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REFLECTIONS By Nelson Dunstan Tulyars Derby Victory Encourages British Graham, No English, French Standout Colt Our Three -Year -Olds Have No Vacations Monmouth Park All Set for Its Opening NEW YORK, N. Y., June 3. Three-Dot Shorts: Alex Dumestre, Louisiana racing commis-. sioner, writes us that an off -track betting bill is expected to be introduced in the Louisiana Legislature within a few weeks. . . . Horace Wade is mailing a most interesting booklet regarding the Monmouth Park meeting, which opens on June 14 and runs until August 9. . . . John A. Bell, well-known breeder, writes to say, "It is good news that Sun Bahrain will go to stud in Kentucky, for he should make a good sire." . . . The busiest air traffic of horses anywhere in the world is from Sydney to Melbourne and Brisbane in Australia. . . . Arlington Park will distribute more than ,350,000 in purses and stakes during the 36-day meeting, which opens on June 16. . . . The New York Turf Writers Cup and Temple Gwathmey Steeple- chase Handicap will be the leading fixtures of the two-day United Hunts meeting at Belmont Park, June 10-11. ... On June 1. Calumet Farm was far in front on the money-winning owners list, its horses having won 36 races and 54,607. . . . Fasig-Tipton will stage a sale at Belmont Park on Thursday and Friday mornings, with some 50 head going through the ring. "Jake" Friedman will sell his entire stable of 13 horses, one being Oreo, winner of the Constitution Handicap, Bowie Endurance Handicap and other events. Clifford Mooers will sell a colt by Blue Swords, out of Fly Home, by Pharamond II., at the Keeneland sales. Clive Graham, noted British turf scribe writes: "Well, as you have heard, we were able to beat the French in the Epsom Derby. It was a terribly rough race, but they were beaten fair and square, and I think general opinion in both countries is that we do not have between us a really outstanding colt. Tulyar, the Aga Khans winner, is a smallish but all-quality colt by Tehran, out of Neocracy, by Nearco, out of Hairena, who was a sister to Trigo. It was thought that he might not act kindly on the hard ground, and Marcus Marsh, his trainer, had an equal fancy for Max Bells Indian Hemp. The latter, however, was involved in the scrimmage and dropped back at Tat-tenham Corner. The second horse, Gay Time, looked a trifle unlucky. Young Piggott, his jockey, had to come wide on him and he lost valuable ground in the doing. There is a yearling full brother to him coming up at the big Rank dispersal sale on July 3. We are all hoping that an American horse will come over here for the Ascot race in July and there has been some talk in this country that Jim Ryan will send County Delight across. His appearance here will cause a. great deal of interest in this leading race." Since World War n., the English have taken to heart the many victories scored in their country by the French, and when Thunderhead n. won the Two Thousand Guineas there was considerable consternation about the outcome of the Epsom Derby. The victory of Tulyar brought relief to those loyal to the British thoroughbred, but Joe Burke writes us from London to say: "We have some good three-year-olds this year, but none that would compare with the smashers of former years. It seems hard to believe that we have not had a "Triple Crown" winner in this country since Bahram accomplished the feat back in 1935/ This writer has always been of the opinion that a "Triple Crown" winner in this country has to be an exceptionally fine horse, but we do not consider a crop mediocre if its outstanding performer is not a "Triple Crown" winner. The last winner of the three spring classics here was Citation, in 1948. A year ago, Counterpoint finished out of the money in. the Kentucky Derby, but ran second to Bold in the Preakness, and then went on to win the Peter Pan and Belmont. He clinched "Horse of the Year" honors when he closed the season with victories in the Lawrence Realization, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Empire Gold Cup and Empire City Handicap. Any way you figure it, Counterpoint was a splendid three-year-old. In England, they advance their three-year-olds much more slowly, and, we must add, sensibly, than we do in this country. They ran the Two Thousand Guineas on April 30, the Epsom Derby on May 28, and the St. Leger, third and last leg of their "Triple Crown," will not be run until September. Here, we have the Kentucky Derby on May 3, the Preakness on May 17, and the Belmont on June 7. The Belmont is by no means the last race of importance, for, in the weeks to come, our sophomores will have the Kent, Yankee, Warren Wright Memorial, Leonard Richards, Westerner, Dwyer, Arlington Classic, American Derby, Travers and other races, and, in the fall they will come back to New York for the Lawrence Realization and other events exclusively for the three-year-old division. The English retire many of their three-year-olds after the Epsom Derby or St. Leger, but long after the latter race has been run our three-year-olds are still competing for rich prizes. In the current issue of the Thoroughbred Record is an advertisement which carries this line,. "Statistics and the records prove that 12 Kentucky Derby winners broke down after the big- effort and 21 quit as three-year-olds." The word "quit" hardly describes it, for when a horse has been sent to the sidelines due to injuries it cannot be said that he quit. But regardless of that we do ask much more of our three-year-olds than is the case in England. With the highly successful Garden State Park meeting over, there will be a lapse in New Jersey racing until Monmouth Pai-k gets under way on June 14. The lovely Oceanport track will stage a meeting through August 9 and during that period, 18 stake events that have from 5,000 to 5,000 added, will be offered. A finely balanced program, in which all divisions are given opportunities to compete, is to be presented. This year the Longfellow Handicap will be run on the turf, and, as hurdle racing proved so popular a year ago, it will be continued this season. From the standpoint of the players, Monmouth is one of the most comfortable tracks in the country today, and its officials, headed by president Amory Haskell, have gone to great lengths to provide conveniences for the public. In a comparatively few years, this course has not only become a solid factor Continued on Page Thirty-Seven 1 REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Forty in New Jersey racing, but a factor in the eastern turf picture. The fine stake schedule attracts many of the "Name Horses" in all divisions. In view of racings increased popularity, Monmouth Park will probably have* the most successful meeting since the modern track replaced the old Monmouth Park that was one of the finest courses in this country before the turn of the century.
