view raw text
.Trr* gsv:;-.- ",- JUDGES STANDI ** By Charles Hatton Arlington Park Expands Potential Patronage Bonus Purses Sound Arlington Park Policy Agreements, Illinois Board Rule Conflict Fair Grounds Aids Louisiana Charity Hospital ARLINGTON PARK, Arlington Heights, 111., June 14. The Arlington Park Jockey Clubs course on Chicagos verdant north side will be the turf scene of some of the most important racing in America for the ensuing 36 days. Ben Lindheimers lavish lavish program program has has brought brought here here many many of of .Trr* lavish lavish program program has has brought brought here here many many of of the seasons outstanding performers, and we feel sure turf-goers in the area will join us in complimenting him upon the success of his efforts to present Chicago racing of the highest quality. The Classic, Futurity, Matron, Lassie, Stars and Stripes, Arlington Handicap and other features are assured fields of championship class. The handicap leader, Spartan Valor, the turf course champion, Volcanic, and Real Delight, winner of the "fillies triple crown," already are on the grounds. Indeed, Real Delight, whom many are are coming coming to to believe believe the the equal equal of of any any of of the the ",- are are coming coming to to believe believe the the equal equal of of any any of of the the three-year-old colts, is to appear in the Cleopatra, opening day. She must concede from 3 to 12 pounds to such as Bella Figura, Whirla Lea, Pines of Rome, and Last Greetings, who planed in from California to meet her, but will be saddled by Ben Jones and ridden by Eddie Arcaro, and doubtless will be an extensively backed choice. For all her lofty status, 15 fillies are venturesome enough to oppose her. The stalwart daughter of Bull Lea is dropping back from the mile and three furlongs of the CCA Oaks to run six furlongs in the Cleopatra, but has had time to develop her speed, and in Kentucky demonstrated she can sprint. The Cleopatra is the first of four stakes to be decided during the -week. It will be followed Wednesday by the Primer for two-year-olds, and on Saturday by the Wright -Memorial for three-year- I olds, and the Pollyanna for two-year-old fillies. Altogether it will be a montage of high class sport at one of the finest courses 1 in this country. The stand has been painted white, with green ■ trim this season and patrons will find it comfortable and pleasant as ever. Additionally they will find transportation much improved, with an air-conditioned race train called the "Arlington 400," and direct, nonstop, air-conditioned bus service from Milwaukee, 77 miles distant. Other busses will serve Racine, Kenosha, and Waukegan. Thus Arlington this season is expanding its potential patronage. The Arlington -Washington purse policy is reminiscent j of the method John Schapiro adopted at Laurel last autumn. Laurel announced a minimum distribution in q overnighters which it felt it could guarantee, at the same * time noting that the book proposed a greater distribution, c with graduated purses for the better horses. In the event a any of the allowance events failed to fill, the substitute . * would be run at the minimum. Arlington refers to overnighters which are marked up to attract performers of a r high grade as "bonus purses," not to be construed as a t part of the guaranteed distribution in the event they fail i to fill. This seems to us reasonable and sound. And we might add that the national committee of the HBP A is for "better purses for better horses." It is vitally impor- tant to the bloodstock industry that tracks differentiate A between aUowance horses, 0,000 platers and ,500 horses in their overnight distribution. High purse mini-mums, and track rules barring horses that can not win * for ,000 or ,500, have tended to inflate the cheaper J-horses values, Sand at the expense of the more valuable horses at some meetings. Many horsemen feel injured when an aUowance race fails to fill and the purse is not * transferred to one for cheaper animals. The Illinois board has statistics to show that aUowance races are worth 8 more to the association, when they are written for aUowance horses. Tracks take the position that when they l offer a ,500 purse for a race that does not fill in one * book, revise the conditions and offer it again in the next -book, it is the same ,500, and is not a cumulative sub- * traction from the distribution. There is one point in con- c nection with the recent unpleasantness about Arlington c overnighters which we should like clarified. We understand that there are legal minds who consider the staU r cards, stating the purse policy, binding on both the track e and horsemen. However, Section 18 of the board rules * states that, "Licensees ... shall give at least seven days * * notice in writing of their intentions to terminate . . . activi- ties under such accepted conditions." The New Orleans Fair Grounds, which has donated 00,- I 594.83 to various organizations during the past 10 years, has decided to dedicate a special department of New Orleans Char-ity Hospital to the late Charles P. Fenner, Jr., we learn from J Gar Moore. He writes that, "This department is for the treat- ■ ment of diseases of the eye and it was made possible by a por- J tion of the 01,000 the Fair Grounds has donated to Charity j Hospital in recent years." Charley Fenner was a close friend * and associate of Sylvester Labrot on the Fair Grounds board. l He was a keen young racing enthusiast and his death several * years ago came as quite a shock to his many friends in turf T circles. A plaque bearing the name "Charles P. Fenner Memorial" will be unveiled in ceremonies at the hospital this Monday. The hospital has been one of the chief beneficiaries of Fair Grounds racing, and there now is a bill in the Louisiana legislature which would afford the club a somewhat better break in mutuel revenue. If this measure is approved, it seems probable «] the non-profit club will further increase its distribution for next winters sport. The clubhouse, a pleasant, gracious relic of another era in New Orleans racing, now is being enlarged and it is planned to improve and increase the mutuel facilities. Turf ana: Dr. Lindy notes that Detroit purses for two- j year-olds are above the minimum, to encourage breeders and yearling buyers . . . An innovation at Waterf ord Park this year is a special race train from Pittsburgh to East j Liverpool, from which point busses shuttle patrons to the course ... Of course the pubUc have an interest in the Illinois claiming rule. It has been questioned if the insistence on running losers that are claimed at an advance in price for 30 days is conducive to formful racing. . .A " 17-year-old apprentice from Derbytown, Charles M. Clark, currently is pacing Waterf ord riders . . . Mrs. E. E. Dale Shaffers Sweet Patootie may return from Detroit for I stakes engagements . . . Lincoln twice handled ,000,000 on week days . . . Jockey Ken Church is at the top of his J form these days . . . Illinois breeders want the local claim- i ing rule amended. Claimers are at once the showcase ] and market for some of the produce of state studs ... I W. Hal Bishop has shown his colors as many as 160 times 1 at a single Chicago meeting. I
