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j Between Races By OSCAR OTIS - Fingerprint Problem at Centennial Executive Challenges Turf Program TRPB-State Relationship Outlined DEL MAR, Calif., Aug. 15. A few days ago, from Denver, we made a report in this column as to the current widespread ac ceptance of the TRA fingerprinting program and we came to the conclusion that whatever antagonism the program might have met a few years back had pretty well dissolved in favor of positive acceptance, espe-, cially on the part of the backstretch personnel. Of course, it was obvious from the start that any fingerprint program would have to be universal, would have to include the Alfred Vanderbilts, the Charlie Strubs and the John A. Morrises, for any discrimination would not only be resented, but would be un-American in every sense of the word. But just after leaving Centennial ! Race Track, we, and a lot of other people, were astounded to learn that the program there had come a cropper by the refusal of an executive of management to be fingerprinted, namely, Harold F. "Mickey" Dwyer, pari-mutuel manager. We learn further that Dwyer has told Centennial president-M. H. "Bud" Robineau that he personally objected to being fingerprinted and was against the entire fingerprint program. The refusal of a responsible executive, in charge of huge sums of money, to conform, to the TRA code of fingerprinting on a TRA track, poses a problem that must be squarely met, for we dont see how any track could require fingerprinting from any one if its own staff men defy rules which were inaugurated for the protection of the turf. It is a problem that is squarely in the lap of Centennials new general manager, Ivan Thomas, who took over last week from Art Bazata, resigned to enter private business in Denver. Nor can we see any rulings against anyone on the part of any official licensed by the State of Colorado be made in moral fairness while a representative of management holds firm against rules adopted by management to help insure the keeping of undesirables out of racing. Tis problem has arisen at the exact moment, incidentally, when the Colorado Racing Commission is considering a rule, and favorably, not to license anyone next summer who does not hold a TRPB card. Such a rule, we understand, prevails in Nebraska, at least at the Ak-Sar-Ben meeting, the only major track in Nebraska and a member TRA race course. The eyes of official America are on the Centennial situation, for a basic problem has been posed, i. e., are the rules the same for everybody or can they be fiouted at will by licensed officials while they are enforced upon the rank and file of personnel? Incidentally, when- the fingerprinting routine was launched at Centennial this summer, the stewards were the first in line at the ink-pad and the Denver Post made quite a story out of the fact that said stewards were the first to practice what they advocated, even demanded. Lest there be any misconception about TRPB control and insistence upon such items as universal fingerprinting, we might explain the current role of TRPB in most states where TRA tracks are in existence. Last spring, in Rhode Island, we put the question squarely to the Rhode Island Commission secretary, Raymond P. McElroy, who told us, in effect, "Rhode Island is a small state, and its turf population is largely floating. The turf personnel arrive early in the spring from New Orleans and Florida then leave for Massachusetts and New Hampshire, come back in the fall, and then head south. The Rhode Island Commission does not have the funds to run a check on people from all over the country, so we wisely avail ourselves of information provided by the TRPB, just as w avail ourselves of information from any other authoritative source. But when it Continued on Page Forty-Tare BETWEEN RACES By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Three comes down to cases, the commission and the state is sovereign, and makes its own binding1 decisions. Because of its wide scope, we would be foolish if we did not make use of valid information regardless of the source." Colorado is in much the same position, playing host to horses and people from anywhere and everywhere, and while the percentage of Colorado owners is growing, the back-stretch population is still largely from out of state. It is for. that reason that the Colorado Commission has made extensive use, like Rhode Island, of TRPB files. Colorado has been, more than lenient in giving offenders against turf law a second chance, but how much longer this will prevail in the light of the recent confidence game as practiced by two riders remains to be seen. A few years back, there was quite a hassle over the licensing of jockey J. W. Martin, but he finally made it after several "bleeding hearts" fronted for him with the plea that he: was just a callow youth who hadnt known right from wrong, and was deserving of another chance. Indeed, the Martin case aroused some tempers on the commission and became sort of a "cause celebre." In any event, Martin was nailed cold last week end operating a bunco game, was picked up by the Arapahoe County sheriff on orders from the district attorney, and was jailed. But, because of a technicality, the district attorney thought it better to handle the case through the turf authorities than through the Colorado courts. Martin seems to be the type of fellow who is always getting himself into trouble. Again it might be mentioned that while the "bad headlines" of racing are caused by an infinitesimal percentage of its licensed personnel, an uncommonly large percentage of the troublemakers are repeaters. Horses and People: Del Mar is developing the art of "special days" to the highest possible degree, and on some afternoons, clubs and organizations charter whole trains from Los Angeles. . Although the change in track footings from Hollywood Park is a major one, favorites have been more than holding their own to date. . .Standard Oil is drilling on the Colorado ranch property of patrol judge Alfred Shelhamer, and his friends are rooting for a gusher. . . Wil lie Shoemaker has assumed a commanding lead in the race for riding honors at the meeting. . .Tanforan is blacktop-ping its parking lots, an item which will be a welcome improvement at its next meeting. ...Tanforan vice-president Fred Ryan, incidentally, will spend the fall season at Garden State Park, and will assist in staging of the inaugural of the 25,000 two-year-old stake, the Garden State London sportsman Ronald A. Barnett, who has some English racing stock here, hasnt quite made up his mind as to whether or not shipping weanlings to America from abroad is the whole answer to acclimitization. He is doing some serious research and thinking on the subject.
