Reflections: Important Week End of Racing Ahead Belmont Stakes Climaxes Triple Crown Determine, Derby Winner, in Californian, Daily Racing Form, 1954-06-09

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REFLECTIONS by nelsoh dunstan BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 8. This week end will be one of the biggest in the history of racing, for not only will the Belmont Stakes be run at Belmont Park, but" the Queens Plate will be featured at Woodbine Park in Ontario, and out in California, the Californian, for three-vear-olds and older horses at a mile and a sixteenth, will be inaugurated. This will be the second time in racing history that two 00,000 races will be staged- the same day, for the Belmont and the Californian: have that amount added. At Delaware Park, the Leonard Richards, for three-year-olds, will be the race of the day, and at Lincoln Fields the Miss America Stakes will be the attraction. Including the Wolverine at Detroit, some 75,000 will be distributed in six stakes, and that is something close to a. record. The Belmont shapes up as a very interesting event, particularly after the defeat of Porterhouse in the Peter Pan. The Llangollen horse, who should like a distance of ground, is to be thoroughly tested, and his future depends largely upon his showing in the third leg of the "Triple Crown." As matters stand today, there is no outstanding member of the three-ryear-old ranks, although Determine has been the most consistent performer in the division. AAA While the Belmont Stakes transcends all others, turf fans everywhere will be interested in the Californian. The favorite undoubtedly will be Determine, winner of the Kentucky Derby and last week end the Debonair Stakes at Hollywood Park. This horse became something of an enigma here in the East when he was shipped from the Coast to Louisville and then did not compete in the Important Week End of Racing Ahead Belmont Stakes Climaxes Triple Crown Determine, Derby Winner, in Californian Jockey Records Seem Safe This Year Preakness. He was not eligible for the Belmont, due to an oversight, and his connections may have pursued the proper course in sending him back to California. There must come a day of reckoning, of course, for all the three-year-olds, and the status of Determine must await developments of the future. It is our impression that Determine will meet Hasty Road sometime in Chicago, for both are eligible for the Classic and American Derby. This is an interesting three-year-old situation, but at the moment the picture is very confused. Chicago may well become the hub of sophomore activity after the Belmont is decided. Ben Lindheimer has carded many attractive races for the division. AAA It seems safe to say that there will be no breaking of records by jockeys this season. Willie Shoemaker, who was a sensation with 485 victories a year ago, was sixth on the list, according to last reports, with but 91 firsts for approximately the first five months of this year. He is now under suspension and is spending a costly period on the ground, for he lost a mount in both the Belmont and the Californian. Leading the list is Avelino Gomez, who rides in Mexico City, and Americans naturally know little about his capabilities, although he must be a fine race rider as he has 123 victories. Willie Hartack was second at the last count with 116, and Tony DeSpirito was right behind him with 115. By this time these figures may have changed, for a jockey often runs into a streak, either a winning or losing one. DeSpirito has been going great guns this year and has made his reputation on the tracks in New England and at Sunshine Park in Florida. The class of a jockey is not necessarily proven by the number of his victories, for Eddie Arcaro is not listed among the first 10, but at the end of the year he will be right up there with them in the amount of money won. The Fasig-Tipton Company will stage two important sales starting Wednesday morning at Belmont Park, and there will be many stars in them. Even though the Carolyn K consignment has been entirely withdrawn, some 150 head will go under the hammer of the famous auction company. The first sale will include the offerings of the Yolo Stable of John DeBlois Wack and others. Thursday morning, the horses of the Woodvale Farm of the late Royce Martin will be on the block. Goyamo was withdraw, and rightly, for there was some indication of a leg injury. The high point of this sale is likely to be that of Brother Tex, a two-year-old colt by War Admiral, out of Our Page, and thus a brother of -Navy Page and a half-brother to Page Boots, Sport Page and other good horses. The market for registered race horses has been little short of remarkable in the past few years, and this one should be on the high level of the current trend. Woodvale also will sell Next Page, a three-year-old half-brother to Marta and other good horses. The passing of Woodvale is deplored in racing, for the late owner contributed to all that is good in the sport in this country. Dispersals must come year after year, but we can never replace the, men who operated their stables on such a high plane as Martin.-


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800