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New England Notebook I By JOE HIRSCH Value of Firing Process Discussed Said Necessary in Proper Treatment Ronnie Fisher Promising Reinsman SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., May 26. — The value and wisdom of firing a thoroughbred has frequently been the subject of heated discussion in the back-stretch. Strong arguments and numerous examples in support of their theories can be offered both pro and con. A vote for the affirmative was cast here recently by Dr. Frank Powers of Dover, Mass., who has been practicing veterinary medicine at New England tracks for the past eight years. "When I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania I was certain that firing was a poor practice," explains Powers. "I thought that rest was sufficient treatment for most of the sore legs I found in horses, and often they would look good prior to returning to racing. But very frequently the legs would break down again. It took several of these cases to convince me that firing was both necessary and important in proper treatment. A form of firing is frequently used for humans, too, in ,cases similar to that involving Arthur Godfreys hip. In fact there are many parallels tobe drawn between treating humans, and animals. Take, for instance, the baseball pitchers elbow bone chips. The same condition can exist in a horses legs. A ligament tears loose from a joint and little chips of bone come with it. We have to remove the chips if the pitcher or horse is to be sound again." Science is easing the load for Powers and other veterinarians with new equipment. The doctor was at work with a portable X-ray machine when we spoke with him the other day, a snappy little ,200 instrument that can be plugged into any outlet and takes a good, speedy picture. Then there are portable diathermy machines and other devices and medicines representing development efforts on the part of drug company laboratories and others. Research is constantly under way for the veterinarian and among the more prominent organizations in this field are the Grayson Foundation of the U. of Penn and the Rockefeller Foundation, which is doing fine work on a vaccine to combat coughing among horses. Medical science is continuing to assist in the improvement of the breed. Ronnie Fisher registered a double yesterday, another indication that the promising apprentice is developing into a capable reinsman and with a little more experience will be able to ride with the best. As of yesterday, Fisher had notched 12 wins, 20 places and 17 shows representing 49 finishes in the, money in 108 attempts. A resident of nearby Fitchburg, Ronnie admits he has a lot to learn yet and says that de- Continued on Page Thirty-Nine New England Notebook , By JOE HIRSCH Continued from Page Six veloping a sense of pace is one of the toughest hurdles for young jockeys. His fathers boss owned some trotters in Fitchburg and Ronnie started his turf career by helping to care for them. After a hitch at John Meanys farm in Framing-ham, he was introduced to J. E. Robertson and Fisher was soon riding for Robertson at Narragansett. That was last July and Ronnie broke his maiden at the final meeting at Lincoln Downs in November. He went to Florida last winter with J. H. Carr but since Tony DeSpirito was also with the stable, Fisher, didnt get much chance to work. He did, however, bring home a few winners and gained a lot of experience. W. C. Prickett bought his contract from Carr this spring at Lincoln Downs and with an opportunity to do some serious riding Fisher has developed real well. The 20-year-old reinsman expects to be married next month to Doris "Le-febre of Fitchburg, and would like to remain on the turf as a trainer when his saddle career is over. Around the track: Max White, who heads the local chapter of the HBPA, called a tt t t t t , / meeting of that group yesterday, resulting in a decision to send ,500 to Detroit to aid horsemen who were hard hit by the fire, at the MRA track last week end . . . N. J. McClure has gone to Rockingham* Park and is in the market for several more horses . . . Dan Chamblin has shipped to Garden State and E. A. Simpson to ThistleDown . . . Henry Kimball is at the Rock with his veteran campaigner Algasir . . . After a two-week absence due to the rain, Turf racing will return to Suffolk Downs over the week end ; . . Impulsivo, the Argentine import that closed well in the Massachusetts last week, was shipped to New York yesterday for the Suburban.
