view raw text
JUDGES STAND by charles hatton PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 13. — Harry Guggenheims Derby hero, Dark Star is due here momentarily from Long Island, to train for the Preakness on the scene of the 00.-000 classic a week for Saturday. And he will be followed, soon after the week-ends Withers at Belmont Park, by oy his his noted noted rival, rival, Native Native Dancer. Dancer. It It Dancer" will by oy his his noted noted rival, rival, Native Native Dancer. Dancer. It It Dancer" will is probable that "The breeze for his Preakness engagement between races one day next week, and Cary Boshamer estimates "he will attract 5,000 more patrons to Pimlico than we could ordinarily expect, just to see him go through his paces." Marylanders regard A. G. Vanderbilts gallant gray colt as a sort of "home town boy," though he has yet to sport the cerise and white diamonds in their state. Mention of Dark Star, incidentally, reminds that Major Tom McCreery briefs us interestingly on his dam, Isolde, who now is one of Warner Jones broodmare band at the Hermitage near Louisville. As you may know, there is a story that Isolde was sold at the Spa yearling auctions to E. E. Coussell of the British Bloodstock Agency for export to Great Britain, and only for the war would never have met Royal Gem n. Major McCreery confirms the accuracy of this, and writes that, "Isolde was one of a number of yearlings acquired by the BBA for shipment abroad. Owing to the second World War, a very few of them could be exported, and Isolde was among those remaining in America. I trained and raced her here for the Aly Khan, for whose account Coussell had purchased her. She won at two and again at three. Knowing that the Aly Khan bought her primarily for her intrinsic value at stud, I sent her to Kentucky as a four-year-old. But, unfortunately, she went barren the first two years, and I sold her, for a very nominal sum. Thereafter she conceived and you know the rest of the jftory." Warner Jones was among the first breeders to Major McCreery Recalls Dam of Dark Star Correspondent Training Well for Preakness Pimlico Club Plans Further Improvements Offer Special Features Preakness Week recognize the worth of Bull Dog fillies as producers and for some years has been an avid collector of them for his Kentucky stud. These transactions have been rewarding, for most of his success as a breeder has been achieved through daughters of the French stallion, now pensioned at Coldstream. AAA The Gordon Guibersons now are among the hundreds of Americans in Britain for the coronation, but it would not at all surprise us were the Californians to plane back on the double to see Correspondents performance in the Preakness. The Khaled colt, incidentally, is to be ridden in this engagement by Bobby Summers, who seems to fit him well, and to be acquainted with his quirks. And trainer Wally Dunn was saying just now how pleased he is with the progressive way Correspondent has done for him since coming to Pimlico. Of his race in the Derby, the affable Canadian is convinced, "He disliked the track. I am not criticizing the Downs. It is simply-that he did not run over it as he had Keeneland. I think he will like this track, and plan to race him over it in the Preakness Prep." There is a discrepancy in the California and Louisville form of Correspondent and Invigorator, which seems to lend credence to Dunns views. Correspondent is liberally engaged in stakes this side of the Rackies, and is in the Belmont and Arlington Classic among other things. If it should turn out he is not that sort of colt quite, there still are many less classical, nevertheless, valuable three-year-old stakes in which he could run. It is not as if he were on some isolated circuit where the best of the division is unavoidable. Several columns ago, it was noted that Guiberson has acquired four or five Nasrullah yearlings, and probably has more of these than any other U S sportsman. Dunn has inspected them, and also Nasrullah, and observes, "I was struck with their good legs and general quality. Perhaps since they were produced here they will wear better than some of the foreigners imported as horses-in-training. You knovr there isnt the same strain racing on the turf there is running over our tracks. A good many horses that come here clean develop infirmities about the time they become acclimated. It is a delay." Of Nasrullah individually, Dunn said, "I think anybody who does not admire him, just doesnt like horses." He is represented in England by this years Epsom Derby favorite and Guineas winner, Nearula. AAA John Jackson took up on the " tour" of Pimlico upon our arrival here from Kentucky and we were properly impressed by the improvements in the 83-year-old park. A great deal of what was waste space has been utilized, for more mutuels, concessions, etc., beneath the grandstand, and the capacity of the old clubhouse has been increased about 100 per cent. Jackson has ripped out the walls of forgotten and unnecessary storage rooms opened up narrow "bottleneck" passageways and, in short, seems to have a kind of genius for creating larger areas where they appeared geometrically impossible. Over coffee this morning, the ubiquitous Lou Pondf ield referred to other plans for improving Pimlico. If and when the acreage adjoining the track is rezoned, so that the stables in the rear of the stand may be removed there, this structure may be enlarged and there will be an increase in parking facilities. This last is among Pimlicos most urgent needs, and a double decked parking lot is under con-Continued on Page Thirty-Six I J € e r s i is c c t £ 1 c c I r d s t d E 1 f s p t r 0 j i- is a * i] e * * B ij f 0 J f JUDGES STAND By CHARLES HATTON Continued from Page Forty-Eight sideration. Also we learn the entire lawn before the old clubhouse may be elevated and paved, to provide more seats in that nclosure. Indications today were that the rezoning will be forthcoming momentarily. AAA The Maryland Jockey Club is striving to develop "Preakness Week" pretty much as the Downs has Derby Week, and there j something rather special going on each of the six days beginning on May 18. Mon- j t days card will be of particular interest for the Preakness Prep, which may place Dark i Star versus Correspondent, and the Mary- 3 land Jockey Clubs Dinner Purses intro- c ductory running. There will be no racing r-on Tuesday, but the Maryland Horse t Breeders Association will stage its an- 1 nual yearling show on that date. Wednes- I day, May 20, will be "Virginia Day," and 1 scores of racing men and breeders from 1 the neighboring state will be present that £ a day, for luncheon in the club and the run- 1 ning of the Virginia Horsemens Plate. On 1 Thursday, there is the Back Again Purse, 1 for two-year-olds that were exhibited at show. On Friday, the management will present the Joe Palmer Purse, in honor of the late turf writer, who covered many renewals of the Preakness. And, of course, on Saturday, there is the "Run for the Blackeyed Susans" itself. Altogther there a fair anology between Preakness Week and Derby Week in Kentucky. * A A Turfana: Twelve visiting Canadians, here for the Maryland Cup, were interested to inspect Hunters Moon IV. at Janon Fishers historic "The Caves." A syndicate of Maryland breeders was able to secure Moonrushs sire for 5 per share. And many mares of Moonrushs immedate family are available for him here. . . . The Argentine Jockey Club quarters, among the finest in the world, were burned to the ground in a recent eruption of Latin tern- j. perament. . . . Eddie Arcaro says that he r has a higher opinion of Native Dancer than he had previous to the Derby. . . . One , hears Royal Vale was schooled through the field before discovering his form on the flat. . . . Again II. must return to South America in November, unless the authori- * ties release him for sale here.