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BETWEEN RACES By Oscar Otisl HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif.,- June 4. The California sales picture is beginning to take on a definite pattern, and 9 the "market" on the Pacific slope is about to take a forward step which will be of extreme importance to the entire industry. The pattern is developing like this, first, the keystone of a highly selective sale at Del Mar in August, with a summer and winter miscellanv salo at Tv Angeles County Fair Grounds, Pomona. These miscellany sales will include yearlings, or, in the case of the winter sale, thoroughbreds who have turned two, and will serve to provide a year round, integrated market for both buyer and seller. AAA The sales committee of the California Breeders, which is working in close liaison with Fasig-Tipton, partners of the breeders in the conduct of the sales, reveals that on paper, at .least, the yearlings to be offered at Del Mar the night of August 23 approximate an evening at Keeneland, barring some of the top horses at the Kentucky vendue. Of some 180 horses nominated, more than half will be culled, first on pedigree, then on conformation. The pedigree committee lias completed its part of the job, is awaiting the appraisel of field inspector Fred W. Koester, U. S. Army Remount retired, before making its final cataloguing. California long has been regarded as one of the worlds best markets for a "made" horse, the breeders believe it has a future as a yearling market as well, and to that end, the Del Mar sales will be staged with a professional touch that will be something new to the West. This effort will not be wasted because the yearlings will match the setting. AAA On the even of his departure for Vermont, turf economist Dave Novick remarks that this should be a strong season for the yearling markets at both Keeneland and Saratoga, although he hazards no opinion about the California sales except to indicate they are more promising than ever before in history. "It seems to me that the turf is using better salesmanship than ever before," says Novick, "and this, coupled with truly selective offerings, adds up to a truly strong market. When, a few years back, a sellers market prevailed, some of Saes Pattern Development on Coast Strong National Market Predicted Debonair Renewal Centers Interest the fine points of good sales techniques were neglected. Now all that has changed. As an example, we all remember the days when would-be buyers couldnt find a place to stay at the sales sites. Getting in interested and potential buyer a hotel room is often just as important as having a good horse to offer him. AAA "As for the general economy and its impact upon sales prices, said economy is basically sound and there is ample money available for the acquisition of worthwhile yearlings. I personally believe that the advent of any new buyers in any given year has a definite effect upon the tone of the market, and that is is a factor somewhat dependent upon circumstance and most every year has seen the advent of such new buyers. But as a one-time breeder, I will add I was once under the delusion that all you needed for success was to breed good horses .for the market, and the buyers would find their way to your horses. Not so. It is quite necessary to let the market know just what you have to offer, and both Keeneland and Saratoga are doing an able job of disseminating the facts. One should not oversell, but, nevertheless, one must still sell. This point has been quite overlooked by many up until this time." AAA The Debonair Stakes, a seven-furlonger for three-year-old colts and geldings, will intrigue California racing fans tomorrow afternoon with the prospect that Kentucky Derby winner Determine will make his first outing since that eventful day at Churchill Downs. The Debonair is quite frankly a stepping stone to the Westerner, the big race for three-year-olds of the summer season here, but in its past two runnings has nevertheless proven to be a worthwhile stake in its own right. Calumet Farms A Gleam set the standard for the race when she won the inaugural running in 195?, packing 118 pounds in 1:22 flat., It was proof enough that she was a good horse, for she conceded eight pounds to a colt, Stranglehold, and beat him convincingly. AAA Since her win, the conditions have been changed to limit the starters to colts and geldings. Last year, Imbros won the Tace for Andy Crevolin. As for Determine, who simply refuses to extend himself in workouts, the dash should be little more than an afternoon drill with some money connected with it instead of being for mere .exercise. Despite opinions to the contrary, Determine did not skip the Preakness because of any incipient unsoundness, but rather to merely get freshened up a bit. A rather expensive refresher, possibly, but one nevertheless taken. AAA One of the great stories of the meeting developed in the fourth race on Thursday when the great Irish-bred filly Sixpence II., owned by Alberta Ranches, made her American debut a winning one from a smart field of American three-year-olds. Ridden by veteran pilot Willie Steed, Sixpence II., despite her apparent greenness with American racing style, made every pole a winning one, stalled off repeated challenges throughout the six-furlong trip, and won sort of drawing clear in an acceptable 1:10. It was, considering everything, a remarkably impressive performance. Sixpence II. raced smoothly enough, but a careful look was all that was needed to convince that she would improve tremendously with more racing experience over our dirt tracks. And, in repelling bid after bid, she demonstrated a fighting heart that led to a minor ovation when she returned to the winners circle. While this was not a stake race, she beat stake type fillies, including Heather Khal, a consistent stake campaigner both in California and Chicago last summer. AAA Trentonian met defeat for the first time in his career in the Westchester Stakes, a defeat, which sort of dampened the enthusiasm of people who had proclaimed him "Calumets horse of destiny" for the year, but even so, this writer for one is not giving up on Trentonian as a worthwhile horse. He was fretty in the paddock, but in the race, had no excuses. Back Hoe, the first horse ever started in California by Toronto sportsman Joe W. Tomlinson, and the first horse ever saddled in California by James S. "Lexington Jimmy" Jones, Back Hoe proved a. sizzling winner of the Westchester. Given a rousing ride by Ray York, who has won so many stakes thisj year we are beginning to lose count, Backj Hoe raced the early speed into defeat en- tering the stretch, drew clear to win in aj clever :58 flat. Tomlinson has, two horses here in the nature of an experiment in coastal racing. Our guess is that before long he will have a sizable division of his stable in California on a year round basis.
