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REFLECTIONS NELS0N ounstan BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 13. Before the month of May is torn from the calendar there will be many important stakes decided in various parts of the country. The Massachusetts Handicap, Preak-ness, Coaching Club American Oaks, Jersey Stakes, Suburban and others are scheduled. We doubt if, here in New York, and event is of more interest than the Metropolitan Handicap to be run at Belmont Park Saturday. Alfred G. Vanderbilts champion, Native Dancer, is the drawing card, for the Metropolitan area has adopted this horse as its own and he is meeting virtually the same test that Tom Fool did a year ago. He is asked to carry 130 pounds and the questions are: "Can he win and then take the Suburban and Brooklyn? Will he remain in this country or go to England for the King George VI. and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July? Will he run the one mile faster than did Tom Fool, who was clocked in 1:35? And will Royal Vale be the persistent foe that he was a year ago?" Royal Vale appears to be rounding to the form he displayed in these handicap events in New York, but it is our impression that the toughest nut he will have to crack is White Skies, who is one of the best sprinters in training today and who may well carry his speed over the one-mile route. White Skies will be in with 123 pounds, the same weight assigned Royal Vale. If any of the three answer the bugle it should be a whale of a horse race. AAA Recently we referred to the possibility of the Kentucky Derby having 50,000 in added money in future years. With more than 20 races of a value of 00,000, the thought struck us that if the increase was made it would again show the progressiveness of Bill Corum and his as- Will Native Dancer Answer Questions? Metropolitan First Real test This Year Derby Entry Fees Will Not Be Raised Nashua Impressive Winner for Nasrullah sociates at Churchill Downy. At the same time, we wondered if the increase was made whether it would not be in order to raise the entry fee, our idea being to discourage owners of horses who had little or no chance of winning. This would be difficult to do for there have been many owners through the years who knew theirhdrse had no chance but were perfectly willing to pay the fee for the honor of having a starter in Americas most colorful race. The conditions for the 1954 renewal read as follows: "By subscription of 0 each; 50 to go through the entry box; 50 additional to start." It was our suggestion that the fee be ,000 to go thorugh the entry box and ,000 additional to start. The increased value would make it worthwhile for the owner of a horse who had a chance and tend to discourage owners whose horses should not be in the line-up. Whether we were correct is a moot point for we daresay there are many owners who would pay ,000 as quickly as ,000 to have a starter in the rape. AAA Bill Corum, president of the Churchill Downs organization, says the increased value is a matter for the board of directors to determine, but even if they did he doubts that there would be any boosting of the entry fee. Corum naturally Studies a question of this kind from many angles. He points out that the late Colonel Matt J. Winn built the Derby as the "peoples race" and he is following that policy even to the degree of increasing the comforts for the fans. It is true that people journey from all parts of the country to see a Derby renewal and naturally they have a greater interest if a horse from their state is a starter. There is no telling how many Californians were present to root for Determine, Correlation and James Session, all of whom were owned in the Golden State. The most undesirable development for the Churchill Downs officials is when a standout horse such as Citation comes up. Naturally they want to avoid small fields., Because of owners hesitating about starting against Citation our idea of increasing the purse would make it doubly difficult to get a good-sized field together. So it seems safe to say that the conditions will read as they have in former years, although we insist that every season there are starters who do not belong in the classic. But the same can be said for the Epsom Derby and other events. AAA Speaking of purses, the Preakness is but nine days away and Pimlico has a different method of payment to the money horses, in the Derby, the second horse received 0,000, the third horse ,000 and fourth horse ,500. In the Preakness, the second horse will receive 5,000, third horse 5,000 and fourth horse ,500. How many will start in the Preakness is still a question, but we expect a field of 10 to 13. Three owners paid the supplementary fee of ,500 for Gigantic, Ring King and Hasseyampa. With that payment they are certain starters, barring accidents. Jet Action and Fisherman are being shipped from New York, and Hasty Road, Goyamo, Correlation and High Gun also seem certain to start. There are others who could anwser the bugle and we do not envy the handicappers whose job is it to select the one-two-three choices. As we see it, the event is wide open. For a time Correlation was doubtful, but if he goes Continued on Pago Thirty-Nino REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNS TAN Continued from Page Forty-Eight we still believe he is the one they will all have to beat. His Derby effort, when he finished sixth, was just, too bad to be true and should he turn in an effort comparable to -the Florida Derby and the Wood Memorial he is going to take a lot of beating. A X A When in Kentucky recently we were told to watch the Belair Studs colt, Nashua, a two-year-old by Nasrullah Segula, by Johnstown, and a homebred. We saw this colt break his maiden at Belmont and he was so impressive we thought he could defeat Summer Tan, the Firestone colt who had won the Youthful. We cannot recall a year when two imported sires have had such promising- colts to represent them as Nasrullah and Royal Charger. There will be a number of yearlings by both horses offered at Keeneland and Saratoga sales this year, and it is our guess that they will bring fine prices. Heliopolis is the sire of Summer Tan and Alibhai is the sire of the Kentucky Derby winner Determine, so we must admit that imported sires are playing a great part in developing the breed in this country. The two-year-olds still have a long way to go and breeding pundits will be keenly watching the National Stallion and other two-year-old stakes to come. In these early days of the season the victories of two-year-olds influence prices at the Keeneland and Saratoga sales, and that has been demonstrated year after year. Breeders with youngsters by Royal Charger and Nasrullah" are truly fortunate.
