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BETWEEN RACES By Oscar Otis HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., June 27. Lou Smith leaves tonight for Rockingham Park following a whirlwind tour of the West, and has kindly brought us up to date on Las Vegas, where, as our readers are aware, he and his associates have better than an average chance of taking over the now defunct track and converting it into one of the finer small American race courses. "Here is how we stand," explains Smith. "Our group, well financed, is submitting an amended offer to the federal court. Our first plan for re-organization was tentative because at that time we did not know the amount outstanding to creditors, we did not have an engineers report as to, how much money it would take to complete the track property, and we did not know the exact make-up of our own bidding group. Personally I feel quite optimistic over the prospects of spring and fall racing at Las Vegas on the three-day-a-week basis. The town is growing so fast that every time I go there I hardly recognize the place. Las Vegas plays to a transient population of many thousands every week-end. The townspeople are convinced that a track, run in first class fashion, would add greatly to the strength of Vegas as a tourist attraction. I dont know whether or not our group is going to get the track, for that will be up to the federal court, but if we do, we see our way clear toward a successful operation, without a casino. The key to Las Vegas lies in offering high quality racing, and a county fair approach would be doomed to failure." AAA Lou Smith is one of the last, if not the last, pioneers in racingnanagement and promotion. He came across the Las Vegas idea quite by accident. The man was in Hot Springs last winter, as per custom, when a friend asked him out to look the plant over. He did, and was not impressed. Then, at the NASRC convention in San Francisco in April, he took another look, and was so astonished at the prospect that he became interested. Smiths ventures throughout America have been tinged with success excepting in the Far West. He is, of course, the father of modern racing in New England, but in California, he made a Smith Tells of New Vegas Plans Wingfield Gets Steward Position Gilpin Readies Goetz1 Dispersal Lassie, Inglewood Carded Today bid for the first permit in Southern California, and just missed being the promoter of Santa Anita by a freak happening. A local politico in Houston once told him he would have to build his proposed track there on a swamp, but Smith refused. Turned out the site was loaded with oil, and since has produced millions. "Las Vegas is one of the last American frontiers," remarks Smith, "and Nevada presents a challenge which is quickening to the heart and which I believe could, well become another jewel state in the American racing crown." Smith also remarks that he is extremely happy that G. R. "Buddy" Wingfield will be one of his stewards at the Rockingham Park meeting opening July 28, for Wingfield not only is an able official but almost equally as important in this day and age, he has the knack of getting along with people. Unfortunately, official arrogance is still hurting the turf in a few scattered localities, but we believe this situation is on the road to being corrected. AAA Tyson Gilpin, president of Fasig-Tipton, here for the William Goetz dispersal sale come Monday afternoon in the Hollywood Park amphitheatre paddock, informs that Eastern - turf circles consider the vendue one of the most important of the year because the quality of the stock offered will provide the first test of the year as to the state of the market in California.. In the past, what has happened in California has been reflected, percentagewise, with a great degree of accuracy in the rest of the country. "This is perhaps the best all-over consignment that Fasig-Tipton has handled since the Belmont sale of C. V. Whitney horses which saw Quarter Pole, Vulcans Forge, and Dinner Gong go under the hammer," says Gilpin. "I also believe the Goetz sale is significant in that the two-year-olds to be offered which are Cali-fornia-breds are every bit as good, and maybe better, than the Kentucky horses in the same consignment. Two of the juvenile fillies are top broodmare prospects, Big Hit, a granddaughter of Baby League, the dam of Busher, and Tittle Tattle, granddaughter of Potheen, she the dam of Bewitch." Gilpin also broke the news that the California ownership interests in the Australian stakes-winning sire, Beau Gem, were divesting themselves of their ownership and that Beau Gem would be syndicated. At present, the horse is standing at Kentmere Farm, Virginia. The two Californians, each owning a third, are Walter H. Thompson of Rancho Elicis, and John DeBJois Wack. Gilpin has owned the other third. Inasmuch as Beau Gem filled his book last spring at ,000 service fee, and obtained a fine court of mares, syndication will be easily effected. The Californians went out to reinvest their money in sires which will stand in, the Golden State, Virginia, as travellers will testify, being a Jong ways from Southern California. Gilpin, the Goetz trainer Harry Daniels, and others of the staff will be at barn 26 in the stable area all day Sunday to show the stock. The showing will be in the nature of an open house. The stock, of course, also will be available for inspection all day Monday until sale time of 3:00 oclock. AAA Another afternoon, of twin stake attractions is on tap for Southern California fans Saturday, the five and one-half furlongs Lassie, for juveniles, and the Inglewood, at a mile and one-sixteenth, the latter being the last major stepping stone for the 0,000 American on July 4 and the 00,000 net guaranteed to winner of the Gold Cup of July 12. Our personal interest will center upon the Lassie, for, in the past seven runnings, the race has always been won by a worthwhile race filly and of those who have entered stud, worthwhile producers as well. Three Lassie winners stand out, Rex Ellsworths U Time, Mrs. John Hertz Nursery School, and that globe-trotting mare of iron, Sickles Image. We rather fancy King Ranchs superlative speedster, Haunted, whom we are certain will go this far. If, later in the season she will be able to go a distance, she is to be reckoned as a candidate for two-year-old filly of the year honors in Daily Racing Forms annual and authoritative poll. To date, trainer W. J. "Buddy" Hirsch has done a masterful job of getting the filly to control, and space, giving when asked for, a truly brilliant burst of speed. Haunted is so far undefeated. The Inglewood boils down to the proposition as to whether or not Calumet mares can beat the colts while giving them weight, and we have the suspicion they might.
