view raw text
sic sic will will bring bring togeth together JUDGES STAND *y charles hatton PIMLICO. Baltimore, Md., May 18. — If we read the signs and portents correctly, the first meeting under the new auspices here at Pimlico is going to prove the most successful in the recent history of the delightful old Baltimore course. "Preakness Week" began with a prospect the seventy-seventh running of the 00,000 clas-ter Native Native Dancer Dancer and and Dark Dark Star Star in in a a sic sic will will bring bring togeth together Native Native Dancer Dancer and and Dark Dark Star Star in in a a race that will have an irresistible appeal for turfgoers following their dramatic Derby finish. The Dancer has acquired tremendous box office, and benefits the sport wherever he appears, pretty much as Citation did several years back. Citations Preakness attracted 32,244 in pleasant weather, the largest crowd to witness this second leg of the "Triple Crown" events in its past five renewals. And this race Saturday has a greater competitive element, for "Big Cy" had won his Derby in a canter. Last season, with no particular star, the Preakness drew a crowd of 29,346, who wagered ,824,831. As we have previously noted, the track record attendance at Pimlico is 42,370, established back in 1946. And general manager Jackson tells us there is an unprecedented flood of requests for accommodations at the Preakness this spring. Despite some "unfair" weather the first 11 days, the patronage has represented a gratifying uptrend compared with 1952 statistics. The play has averaged 37,878 as against 77,515 a year ago, the crowds averaging 12,248 as against 11,567. The increased facilities, particularly in the members club section, and the rearrangement of the main line in the "tote" have helped make these gains possible. There is far less cross traffic in the mutuels on what are called "big days," though the crowds are larger. a a a Royal Chargers sale for about 00,000, to U. S. breeders, softened the blow of the Irish National Preakness Week May Set Play, Crowd Marks Royal Chargers Stock Up Since Sale Cleveland Raceways Policies Unchanged Prospective Mates for Native Dancer Studs purchase of Tulyar for 00,000. But with all due respect for Tulyars tremendous potentialities as a sire, we think that the Irish are going to miss Royal Charger, almost as much as they miss his three-parts brother, Nasrullah. The season across the Atlantic is young, and the distances of the classic events have not yet progressed to a point making stamina a prerequisite of winning them. So Royal Charger still is regarded as categorically "a speed sire." But it is interesting that his daughter, Happy Laughter, won the 1,000 Guineas, and his son, Sea Charger, the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Already established as a leading sire of two-year-olds, it is not entirely impossible that Royal Charger this season will distinguish himself as a sire of classic winners. Genetically he has fully as much license as has Nasrullah to get stayers, for the only differnce in their pedigrees is that Royal Charger has a cross of Solario. The latters blood has come to be considered rather a negative element, but it can only be interpreted to represent stamina, when its presence is at all effective. Royal Charger now is making his final stud season at "Tully," and Major Cyril Hall will ship him to Les Combs at Spendthrift this summer. At Spendthrift he will have access to mares of the Myrtlewood family and one may say with some confidence the resultant foals will have an appeal for yearling buyers. His colts and fillies we saw sold at Balls Bridge last fall were uniformly well balanced and precocious. AAA This tourist chanced to be present when Mack Lesnick purchased Cary Boshamers holdings in Cranwood and Thistle Down, and both expressed confidence that Cleveland racing has a bright future. Lesnicks acquisition of controlling interest will in no way alter the progressive policies of the Cleveland Raceways, according to general manager Lou Pondfield. Lesnick, Pondfield and Bosham-er are all members of the board of directors of the Old Hilltop Corporation, which controls Pimlico. Thistle Downs new, seven-level grandstand, housing the jockey room, administration offices and part of the paddock, is expected to be completed on schedule for the September 11 opening of that meeting. And five concrete block barns are under construction. Lou Pondfield is planning a long roster of stakes, apart from the 5,000 Ohio Derby, which, in cidentally, first was run at Cancinnati in the 1870s. Racing at Cranwood and Thistle Down this season will have a Pimlico flavor, as Fred Burton. Wilmer Brinton, Fred Colwill, mutuels manager Jim Langford. Jack OKeefe, and others, associated with racing here will serve also at those meets. Pondfield believes that Cranwood, which operates 35 days, beginning June 8, will average about 00,000 daily in the "tote," as against 65,-000 last autumn. This despite the increase in the take from 10 to 12% per cent. The new tariff is the only "move in the wrong direction" in Ohio racing since Bo-shamer, Silberman and Pondfield began its renaissance several years ago. Its impact could retard Cleveland racings development. AAA Sagamore Farm has Discovery and his son, Loser Weeper, at stud this season, and in time will have Discoverys grandson, Native Dancer. But chatting with farm manager Ralph Kircheval here today, he observed that Vanderbilts mares have been bred to a wide assortment of stallions in late years, and that about 10 of the band of Continued on Page Thirty-Five JUDGES STAND By CHARLES HATTON Continued from Page Forty 31 now in production could be mated with 1 Native Dancer without inbreeding. These include Next Move, Now What, Now and Again, Kitchen Maid, Buffet Supper, Roman Candle and Irisen. Geisha and her 1953 foal, a corking big sister to The Dancer," will be shipped from Dan Scotts Kentucky place to Sagamore in about two I weeks. At the same time, Now What, who I foaled a Count Fleet filly at Sagamore this spring, will be returned to Kentucky to be bred again to the Hertz stallion. Loser Weepers first crop of foals please Kirche-al and he will have a full book this season. The aging Discovery, now 22, will be limited to 12 mares, in an effort to conserve him. Many breeders take a dim view of booking a great many mares to stallions of any age, or degree of fertility, for usually this comes to a number of late foals. And if the horse is standing on a live-foal; ; basis, there is negligible difference in the revenue from him. In addition to the mares he has at Sagamore and in Kentucky, Van-derbilt has one, Not That, in California. She has an On Trust filly foal and visits Count Speed. Breeders always wonder about mares that have campaigned long and hard as broodmare prospects, but Kircheval observes that Irisen has conceived to Discovery each season, and her oldest, a two-year-old colt called Look Alive, is a youngster of some promise. AAA Turf ana: Louis Lee Haggin II. tells us work on Keenelands enlarged grandstand is well under way. . . . A. T. Allens Thin Dime, who won while she was in foal last season, is a winner in Maryland again this spring. . . . John D. Jackson is a veteran of the RAP. . . . The International this year will follow the Prix de Triomphe. . . . Lucien Chartrand, general manager of Blue Bonnets, and chairman of the Quebec Racing Commission, will attend the Preakness. . . . Ditto Rosa Ponselle, the opera star. . . . Conflicting dates preculde Jack CKeefe from serving as presiding steward at Blue Bonnets this season, but he will continue director of racing there. . . . Most horses are obtuse animals, but Bill Winfrey credits Native Dancer with having a lively imagination. . . . Pew races will be attempted over Pimhcos new turf course this fall.
