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* JUDGES STAND by charles hatton PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 16. — "Preakness Week" in Maryland always has been a sort of festival of racing, and it begins in the best tradition Monday when the Derby winner Dark Star meets Correspondent and Royal Bay Gem in the Preakness Prep. The Guggenheim colt and his traveling traveling companion companion Bimini Bimini Bay Bay were were traveling traveling companion companion Bimini Bimini Bay Bay were were on the Hilltop surface to eanter once around this morning, and Native Dancers conqueror does not appear to have drifted at all since his brave race at Louisville. Tidewater turfgoers have never seen Dark Star, and he is expected to attract the largest weekday crowd of the meeting for the Prep. The Prep used to be a stakes event, but this spring is a ,500 overnighter. General manager Jackson said before entries closed however that the race would go" if just three horses turned up in the entry box, because of its correlation to the Preakness in the pattern of three-year-olds spring campaign. The sporting precept implicit in this statement is consistent with Pim-licos policy of guaranteeing turfmen that any overnighter worth a minimum of ,000 will be programmed, if five different interest are represented in the entries. It is our observation that this policy, along with the generous overnight purses for the better horses, has gained Pimlico the support of more desirable racing stables. Marylanders are knowledgeable, discriminating racegoers and the improved racing has, in turn resulted in larger crowds and play. We think some other associations about the country might profit from the Maryland Jockey Clubs experience. Its basic formula of distribution is far more appealing to turfmen than a schedule, for example of a few top heavy stakes having a weak supporting program of overnighters. By guaranteeing that allowance races having five entrants will be carded, Pimlico naturally attracts more horses having a smatter- Pimlicos Sporting Purse Policy Effective Emphasis on Filly Stakes Aids Breeders Inbreeding to Noted Hyperion Suggested Pimlico to Open Innerfield for Preakness ing of class, thus is better prepared to fill such events satisfactorily. AAA Racing associations continue to offer more, and more lucrative prizes for the female of the species. Recently the Monmouth Park club announced that its Monmouth Oaks this season will have 0,000 added. And now we learn that John Schapiro has enhanced the added value of the 1954 Selima, increasing its endowment from 5,-000 to 0,000. This important mile and a sixteenth had its original closing at midnight last evening and without looking we know that it has attracted the entry of every yearling filly whose breeding suggests she is eligible to be a stakes winner. There was a time, about 20 years ago, when a careless woodchopper might count the number of filly features on the fingers of one hand. Yearlings of that sex became a drug on the market and breeders were understandably chagrined when their mares foaled fillies. Happily for the allied racing and bloodstock breeding industries it is now possible for a really good filly to earn 50,000 or 00,00 in a single campaign, competing with those of her own sex, and fillies occasionally have topped the Keenelahd and Saratoga sales. Indeed it is Ben Jones opinion that Les Combs daughter of Mahmoud and Durazna will come creditably close to being the most sought after individual lot at Keeneland in July. Whereas few colts are sufficiently capable to warrant an opportunity at stud, fillies of any breeding have a potential value beyond the racecourse, and this is not lost on patrons of the various yearling markets. AAA English publications are replete with the most personal items, from "lonely hearts" missives to "agony columns." So it was not greatly surprising to read, in a letter to the editor of The British Racehorse, a suggestion that Lc-d Derby experiment with inbreeding to his aging Hyperion, "before it is too late." As one who is not particularly sold on the theory of inbreeding, this is an interesting thought. Frankly we think many racing men have a misconception of what occurs in instances of inbreeding. The term "doubling up" the blood of a successful ancestor is construed to mean that his or her characteristics are somehow intensified in the offspring. Actually it is impossible to inbreed without introducing foreign elements, unless one goes to the extreme of mating brothers and sisters. If we know John Staley, who strikes us as a most practical horseman, he is not likely to pursue the suggestion of inbreeding to Hyperion. Nevertheless this stallion is one whose temperament and quality is such his blood should lend itself to such concentration. The Hyperions are very generous, intelligent animals on the whole, and physically the only fault we could find with him is his somewhat soft looking feet. He has been crossed successfully with the hot-blooded descendants of Phalaris, pretty much as our Bull Lea has "nicked" well with Blenheim n. And we shall not be at all surprised if some American disciple of the inbreeding hypothesis makes the experiment urged in The British Racehorse. AAA The increase of about 10 per cent in attendance and play here on the Hilltop, and the nip-and-tuck result of the Knetucky Derby suggest a gathering of more than Continued on Page Thirty-Five JUDGES STAND By CHARLES HATTON Continued from Page Forty-Four 40,000 for the Preakness and the management is preparing to accommodate such a crowd. For a time its was indicated that the inner field, usually thrown open to the patrons Preakness Day, would be closed to them this year. But Lou Pondfield now feels that it may be necessary, despite the increased facilities on the stand side of the course. With the installation of the new tote board, the wagering booths were removed from the innerfield. However Pond-field observes that he wishes to encourage families to come to the Preakness and bring the children to see the race from this vantage point as they have in the past. Racing everywhere should welcome the youngsters, just as baseball has to such good purpose. Now that the rezoning of the 21 acres adjoining the Baltimore course seems assured, it is expected that future Preaknesses will find the Maryland Jockey Club prepared to handle 40,000 or 50,000 more comfortably. AAA Turf ana: Louis Lee Haggin II. s Home-stake is a prospect for Delaware Parks two-year-old features. . Laurels new clubhouse is being constructed at an estimated cost of ,500,000. . .The installation of a walkie-talkie at Arlington and Washington will augment the Chicago tracks fire protection program . Paddock observers note Royal Vale wears a burr, to prevent his lugging in Atlantic Citys series of turf course stakes reflects an abiding faith in that vacation centers weather . . . Happy Laughters 1,000 Guineas success is encouraging to the Royal Charger syndicate . .Cary Boshamer believes Cleveland tracks may ultimate average ,000 daily in the tote.
