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JUDGES STAND By CHARLES HATT0N PIMLICO. Baltimore, Md., May 13. In perhaps the most noteworthy bit of pioneering since Col. Phil Chinn introduced the mule into Europe, amid runaways and terrified residents of Hamburg, Bob Duffy now has delivered Athenians thef irst starting gate in continental racing. He was a vis itor to Pimlico yesterday, and has some interesting observations of the sport in Greece, at Maisons-Lafitte, und at Newmarket. It seems that the stall gate was ordered for the same reason it was invented here, to circumvent certain objectionable features of breaking from the tapes, and not just because the ministry of agriculture was intrigued by its modernity. For a time, Greece imported starters from England, but their interest in their work would soon evaporate, and they returned home. Starts were ragged even for Europe, the jockeys began to be rather undisciplined, public confidence was shaken, and finally, the racing authority decided that the starting gate was the only solution. Whether it will be adoped elsewhere on the continent we cannot guess. But we do believe, with Duffy, that another American aid to good racing, the film patrol, is even more "indicated," if we may be permitted some constructive criticism. Athens, incidentally, has the only sand course, one of 1,600 meters, across the Atlantic. Racing is conducted two or three days weekly, some events for Arabians, others for thoroughbreds. The Arabians times are invariably six seconds or more behind the thoroughbreds. The. attendance is good, though we gather it is not "a big game" financially. The government diverts some of the receipts to the maintenance of a stud of at least 60 mares, and requires a fixed sum be offered in prize monies. Most of the bloodstock originated in the Stall Gate Introduced in European Sport Native Dancer Hearing Man o Wars Score Now Finds Himself Versus the Handicappers Epsom Derby Odds Flatter Stud in America British Isles and it is hoped to revive the industry in Greece, where it was depleted by the war. Duffy is associated with Fasig-Tipton Company and in the course of his itinerary he visited Ballymany in Ireland, where Major Cyril Hall showed him the yearlings the Aga Khan has consigned to the Saratoga sales. "They are a grand lot, in wonderful condition," he observes. "I will not be sur-priced if they top the sales." It is understood the Aga also will make available some horses-in-training, and offer another draft of broodmares at Keeneland in the fall. The list is said to include Bibibog and Rivaz, but not the Oaks winners, Masaka and Noory. AAA All the world of racing will be. attentive, if not in attendance, when Native Dancer swaggers postward for the week-ends Metropolitan. This will be his twenty-first start you know, and if he can bring it off he will have duplicated Man o Wars challenging record. Coin-cidentally, each was beaten diminishing inches in their lone reversals, the victim of cruel racing luck. Whether the coincidence in their careers extends to their capacities is a question; one more idle than provocative it seems to us. Of infinitely more importance is the fact The Dancer has achieved a popularity comparable to that Man o War enjoyed. His every appearance is a stimulus to public interest in the thoroughbred sport. But we are beginning to wonder if he will make many more starts. Certainly the weights for the Metropolitan do not suggest he has a long future in handicap competition, if we may say so without implying any criticism of them. Few can hope to beat him when he is carrying 130 pounds, it doesnt matter how lightly they are weighted. And if he is a punctual favorite Saturday, he soon will be in position of carrying such staggering burdens as the 138 his grandsire. Discovery, shouldered. Until the decision of the Saratoga Cup at the end of August; there are no "wfa" events for him in this country. A very few clubs program such stakes. It is almost as if to say Native Dancer is good for racing, but can it afford him, and horses like him? The owner of such an animal has a choice of risking a proud record in the handicaps, or keeping a valuable stud proposition in training for a scattering of races in the fall. The only other alternative is to take to the air, and this one seems to be constantly recurring to Vanderbilt these days. A .A A The odds currently being quoted on the Epsom Derby are in a sense a tribute to the stud in America, since Bill Woodwards favored Ambler n. was bred at Claiborne in Kentucky. He is by the French Ambiorix, out of a mare by Menow; whose line is considered domesticated, and A. B. Hancock, Jr., tells us he was ever a colt of pleasing individuality. He seems to have charmed English turf scribes, who concern themselves more with bloodlines and conformation than the average Yankee reporter. And we may "hope he does not disenchant them in this Fridays Derby Trial. Ambler n.s candidacy is not the only facet of the upcoming Derby that lends this race a special interest for Americans. There is also the expectation that Johnny Longden will have the mount on Blue Sail, a husky son of Tulyars sire Tehran. His hocks are a trifle behind him and on this score he might offend some critical tastes, but he strikes us an one who will be run- Continued on Page Thirty-Nino By CHARLES HATTON Continued from Page Forty-Eight nine on well after they turn perilous Tat-tenham Corner. It is our understanding Bell and McMahon intend bringing Blue Sail to .this side after his classic engagements and we shall be interested to see how he compares with such as Correlation and Determine. Another American having a prospective starter in the race is Ralph Beaver Strassburger of Pennsylvania, Paris and Liseux. His Antares is said to have trained forwardly for George Bridgland. French victories in English classics do not go down well with Britons, whose racing affords comparatively little prize money. But each season the raiders come, and sometimes they include a Galcador or a Guersant. The rivalry is so keen, English turf journalists feel it warrants occasional essays on the score, and when the invaders are beaten there is no concealing the satisfaction in the Tight Little Isle. x Turf ana: Maryland racing not only is haunted by the spectre of increasing takes, but by increased competition in neighboring states. . . . Harry Trotsek is toying with the notion of attending the fall yearling sales in Great Britain. . . . John Barry Ryan considers the Preakness distance a bit far for Buttevant. . . . It-Avill be interesting to note how many horses are fed to Native Dancer in the Metropolitan, and how many prefer to await the Suburban. . . . Royal Note is a half-brother of Phar Mon and Royal Mustang. . . . Wagering on turf events here is slightly "off," probably because it is new and the players are a little chary. It will be extraordinary if these races do not catch on at Pimlico. . . . Gweny G. shall have to improve over her winning prep race to be a factor in the Black-Eyed Susan. . . . Correlation seems to be taking his Preakness training satisfactorily. . . . Eddie Arcaro expects to ride Goyamoin the Preakness. . . . Harold Sim-, mons finds the Wood winner among the friendliest of horses. His groom has taught him tricks, like catching a rubrag tossed into the air- with his teeth, and searching him for sugar. . I i i
