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♦ ■ . JUDGES STAND *y CHARLES HATT0N PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 6. — The long series of "Derby previews" on the spring calendar served to develop a number of prospects for the Downs event and created a steadily rising tide of interest in that classic. Ev Clay would like you all to know Dark Star is a Hialeah development. Similarly, the Preakness here on May 23 will, this spring, be preceded by three preliminaries which may generate further interest in this race, and perhaps, turn up several new candidates. Of course, the rather shocking Derby result, which revealed Native Dancers "invincibility" as something mythological, already has helped the Pimlico stake tremendously. Turf enthusiasts now are turning their thoughts to Saturdays 0,000 Jersey Stakes for three-year-olds at Garden State, Belmonts Withers Mile on May 16, and the Preakness Prep here the following Tuesday. Alfred Vanderbilt has referred to a possibility Native Dancer will fill his Withers engagement, Eddie Hayward to one that Dark Star will be a starter in the Preakness Prep. If these two intense rivals do pursue this schedule, we may be sure that any colt who runs creditably in these races will have to thoroughly qualified for a chance in the "Run for the Blackeyed Susans." And if the winner of the Jersey Stakes is not already eligible for the Preakness, he may be nominated upon payment of ,500 by midnight Saturday. The Derby drew what nearly everybody estimated to be a record attendance. It is perfectly possible, in the midst of the thoroughbred sports present popularity, and the eagerness to see Dark Star and The Dancer have another go at it, that the Preakness will this year be attended by a track-record crowd. Back in 46, a gathering of 42,370 established the present mark. And Pimlico now is prepared to accommodate more patrons comfortably, what with the enlargement of the old clubhouse and rearrange- Coveted Preakness Also Has Its Previews Safe Courses Benefit Associations, Too Dates May Give Belmont More Importance 00 to Pass Entry Box in the Preakness ment of grandstand facilities. The new clubhouse lawn, elevated to the level of the track proper, will afford those in this section a clearer view of proceedings. Hundreds annually see the Preakness from the innerf ield when the weather is favorable. AAA • Several days ago at Louisville, jockey Eddie Arcaro was quoted as volunteering some rather caustic criticism of the racing surface at Churchill Downs. Various of his intimates have since told track superintendent Tom Young the Cincinnatian was misquoted. Smiling an amused smile, Young observed, "I am sort of new in this business, you know. I will catch on with more experience." He has been caring for the Downs surface for 37 years. We suppose that what Arcaro was quoted, or misquoted, as saying of the Louisville track might be said by every one of the 67 courses in America, for we doubt if there is any that never has a single hole in it, and paths occur in them from time to time. Management can only do its best to cope with these problems, for they are constantly recurring. As for the texture of a track, turfmen generally are prone to prefer them fast or deep, depending upon the condition and partialities of their individual horses. If one wishes to start a horse having thin hooves, he is likely to prefer a cushion of a depth which will not sting the animal. Conversely, if ones horse has a weak tendon, he does not want to chance bowing it on a deep or cuppy surface. Track superintendents naturally strive to strike a happy medium. For when the horses commence breaking down both the management and horsemen are in trouble. If a track is unsafe, trainers are understandably reluctant to run a good horse on it. In our opinion, Young had the old Downs course in about as good condition as ever it has been, last week. Horses were running fast over it, which suggested the bottom was firm enough to withstand quite a deluge before becoming really bad for the running of the Kentucky Derby. Nor did we see an unusual number of horses come back nodding. Matter of fact. Young was complimented frequently during Derby Week upon thee ondition in which he had the Downs track this spring. AAA "Beautiful Belmont" opens its meet as this is written and the Toboggan is the first of a lush agenda of 21 stakes, of which the most important is the Belmont on June 13. This mile and a half complements the Preakness here May 23, as the last of Americas "Triple Crown" events, and there is the same three weeks interval between these final two events provided between the Derby and Preakness in the rearrangement of dates. If this pattern is pursued across the years it will tend toward more "Triple Crown" winners, and the Belmont will assume more importance as the final "test of the champion." In its admirably done booklet on its spring stakes this season, the Westchester Racing Association reproduces interesting, illustrated newspaper accounts of the past "Crown" winners Belmont Stakes performances. The stakes book also contains a feature, titled "A Trace of Immortality," based on the poll of sports experts, who were asked what turf giants they feel will be newsworthy a decade from now. Six of the 10 leaders — Citation. War Admiral, Count Fleet, Whirlaway, Gallant Fox and Assault — were "Triple Crown" winners. AAA The Preakness, like the Derby, this spring has a fee to Continued on Page Thirty-Four si JUDGES STAND By CHARLES HATTON Continued from Page Forty-Four pass the entry box. In the instance* of the local stake, it is one of 00, twice that oJ exacted at the Downs, with an additional "3 00 to start. Unlike the Louisville race. r*T the Preakness provides no trainers nor - breeders awards, and the prize monies "S for second, third and fourth to finish fc are greater. Second money in the Derby - is 0,000, third, ,000, and fourth. ,500. Second money in the Preakness is 5,000. S third. 5,000, and fourth, ,500. This 5* helps assure a sizable field after the first clash among the leading three-year-olds at I— Louisville. The local classic, incidentally, * is the only one of the "Triple Crown" 2 events having a supplemental closing, thus q if the idea appeals to Edward Goemans he u. still may make his Arkansas Derby winner, ._ Curragh King, eligible for this event, at a r fee of ,500 May 9. And there is a rather — interesting possibility that Laffango, forced to forego his Derby engagement, may be cc up to fulfilling his engagement in the Run s_ for the Blackeyed Susans." Turf ana: Preakness eligibles include a Q son of Hyperion, Mrs. E. duPont Weirs Castle Hill II. . . . Harry Guggenheims Wings o Morn, who ran well but swerved greenly in the Kentucky Oaks, is a prospect for the Blackeyed Susan. . . . Saul Silberman is improving Randall for his summer meet at that pleasant Cleveland course: . . . Melville "Judge" Church, who reared him, attended the Derby to root for Ram o War, a native Virginian. . . . Kentucky tracks, under the law, may return players .96 of their wagers in minus pools, but we shouldnt care to be present if ever such a payoff was attempted. . . . Senator Joe. a past winner of the Baltimore Spring Handicap, is a prospect for that 5,000 May 16 sprint again this season. . . . That recent Kentucky dust storm is easily explained. Ivor Balding and Bob Hope were golfing at the Lexinton Country Club. . . . Vanderbilt expects "The Dancers" new sister eventually will be gray, though she now is a rather light chestnut. . . . Mrs. Widener Wichfield has made Guardian II., an Ardan colt, eligible for the Preakness.
