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RE F L ECTI O N S by nelson dunstan DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Del., June 9. We are down here at one of the most sporting tracks in the JJnited States. It is something of a novelty that management should cater to the distaff side. On June 26, it will offer the Delaware Oaks, for three-year-old fillies, with 2,500 in added money. Then, on July 5, the feature will be the 00,000 New Castle Handicap, which is for members of the weaker sex at one and one-quarter miles. This week end, the featured race is the Leonard Richards Stakes, for three-year-olds, and this, too, has an added value of 2,500. Delaware Park must operate in conflict with New Jersey, but that has not stopped it from offering some of the finest sport seen here in the East. The conflict is with both Garden State and Monmouth, but the track goes ahead giving the people of Delaware the best in thoroughbred racing. It comes as close to being non-commercial as any track in this country. The directors are more interested in promoting high-class racing than in taking a profit on their investment, and once one comes here he soon realizes that the sport is uppermost in their minds. AAA Here at Delaware and at some other points, racing officials are to be commended for the manner in which they have catered to fillies and mares. Not many years ago, breeders shuddered when they found that they had a filly to be sold at Keeneland or Saratoga. There was They Stress Sport at Delaware Park Richest Event for Fillies and Mares Leonard Richards Conflicts With Belmont Expensive Summa Cum Wins First Start no money around for members of the weaker sex. That is all changed today, and the credit must go to the racing "officials who play ball with the breeders. That there would ever be a 00,000 race for fillies and mares was inconceivable, but the Delaware officials came through with the New Castle Handicap. Recently, Garden State Park announced that it would stage a race in 1955 for two-year-old fillies, with a value of 00,000. If is possible for an owner of a filly or mare to do quite all right for himself in the matter of earnings. In the old days, a member of the weaker sex was a drug on the "market, but times have sure changes. Give the race track officials the credit they deserve for bringing this about. AAA Delaware is one of the most unique race tracks in the country. It is the only one operating in the state. It is not a part of any circuit, but is, strictly on its own. While the Belmont Stakes will be the three-year-old feature this week end, the Leonard Richard Stakes will command considerable attention. How this race will shape up, we do not know at this writing. In fact, the entire three-year-old situation is such today that there is no telling who is the true champion. It has been our contention since last fait that this is a good: three-year-old crop of. horses, but with the Belmont, Leonard Richards and the Californian, which is for three-year-old and older horses, directly ahead of us, we cannot name one who could be considered an outstanding champion of the division. Determine is slated to start in the Californian this Saturday, and should he be returned the winner he would have something of an edge on his opponents. It may require late summer or even early fall racing for a sophomore to establish a solid claim to titular honors. We have had years like this before, when three -year-olds consistently beat one another in important stakes. AAA Summa Cum went to the races for the first time on Tuesday and won. This, at least, takes him out of th category of high-priced yearlings who never won a ragJ The McCue contingent has been very patient wititiH costly youngster and we hope he will go on to winH more stake event. Though he wore bandages on his legs, this colt had been under suspicion when he dk start as a two-year-old. He has been brought alongH carefully at three. He is not eligible for the ShelvinlB Dwyer at Aqueduct, so when he will be seen again isH question. We hear a lot about yearlings who "cost ove? 0,000 and who do not make good on the race course. Royal Blood did make good, and it is hoped by everyone that Summa Cum will earn his purchase price for his owner. He cost 8,000, but in these days of 00,000 races a horse can win himself out in just one start. So the purchase, price means little any more. ,
