view raw text
JUDGES STAND by charles hatton DETROIT RACE COURSE, Livonia, Mich., June 18. — During the recent National Association of State Racing Commissioners convention the importance of providing more races exclusively for fillies and mares was stressed by both the Thoroughbred Club of America and the American Thoroughbred Breeders Asso- ciation. We should think they will be delighted with the programs here in the Midwest during the summer weeks. There are many valuable stakes for the sex on the rosters, beginning with the Michigan Racing Associations 0,000 Rose Leaves here this week end. On next Wednesday, the 5,000 Artful Stakes will be renewed at Chicagos fashion-plated Arlington Park. And Ben Lindheimer has supplemented it with five other stakes for three-year-olds and upward of the sex, bringing the total added monies to 40,000. Mrs. E. E. Dale Shaffers Sweet Patootie is eligible for both the Rose Leaves and Artful, though their = dates are uncomfortably close. It is probable that the older Rose Leaves elligible, Dixie Flyer, will be a commuter for the 0,000 Arlington Matron on July 29, and another favorite, Sickles Image, is pointing for various of the filly and mare events there. In addition to the Artful, Cleaopatra, Misty Isle, Modesty, Matron and Beverly for older mares, Arlington-Washington this summer will renew the Lassie and Princess Pat for two-year-old fillies, with 0,000 added to each. The programs at Arlington and Washintgon have gone far toward stabilizing the market for yearling fillies, and many of our neighbors in the Blue Grass have expressed the hope more clubs will follow Lindheimers example. AAA There is a suggestion, in the nominations for the 0,-000 Michigan Mile, it may produce one of the finest races of the entire 1953 season. Its very conditions are an in- Midwest Filly Races Aid Breeding Industry Michigan Mile Boon to Detroit Racing Film Patrol Proving Worth at MRA Experts Divided on Dancers Status vitation to the connections of the "name horses," so often "in the hands of the handicappers," and the response has been gratifying to E. E. Dale Shaffer and his associates. The weights being at 116 Jor three-year-olds, 126 for more mature performers. Winners of 5,000 in 1952-53 carry four pounds additional. Non-winners of 0,000 in 53 are allowed four pounds, 5,000 in 53 or 0,000 twice in 52, eight pounds, 5,000 in 53 or 0,000 twice in !52, 12 pounds. Additionally a horse could start for this event on July 25 and conceivably reappear for the 5,000 Arling-r tori Handicap six days later. In any case, the MRAs race comes appreciably near compliance to turfmens requests for more "wfa" races in midsummer, and such as Hill Gail, Royal Vale, Royal Governor, Indian Hemp, Oil Capitol and Spartan Valor are among the eligibles. The Michigan Mile was restored to the local stakes roster in the expressed hope it would show Detroiters some of the countrys outstanding performers. One would not expect a contest under such terms to attract a field requiring auxiliary stall gates, but rather one more remarkable for quality Jhan size. Though the club could have thought of likelier races commercially, this one should be worth a great deal to Detroit racing in public relations. AAA The Michigan Racing Association has installed the . film patrol for this meeting and it seems to us that between this device and the vigilance of the stewards the riding is much more jsanitary than at past Detroit meets. Stewards Lewis H. Walter, Teague Pichon and James G. Catlett have stood by the evidence of their own eyes, sup ported by the testimony of the patrol, and had suspended nine or ten jockeys the first 15 days. Each was grounded the 10 days advocated by the Jockeys Guild in instances of foul riding. Thus reprimanded, riders incline to be less pushing, so to speak. And there has not been a spill thus far in the meeting. We think that the film patrol has been instrumental in cultivating the publics confidence in the sport. Also that it will tend toward racing of a higher quality. For, of course, the fact there is a film patrol and the stewards are so punctilious about the rules will not be lost on horsemen having very valuable animals they may start in various of the stakes offerings. AAA Racing men about the country now are at odds over a question of whether Native Dancer is a great horse. Those who are prepared to call him a great performer think the purists very stuffy and difficult in the matter. Those who want convincing think the other side lacking in discrimination and critical taste. Actually, the Saga-morean stands today where Bimelech did at a corresponding time in his three-year-old season. Bimelech was unbeaten at two, won the Preakness and the Belmont at three, and had finished second in the Derby. We always suspect ourselves of drivelling trying to estimate what the future holds for a horse. But perhaps one may answer the question of whether Native Dancer has, already in his career, established himself as a great horse by asking the question if Bimelech is included when they are mentioned. Had Citations career closed with the Stars and Stripes, July 4, of his three-year-old form, nobody who was present ever would have considered him outstanding. For an obscure three-year-old called Loujac had Arcaro flailing him for a quarter mile. This thing of being accepted as a great race horse * Continued on Page Thirty-Nine JUDGES STAND By CHARLES HATTON Continued from Page Forty-Eight involves a kind of crowd psychology which sometimes surpasseth all understanding. Some performers earn renown very cheaply. Others, like Assault, never seem to be fully appreciated. Future generations of turf experts are going to analyze the records of latter day turf idols and think we must be a particularly obtuse lot to make so much fuss over several of the animals we do, while rarely mentioning Assault. AAA Turf ana: Mrs. Otto Neumanns home-gro.wn Beanir proclaimed herself smartest of the two-year-old fillies at this point in the Tomboy, Detroiters well recall her dam, Bea Right, a frequent MRA winner. . . . There is some conjecture if Spartan Spotty Velour Valor can be quite ready for the Michigan Mile. . . . The E. E. Dale Shaffers are vacationing at a nearby Michigan lake. ... Bowlers extraordinaire are general manager Bob Leavitt and Henry Forrest. They play lefthanded just to make it more interesting. Spectators live dangerously. . . . Ten of the MRAs directorate are thoroughbred breeders. . . . Vince Mara, erstwhile aide-de-camp for Mr. Fitz, is a local patrol judge.
