view raw text
jtwBandm- v JUDGES STAND y charles hatton WASHINGTON PARK, Home-wood, HI., Aug. 21. It is Native "Minus Pool" Dancer against the field in this week-ends renewal of the 00,000 American Derby, historically the most significant of all Chicagos turf classics. Despite the vaunted grays, imposing record of 17 successes from 18 starts, a field of nine other rather venturesome three-year-olds, one of them his sta-blemate, Beachcomber, has been named to oppose him in this mile and a furlong. Nor is this altogether owing the temptations of the minor awards of 5,000 second, 2,500 third, and ,500 fourth monies. For whether or not they are deluding themselves, the connections of several actually feel they have a chance of bringing off what would be one of the stunningest upsets in modern racing. The Sir Mango, Stan and Ace Destroyer camps, among others, appear by no means hopeless. And if one analyzes it, the Derby does confront The Dancer with the severest test, weightwise, he has yet encountered. He must carry 128 pounds and concede his rivals from eight to 14. Nevertheless, it is two to five, perhaps less, that even this weight differential cannot bridge the chasm of class between the Sagamorean and others of his division. Some 112 pounds of the champions weight is represented in the Wiry form of artful Eddie Arcaro, who breezed him yesterday morning and climbed off him observeing "That is a lot of horse." In eight of The Dancers previous engagements, Arcaros view of him was more antogonistic than enthusiastic. If all the .10 named for this Derby go to the post, and The Dancer proves a punctual favorite, he will have increased his earnings by 8,500 to 45,920, and will have won 16 stakes in 19 appearances. One of his fans of a mathmetical turn of mind, incidentally, has calculated that up to now the colt has earned ,527 per furlong for 11 miles. And that if his stride actually A Dancer Entertains, at 00 Per Stride New Version of Optional Claimers in Ohio Pimlico Has High Hopes for Its Special Hartack Promising Apprentice Jockey measures 26 feet, he makes 01.08 with every powerful bound. Though Native Dancer has created a half dozen minus pools, he now has become the greatest box office attraction in contemporary sportdom. And this combined with the circumstance the race is not to be televised assures Washington Park one of its largest throngs. A crowd of 26,892 derbygoers saw Mark-Ye-Well win the race in 52, and this total appears certain to be bettered in any weather, this week end. The forecast today was for clear weather, a fast track and a memorable horse race. AAA Fred Burton has written a variation on the current optional claiming races which seems to us to have merit, and it will be interesting to note how it works out at ThistleDown. In a preface to the conditions for races at the Cleveland course he bases eligibility on the following: "The lowest claiming price a horse has started for in any of its last four starts. Optional claiming races excepted when entered not to be claimed. Winners of an optional claiming race when entered not to be claimed, must start for a claiming price in either a claiming or optional claiming race before again being eligible to start in an optional claiming race if entered not to be claimed." It will be noted that no date is stipulated. And more importantly that if one wins an optional claimer, he may not again race the animal sans claiming tag without first placing a price on him. We should think that this will prove to be in the interest of formful racing, and perhaps also enable more horsemen to share in the distribution. An objectionable feature of optional claimers as they are presented on the West Coast seems to be one of placing eastern invaders at a disadvantage. Many California horses have qualified to race without claiming prices when horsemen from this side of the Rockies arrive, and are iri position to file claims on eastern performers while they are in process of qualifying. AAA Pimlicos new owners entertain high hopes for their Special this season, for this event, like the Sysonby Mile, could conceivably bring together Tom Fool and Native Dancer. Assuming the two champions remain sound and there seems any point in another engagement between them after Belmont. Greentree always has supported the Special, indeed has won it three times, with Shut Out, Capot and One Hitter. And, of course, Alfred Vanderbilt originated the Hilltops mile and three-sixteenths. The conditions of the "wfa" classic were revised for the 1953 renewal, with a purse of 0,000, of which the winner receives 0,000. By the way, the Maryland Jockey Club continues hopeful that the acreage adjoining its present plant will be rezoned to permit furtherance of its improvement program. The acting mayor who vetoed rezoning the property is said to have reconsidered and to be more favorably disposed. It is expected the matter will come up again in a meeting of the Baltimore council in October. When it becomes possible to remove some of the stables to this site, Pimlico will be in position to increase its parking facilities and to erect a larger, modern stand to accommodate its patrons. The capacity of the old clubhouse, which is to remain intact, was doubled for the spring meeting this year. AAA It is obvious to say that it is important racing develop more riding talent, particularly in the present day, with Continued on Page Forty-Seven JUDGES STAND By CHARLES HATTON. Continued from Page Fifty-Six more than 60 tracks in operation. Recently at Saul Silbermans Randall Park we saw a lad who seems to us to have possibilities, though he. will be bereft of his apprentice allowance oh October 13. This is "William Hartack, who averaged, two; winners daily the first 25 days of the meeting. He is the leading rider at the Cleveland course by a comfortable margin of some 35 winners and he has a devoted following among turf goers in the Buckeye State. Hartack can "do" 106 pounds, which naturally is a factor, along with his ability, in obtaining somewhat more than his share of the mounts. And he is not competing with a lot of inept riders, for the Randall colony includes Arnold Kirkland, Billy Sackett, Rocco Sisto and Mike Caffarella. Hartack reminds us a bit of Charley Burr as an apprentice in that he is composed as most journeymen jockeys in a close finish. He is 21 and is a native of a Pennsylvania village near Johnstown. We have had many "bug" boys for whom horses run generously, but Hartack may be one of the rare few who continue successfully when deprived of he weight allowance. AAA Tarfana: Evening Out illustrates the efficacy of certain families, stemming from that of the good mare. Evening developed at George Wideners Old Kenney. . . Eddie Litzenberger has Hartandcks book. The Pennsylvanian, incidentally, is lefthanded. . . . The former stakes horse Alexis is campaigning in Ohio at 11, racing for ,000. . . . John D. Jackson was a recent visitor. . . . Night trots are a posisbility at Randall. . . . New Orleans Fair Grounds again has announced jts stakes roster early, and it is fully as attractive as last winters. . . Because of, or despite TV, The Dancer now has given the Spa its largest crowd, Arlington its second largest. . . ..Unemployment currently is adversely affecting Cleveland play . . . ThistleDown will have a ,600 minimum. . . . Saul Silberman has. installed the film patrol. . . .JRoyal V,and travels in style, with a foam rubber padded compartment.
