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*~ — i , BETWEEN RACES * «"* om GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden. N. J., May 8. — Robert P. Levy, one of Americas youngest, but nevertheless, most enthusiastic stable owners, is using the Jersey Stakes tomorrow as a vehicle to find out whether Hueso, the second horse he has ever owned, is of Preakness and Belmont Stakes caliber. By way of background, Levys first horse was Greek Stadium, who, when last heard from, was down at Sunshine Park racing in company which" had little pretentions of quality, and he ruefully admitted it. His second horse — so far, Levy has confined himself to the luxury of a one-horse stable in order to concentrate his excitement — Hueso, is something quite different. He is a stakes winner, having scored in the Cherry Blossom at Bowie, was second to Royal Bay Gem in the Chesapeake, and then made the mistake of going to Jamaica for an allowance race, in which he was soundly beaten. This race was so discouraging that Levy gave up the idea of sending him out to Churchill Downs for the Derby. But last Tuesdays Trial here, which Hueso won by about six open lengths, was proof enough that the Jamaica effort should be thrown out, and once again, the man is riding high with hopes. If Hueso shows enough in the Jersey tomorrow, the ,500 supplemental entry fee will be paid for the Preakness. The colt already is eligible for the Belmont. In any event, the Derby proved that no three-year-old of this year is invincible at scale weight, and the decision that Hueso was not perhaps really worth while on the basis of the one Jamaica race was premature. AAA Levy takes more than a passing pardonable pride in Hueso, because he picked him out himself as a prospect. "I saw him run in New York when he was still a maiden," he explains. "He ran one day in 1:05%, when most of the other two-year-old races were being run much slower. I Hueso Gets Merit Test in Jersey Stakes One Horse Stable Puts Levy in Limelight Youthful Owner Picked Out Colt on Time Industry Eagerly Awaits Turf TV Ratings liked him on that bit of dope and trainer Sid Jacobs liked him on conformation. So we purchased him from Walter Kelly, trainer for Elmendorf, and he has far more than won himself out to date." Incidentally, on the same afternoon that Huesco was declaring himself back in the three-year-old picture, Dr. and Mrs. Leon Levy unveiled a promising two-year-old colt by Natchez, styled "Iron Heels." AAA And thereby hangs a bit of a story. Iron Heels was bred by Hirsch Jacobs and Isadore Bieber, was one of three weanlings sent to California to grow up in western sunshine to help Jacobs make a comparison with other weanlings kept in Kentucky, but sent to Florida as yearlings. Iron Heels was raised at the Riverside Farm of Dr. Frank Porter Miller, was broken at the Pomona Fair Grounds, but was not raced until mid-April at Jamaica. He graduated here from the maiden ranks rather impressively. Unfortunately, Iron Heels is not well staked, which has occasioned a rush to name him for most everything which is not closed. "A small fellow cant afford to nominate for everything," says Jacobs, "so I usually just let them go. It takes a small fortune to have the youngster you breed and race eligible around the country. That he was not named for everything in this case doesnt mean we dint think he was our best prospect." The Levys, incidentally, acquired Iron Heels from Jacobs at private terms. In about two weeks, first reports will be available as to "audience rating" on the series of televised New York stakes races, starting with the Gotham. The sponrs of the show, Gillette Razor, are awaiting the report with quite as much interest as the turf industry, although in so far as the Gotham and Wood are concerned, the races will have no TV basis of comparison with previous years. The Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, however, will have a background of one previous year of telecasting on a coast-to-coast basis. It is expected the Derby rating will soar over that of last year, a great deal of its additional screen popularity being due, no doubt, to the appearance of Native Dancer, although some growth might be attributed to the increasing popularity of racing most everywhere with the American public. The reports will be important both to sponsor and industry, in the case of the former, will go a long way toward establishing sponsorship price of an event like the Derby, in the case of the industry, a better understanding of the role of TV in racing as of this year and which will enable perhaps more intelligent planning of TV use in the future. AAA One reason many feel that TV will not hurt racing, and by hurt we mean a direct telecast from the track, is the growing awareness of people who are up to date on their racing that TV may never provide the same show that can be had at the track. The subtle changes in stride of a horse, trouble and of how much importance, and all the little things that add up to make a race thrilling, cannot be shown on present TV screens. Or, at least, they are not apparent to the viewer. It was absolutely amazing to experts in such matters, for instance, how much different the Derby appeared on TV and in the film newsreels. The latter, in case you are interested, tended to disprove any notion that the "bump" sustained Continued on Page Forty-Four I BETWEEN RACES I By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty-Eight by Native Dancer going into the first turn was decisive, or in any way a turning point in the race. It may be that TV race classics may eventually wind up with vantage points for their cameras such as are now enjoyed by film patrol lenses. The latter portray races accurately, but are by no means as dramatic for a screening as are panoramic shots. Perhaps even a happy medium between the two is within the bounds of possibility. AAA Horses and People: Gene Mori is tossing a luncheon in the directors room tomorrow for a flock of distinguished guests, as a prelude to the running of the Jersey Stakes. . . . Before departing for California, Santa Anitas Gwynne Wilson checked Laurels grass mixture and sod as used on the Laurel turf course. . . . Commenting upon the Tanforan meeting, which comes to a close tomorrow near San Francisco, president Gene Mori remarks, "The most heartening thing about the meeting was the public acceptance given Tanforan and its evident growing popularity with the people of the San Francisco Bay area. We feel our efforts to at once offer the finest possible racing and improve our plant has not been unappreciated." . . . Tanforan ends on uhe plus side in both attendance and pari-mutuel handle, and the great and consistent riding of Willie Shoemaker overshadowing most everything else, racing wise. . . . Friends credit parenthood with changing jockey Joe Culome from a brash and brassy young rider into a steady and dependable pilot. . . . Culmone is riding very well here, but is seemingly over the notion that he is heavens gift to the saddle. ... It is our personal opinion that weight and temperament are the most decisive factors in determining success and length of riding careers, and perhaps temperament is as important as poundage.
