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REFLECTIONS *r nelson dunstan NEW YORK, N. Y., May 13.— When a race track has gone to the expense of installing a grass course, the officials naturally want to schedule a top race, or series of races, such as Atlantic City has announced. In August, last year, many of us were inclined to think that John Schapiro of Laurel had allowed his enthusiasm to boil over when he arranged the first running of the Washington, D. C, International at his track in October. There were predictions he could not get foreign horses to me over here for it. There were also predictions that American owners would hesitate to accept an invitation for such a race, especially if their horses had not run over a grass course. Schapiro challenged the situation, and to the surprise of many, the race not only was a success, but it started a trend toward the installation of more grass courses in this country. Atlantic City already had a fine one, one mile in circumference, and the managements desire to give the public what it wants is evident in the scheduling of two 5,000 grass races on September 16, followed by a 0,000 race on September 26, with the four horses in the money positions in the earlier events meeting on the later date. These races will probably fill the New Jersey track until it bulges. AAA According to veterans, the period from 1920 to 1930 was the golden age of sports, and its champions caused emotional and financial reactions of a permonent nature in a nation that thrills to athletic and equine competition. Man o War started it in 1920; the Zev-Papyrus race was staged at Belmont Park in 1923; the 1924 International Specials, featuring the French invader, Epinard, held the attention of the country. In 1928, a colt named New Broom brought 5,000, the greatest sum ever paid for a horse of that age in this country. They were great Track at Atlantic City Progresses Three Turf Course Races Scheduled Trend to Grass Sport Is Growing Laurels International Started It years, indeed, but we wonder if the racing fans 30 years hence will not consider the 50s just as amazing as we now consider the 20s. Those great events of the past can never be erased from the history books, but is the sport not now in another era of amazing financial and colorful age? Take, as an instance, the Zev-Papyrus race. As Ethel Barrymore would put it, "Thats all there is, there isnt any more." It was the Epsom Derby winner against the Kentucky Derby winner, and, if there ever was a natural, that was it. There was enthusiastic talk about making it an annual feature, but it died then and there. There were so many other events to grip the attention of a sports-minded nation, that it was soon forgotten, as it proved to be little more than a romp for the American horse. Zev had a decided advantage in every way over the English invader. AAA Since those glorious 20s, there have been many changes, and one of the most important was the advance of aviation, permitting the flying of a horse from one country to another without loss of form. Another was that grass courses were constructed in .this country and foreign owners did not shy away as they did a few years before, when asked to race over pasteboard tracks. Wide-awake racing promoters soon sensed that America likes to see horses race on the turf, and these events, like steeplechase and hurdles, gave welcome variety to racing programs. Steeplechasing and hurdling, we are sorry to say, have lost ground in recent years, while grass racing has taken a more solid grip with each passing year. Hialeah. Arlington, Washington, Laurel and Atlantic City officials sensed the trend and installed grass tracks which have attracted foreign racers to this country. The latest, of course, was Royal Vale, who demonstrated his speed over the grass at Hialeah, but has since shown he is just as formidable on dirt courses. Also a number of our American horses have become adapted to the grass and it all leads up to a new type of sport that has great appeal. And this is, international racing. AAA Ben Lindheimer, of Arlington and Washington Parks in Chicago, has always been keen to stage a top international race or a series at his Chicago tracks. Although he has not made an announcement as yet, we believe we are safe in saying that he is hoping to bring about some such events. Pimlico has already completed a grass course that it now settling. From California this winter we reported Dr. Strub was planning to build a grass course much along the lines of those on the other side. And that the 00,000 San Juan Capistrano running would be switched from the dirt to the grass, with foreign horses being invited to compete. Jimmy Donn, at Gulfstream Park, pointed to the beautiful infield and showed us just where a grass course woul be mapped. He already has announced a Pan-American Stakes for 1954. This race is designed to attract South American horses to compete with ours, and, needless to say, such a race will complement the Florida Derby and Gulfstream Handicap. Belmont Park officials have had little to say in recent months about a turf course at the beautiful Long Island track, but it is known they are alert to the trend, and are especially interested in events that have international color. AAA The Washington, D. C, International renewal is a Continued on Page Thirty-Six ■ I ■ ! I r ! 3 ; i - 1 - a i s r i - f I REFLECTIONS | By NELSON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Forty-Eight certainty at Laurel this fall, and, according to early announcements, the Pimlico offi- cials will stage a companion race, and now Atlantic City has stepped into the picture with the three races mentioned. One of the 5,000 events will be named the Atlantic City American-Bred Stakes and will be re- stricted to horses foaled within the contin- ental limits of the United States. The other 5,000 race will be the Atlantic City Foreign-Bred Stakes and will be for horses foaled outside the territorial limits of this country. Ten days later the first four horses in the two early races will meet in the United Nations Handicap at one mile and three-sixteenths. Here is a perfect ; example of an international race, and, like i the Washington, D. C, International, the : series is sure to appeal to the American public. It should prove a natural in every sense of the word, and the officials of the I Atlantic City course are entitled to much credit for putting up 00,000 for three events on a grass course. It is fitting that ; the winner of the Uinted Nations Handicap I ; I should be invited to compete in the Wash- ington, D. C, International.
