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REFLECTIONS by nelson unstan LEXINGTON, Ky., May 7.— In recent days Kentucky nawspapers and also Kentuckians have been discussing Eric Guerin s unfortunate statement regarding the bumping of Native Dancer in last Saturdays renewal of the Kentucky Derby. After • the race, Bill Winfrey, trainer of the son of Polynesian, made a statement in which he held that while it was unfortunate the Vanderbilt horse may have suffered as a result of the bump---- ing, they had no alibis to offer. At first Kentucky papers carried the story that Vanderbilt did not hold Guerin responsible for the defeat, but apparently a later statement gave people around here the impression they now felt their champion had been "bumped deliberately." While it is understandable that Guerin, ordinarily a level-headed youngster, was terribly disappointed at the defeat, and also the criticism that was leveled at him, it remains that he made what amounts to little less than a vicious charge against Al Popara, the lad who rode Money Broker. Guerin said: "I talked to Money Brokers jockey after the race and he told me his horse was lugging in and he could not hold him." Then he added, "But truthfully I think he was lying. I dont think it was an accident." Guerin is entitled to his opinion, but very few people we have talked with here in Kentucky substantiate what he has to say. Jerry McNerney, turf editor of the Louisville Courier Journal, says, "All of this sounds like sour grapes." Why Popara would purposely want to bump Native Dancer is not explained, but, as we saw the incident, the boy had no more intention of knocking Native Dancer out of the race than any other boy with a mount would huve had. Guerin is a fine little race rider, but he should not allow his disappointment to carry him to the point where he would openly say that the lad on Money Broker was "a * Guerin Made Unfortunate Derby Charges Claim Popara Is Lying Out of Line Did Guggenheim Make Lucky Mistake? Already Planning Changes at Churchill liar." Thats pretty rough language if it could not be proven. It cannot. AAA How true we do not pretend to know, but a writer on one Cincinnati paper claims that Harry Guggenheim bought the Kentucky Derby winner, Dark Star, by mistake. The writer of the story says that he talked with Mrs. Warner Jones, wife of the breeder, and she said: "Captain Guggenheim bought Dark Star by mistake. We had two colts the same age that he looked at. He then picked out one, but picked up the other. When we discovered it we offered to let him switch, but he said, Never mind, Ive got this one now and I kind of like him-." Just how this could happen is beyond us, although it is possible that such a mistake could honestly be made. Years ago, at Saratoga, there were two horses by Star Shoot who were of the same coloring and one was bought by the late Samuel D. Riddle, the other by John E. Madden. The next day it was discovered that, due to their similar appearance, they had been switched. For weeks the controversy raged and it looked for quite some time as if the only settlement would be through a recourse to law. But, fortunately, the late Jim Tranter finally settled the situation, but not to the satisfaction of both parties. As we are traveling we do not have the exact details and our memory is somewhat vague as to the final outcome. The case of Dark Star is entirely different, however, and, if the story is true, it is a classic of its kind. When in history has a man taken the wrong horse and found out he has a Kentucky Derby winner? Churchill Downs must be classed with Pimlico and Saratoga as one of the great racing plants that have come down through the years to store up considerable tradition, Hardly had the Kentucky Derby been run when Stanley Hugenberg, executive vice-president at the famed Louisville track, met with many sports and turf writers to tell of their plans for the future. Hugenberg, a shrewd racing official, told the scribes, "Churchill Downs is the showcase of racing and it is also the top attraction in the Kentucky area." He went on to say that the* old course where the Derby is run annually puts more money back into improvements than any other track, and whether that is true or not this writer does not pretend to know. It has always been our impression that Belmont Park plowed back more profits, along with Santa Anita, than any other tracks in the country, but we could be wrong on this point. Hugenberg gave the scribes something to think about when he said that the Downs is insured for ,500,000, but if fire should remove it from the scene it could not be replaced for 5,000,000. "We pay 0,000 a year in property tax, ,500 a day license, and the state takes three per cent of the mutuel handle." He added those figures prove that a race track represents a huge investment and that the lawmakers in the various states, and especially New York, are tempting fate and also state income when they place such terrific tax burdens as, for instance, is now the case in New York. While some people continue to decry the terrible race track fires in recent years, Hugenberg points out, "Actually we have more men out here on Derby Day doing nothing but watching for fires than are employed at most any other race track in America." AAA For years the breeders in Kentucky and other localities have been asking for more and richer races for fillies and Continued on Page Thirty-Four S REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Forty-Four mares and in this writers opinion racing organizations have responded in fine fash-n ion. Breeders no longer hesitate to send — members of the weaker sex to the sales-». ring. In fact, if we were to check the records we could list many fillies who were as fe eagerly bid for as the colts during recent 5 seasons. In the early days of the present P year. Delaware Park caused something of a ►_* stir when they raised the value of the New- castle Handicap to 00,000, thus making 3 it one of the richest races for members of * that sex run throughout the world. The stakes schedule for Monmouth Park was g released a day or two back and it was no * great surprise that this year the Monmouth £ Oaks would have a value of 0,000 in added money. Two years ago, a filly topped I the yearling sale figure of 0,000 and if 1 the highest price heard this year is for a J colt rather than a filly, we predict that the 2 price for the latter will be very close to that of the top one. It has taken many j years for the stakes schedules to be so re-r vised that fillies are now the pride of their 5 owners and also the breeders. Actually, a filly can be regarded as a better investment than a colt, for even if they do not earn their purchase price on the race course they have considerable value as stud prospects when retirement days roll around. AAA Scarcely a day passes but that we do not receive one of more letters from people interested in the breeding of horses and asking us to recommend books on the subject. There is one which we received today from Howard Reineman. of Crown Crest Farm, that we would not hesitate to recommend in the highest terms. Last November they conducted the stud managers course at the University of Kentucky and prominent men came from all over the country to hear the lectures by breeders, farm managers, veterinarians, and sicentists, on subjects pertaining to the thoroughbred. Naturally, there were hundreds of men who would j have given the right arm to hear these prominent speakers for they know their subjects thoroughly from acual practice in their particular field. Every one of these lectures were recorded and have now been put in book form so that all of us who could not attend can now read every one of the lectures that were heard by those who did. It makes fascinating reading and if you are interested in the subject you will appreciate a copy of this work. Whether this book is for sale publicly we are frank to say we do not know, but would advise, if interested, you write the Stud Managers Course, P. O. Box 1520, Lexing- J ing, Ky. If you get a copy we can guarantee that you will have hours of fascinating reading. It covers everything from the care, feeding and management of stallions, and also broodmares, nutrition, genetics, breaking yearlings, training horses, equine surgery and the shipping of horses.
