn is represented at the Detroit track. . . . Colts outnumber fillies by a ratio of six to two among A. F. Walls Lismore Farm foals this year. . . . Jane Gail, dam of the Kentucky Derby winner, Hill Gail, died of a twisted intestine at Calumet Farm last week-end.