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WEIGHING IN By EVAN SHIPMAN DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Del., June 26. — Local interest in tomorrows Sussex Handicap is as high as one would expect, seeing" that the two outstanding candidates for honors in this 10-furlong test, Royal Vale and One Count, are on their "home grounds," and will be showing the many loyal friends of Mrs. E. du Pont Weirs and the Jeffords stables- their credentials for the first time this season. As a matter of fact, Delaware racing, fans have gained all their knowledge of these two brilliant thoroughbreds from what they have read concerning them in the papers, since One Count, an expected starter in last years renewal of the Kent Stakes, after having captured the Belmont, twisted an ankle and was forced to pass up the Delaware race, while Royal Vales brief but astonishing career has, so far, unfolded at Florida, Long Island, Maryland and New England tracks. Although he was bred across the state line in Maryland, One Count, chosen as Horse of the Year in 52 after having won The Jockey Club Gold Cup from Mark-Ye-Well and Crafty Admiral, has a special place in the affections of Delaware racegoers because of the intimate connection of both Walter M. and Mrs. Jeffords with this track, and Jim Ryan, of course, had his training quarters for Mrs. Weirs large string right here on the grounds. If all goes well between now and post time, a half dozen will go to the post for the Sussex, but listening to the excited talk around town, one gathers that Wilmington expects this to be strictly a match between the big English chestnut and last years American champion. AAA Secretary and handicapper Gil Haus has apparently not taken One Counts bad race in the Suburban too seriously, his weights for the Sussex placing the Jeffords colt at 127 pounds to 130 on Royal Vale, the concession Sussex Marked by Encounter of Champions Royal Vale, One Count Both at Peak Form Ryan Uncovers Smart Filly in Alf a Mo Delaware Sport in Intimate Surroundings by the older English horse being only two pounds on the scale for June. If One Count showed nothing in the Suburban, thereby sadly, deceiving his connections, Royal Vale, on the other hand, ran one of the great races of modern American turf history, only failing by the scantest of noses as Greentrees Tom Fool outgamed him in the final stride. No matter. That magnificent Suburban bestowed a world of credit on both horses, while the ensemble of Royal Vales engagements this season establish the race as perfectly true. In his present superb form, there is little that thoroughbreds do that one has not a right to expect from this imported son of Kings-way — Cora Deans, by Coronach. He has intense speed, this brush being at the complete dispocal of his jockey, Jack Westrope, and to this observer, at least, he gives the impression of being able to run "all day." Now One Count has worked well for the Sussex. He will come out in top condition for his meeting with the English horse, and should make amends for his complete failure on Long Island last month, but, frankly, we do not think this fine Count Fleet four-year-old is comparable in class to his foreign antagonist. That Suburban is still fresh in our memory, and as the vivid picture of that finish is recalled, it is impossible for us to conceive of Royal Vales defeat in the Sussex. AAA One Counts stablemate, Post Card, back in his best form; the 1951 Kentucky Derby winner, Count Turf; Bit o Fate and Risque Rouge round out the Sussex field, but it will be an astonishing upset if any of these are able seriously to menace the top pair. Making such a statement in regard to a handicap is intended in no way as disparagement of Gil Haus figures. The fact is that if he had made these any different, particularly in the sense toward which we are hinting, he would have risked non-acceptance and spoiled a fine feature. A racing secretary has to be realistic in his approach, and no matter how "sporting" the stable, competition for our rare handicap stars at this time of year enables trainers to be extremely "choosy" about where they start. As we see it, Haus did his full duty when he asked both Royal Vale and One Count to*carry weight over the scale, a request that, no matter how justified it may be, inevitably brings frowns from those selected for the honor. About the lightweights in tomorrows Sussex, we can tell you little or nothing that you do not already know. Count Turf, who has never lived up to the one great success at Churchill Downs, looked better than we have seen him for some time in his last at Aqueduct, finishing very strong to be third in the Queens County. If that race had been at a slightly longer distance, he might have taken it all. Before that, in the Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs, Royal Vale simply played with Count Turf. AAA Over the years, we have come to regard our annual visit to Delaware Park more in the nature of f, holiday than a chore. To the annoyance of Bryan Field and Al Fahey, we often find ourselves speaking of Delaware as a "little" track, but, as we have assured them, it is the intimacy of the associations leafy grounds that leads to the error, and also a certain neighborly atmosphere in paddock and stands alike implying that everybody knows one another, at least by sight, and that all are out for an afternoon of close association with their favorite sport. Oh, yes, they bet here at Delaware, and even though the Continued on Page Forty-Three I j | j ] ! ! I I WEIGHING IN By EVAN SHIPMAN Continued from Page Fifty-Two track is strictly non-profit making, we have noticed that officials keep close tabs of the daily total, but we find there is less emphasis on wagering here than at any track we know, not even excepting Sara-i toga. The crowd manifests a genuine en-J thusiasm for horses, knows them, and studies them close up. For once, horses are something more to these people than names and figures, the difference in the local approach to the sport being gratifying, you may be sure. Our arrival here yesterday coincided with what is known as an "off" afternoon, no particular feature distinguishing the program, but there was nothing lackadaisacal about the attitude of the week-day crowd, trooping back and forth between the tree-shaded walking ring I I and the stands, and the victory of F. Ambrose Clarks popular colors in the steeple-! chase, his first of the season, was hailed ! with the same good natured warmth as if this had been a stake instead of a modest affair for maidens over brush. AAA Jim Ryan interrupted his description of : Royal Vales encouraging preparation for the Sussex by pointing us out a fine filly that he was saddling for the best event on the days card, a mile and a sixteenth jaunt for three-year-olds with somes, pretensions to class. This miss, a wsll-turned bay named Alf a Mo, by Half Crown — Sleigh Bells, by Challedon, impressed us no end, while her race a few minutes later was just as pleasing as her eye-catching conformation. No, Alf a Mo did not win, but she gave the colts, Kahn and Spring Grove, a keen hustle, leading all the way against repeated challenges, and only weakening the least little bit inside the sixteenth pole to wind up a good third. The time of this heat was posted on the official board as 1:45, and on the teletimer as 1:44%, and no reasonable explanation of this discrepancy was forthcoming. Even accepting I the slower figure, this was a smart race, I and we even had the feeling that Alf a Mo J would have looked very well indeed had she started in Wednesdays Gazelle at Aqueduct. We gathered from Ryans admiration for his charge that she will get her chance in stake company later on.
