Judges Stand: Settlement of Chicago Issue Sets Pattern Arlington Park Perfecting Its Film Patrol Five Stations to Assure Complete Coverage Hodgins Pointing Sub Fleet for the Classic, Daily Racing Form, 1952-06-18

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Arlington-Washington Arlington-Washini JUDGES STAND By Charles Hatton Settlement of Chicago Issue Sets Pattern Arlington Park Perfecting Its Film Patrol Five Stations to Assure Complete Coverage Hodgins Pointing Sub Fleet for the Classic ARLINGTON PARK, Arlington Heights, HI., June 17. Arlington meets usually begin rather perfunctorily, but this one was really gala, with a Saturday program offered on Monday, the crowd and play up about 15 per cent, Real Delight driving to her her seventh seventh success success in in eight eight starts, starts, and and Eddie Eddie her her seventh seventh success success in in eight eight starts, starts, and and Eddie Eddie Arcaro announcing his arrival with a triple. This incidentally moved the suave, 36-year-old Cincinnatian within seven winners of a nice, round 3,000. While the fashion-plated North Side set and commuters from what a visiting English journalist describes as "The Brass Voiced Loop," were enjoying a brilliant opening of Americas great summer meet, not a few racing men reflected that only a week ago there were grave doubts if Arlington was going to open with quite the same sort of show. There was a remainder of the misunderstanding between the HBPA and jton in in our our colleague colleague Nel Nel Dunstans Dunstans column column Arlington-Washington Arlington-Washini jton in in our our colleague colleague Nel Nel Dunstans Dunstans column column which gave a most comprehensive, definitive account of the points mediator J. Samuel Perlman made for both sides in achieving a clarification of a difficult situation. And it struck us that both sides, and in a larger sense, American racing generally, gained rather than losing. Parenthetically, we were reminded of the philosophy of H. P. Headley, founder of Keeneland, that "a good trade is one which benefits both parties." It occurs to us further that the basic points, or, rather the precepts inherent in 4he understanding between the HBPA and the track, might well serve as a fundamental pattern of distribution which could forestall future strike threats at all tracks. And this impression seems quite general. For instance, Major Ednyfed Williams, former head of the Hlinois Racing Board and of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners, stopped by to observe, "I think it was unfortunate, in the sense that all misunderstandings are, but that as it turned out, there is more harmony between tracks and horsemen generally than ever before. And that perhaps there may come from it a better, more lasting relationship." Similarly, S. L. James, a veteran racing man and the steward representing the Hlinois Racing Board, declared, "I certainly am delighted that the tracks and the HBPA have been brought together on some pattern of distribution agreeable to both sides. The best of it is that, as in other businesses, there now is a pattern, or precedent, which might apply, with variations to suit local conditions, in future instances of this kind all over the country." Of course, Arlingtons purse and stakes policy always has been among the most generous in America, its ratio of distribution to its play, gate, concessions, etc., last year placing it second only to Pimlico on the basis of "tote" commission, breakage and gate. And already at this meeting it has increased some of the better overnighters, in pursuance of its progressive policy of "bigger purses for better horses." Arlington Park this season has the film patrol, and is experimenting with the situation of the towers, and the precision of the developing and projection of the film, to achieve the highest degree of efficiency possible. Ben Lindheimer never was one to do things by halves and when the Illinois Racing Board last November required Chicago tracks to install this device he immediately set about finding what he considered the most satisfactory method. Stewards, technicians and some 20 jockeys were interviewed. Miles of film were studied, and Jack Drees visited several tracks to observe at first hand the functions of this department. Arlington finally hit upon the "Turf Film," a new company, headed by Hte Bartimoccio, whose experience with the film patrol dates back to its inception. The club constructed a laboratory, projection room and stewards room, and has set up three portable scaffolds, painted to blend harmoniously into the prairie scenery. The towers are moved about to determine the position from which the best results may be obtained on a mile and a furlong strip. Shooting races along the backstretch posed a bit of a problem, for cameras in the usual position would be aimed at the sun on this course. Actually there are five stations from which the film is made, assuring complete coverage. There is no question that the film patrol makes for cleaner, more formful sport, and it now has been adopted, or is being adopted, by practically all the major tracks in this country. California, New York and Mary-" land tracks were among the first to install it, Hialeah and the local clubs joined them this year, and New Orleans Fair Grounds plans the film patrol next winter. Charles T. Fishers homegrown Sub Fleet is pointing for the 00,000 Classic and trainer Jack Hodgins is pleased with his progress since coming here from Belmont Park. "I feel confident he is going to win one of the big races this season," Hodgins said, "I dont know which one. But he will get his share." The Kentuckian added that, in his opinion, the Count Fleet colt did not care for the Preakness track, nevertheless might have been second except for One Counts swerve. On the form, Sub Fleet is probably the most formidable Classic eligible now at Arlington Heights. Chatting of Dixianas bloodstock, Hodgins mentioned a possibility that the crack mare, Heres Hoping, now retired from racing, may next spring be bred to Sub Fleets sire. She won a stake in her last start, has run six furlongs around a turn in lrOO/s, comes of a strong family, and Hodgins considers her, "A splendid broodmare prospect." He also believes that Star *?eward, who comes of the same family, that of Miss Jemima and Far Star, will prove a successful sire. He has a high percentage of his mares in foal. Turf ana: Bob Carey plans a north woods vacation, may announce Hawthorne stakes soon. . . . The steel is being removed from the scene of the Lincoln Fields conflagration, Pete ODonnell remarking, "It literally lost its temper in the fire." . . . Ivan Parke believes Olympic has a future in U. S. racing, though he is not to be confused with Olympia. . . . Aidan Roark is the film patrol steward here, having had some experience with it at Santa Anita. . . . The new superhighway from The Loop has advanced to within seven miles of Lincoln Home -Made descends from the Belmont Futurity heroine, Mother Goose, whose brother, Whichone, also won that fixture. . . . Mile. Lorette is a prospect for late season two-year-old filly stakes. Plain Ben Jones esteems her dam, Gallorette, as "One of the really great mares of my time." . . . The Hawthorne surface was "off" oftener than it was - fast during Lincolns highly successful meet.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1952061801/drf1952061801_44_1
Local Identifier: drf1952061801_44_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800