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ON THE WIRE By HUGH J. McGUIREl DETROIT RACE COURSE, Livonia, Mich., June 14. Starter John T. Morrissey has quite a ground crew here to assist him. His foreman, Ed Anthony, has long years of experience and is a starter in his own right at other courses. Ed Schobel on the ground in Morrisseys crew by day, drives the starting gate at the trotting track in the evening. Pete Murray is a son - of the late famous outrider, Alex "Red Coat" Murray. Frank ONeill is a son of Pat ONeill, manager of the extensive Bwamazon breeding farm in Kentucky. Joe Konchina gained his experience with Ed Anthony and Harold Holland. Ovilla Tessier started as a rake man in New England. Morrissey himself served for many years as a member of the ground crew of his father, the late, celebrated Harry Morrissey. Comparing present-day starting methods with those of the past, Morrissey notes that the starting gate as used today did succeed in getting better and easier starts but failed in at least two other directions. It was first thought that the gate would eliminate assistant starters. Instead, it has doubled their number. Three ground men working in front of the starting field, a man on either side and one in the center were all that were necessary to send away 12 or 14 horses from the old open tape barrier. Morrissey recalls that Ed Thomas, Joe Nelson and himself comprised his fathers ground crew and that Nelson, who weighed only about 140 pounds, was the best assistant he has ever known. The other failure of the present starting gate is that it has eliminated completely the making of jockeys who are good post riders. AAA You probably did not know, and neither did we, that Jack Boylan, director of admissions here, gained his first experience with crowds as a kid in show business when he worked with such celebrities of other years as Flo Zeigfield, Charles Dillingham .and with George Whites Scandals. Boylan became associated with race track admissions in 1932 at the Empire City track and now is in charge of this division at Atlantic City, Tropical Park, Toledo Turf Club and two trotting tracks in addition to the Detroit Race Course. Morrissey Has Fine Ground CreWi Boylan Started Out in Show Business Kelly. Official in Detroit 21 Years Boylan has replaced gruff ness and discourtesy formerly so common at track gates with courteous service based on the premise that the customer is right. Modern gate procedure has done away with the gate crasher and Boyland recalls the last notorious one of these as One-Eyed Conol-ley. The biggest crowd he has handled was some 62,000 at Belmont Park one Memorial Day when he was assistant to the late Douglas Geddes. Boylan has a crew of about 50 men here, all except a few key men being residents of the area. While on this subject we found rare courtesy and understanding also from parking lot attendants, particularly from one named MacKenzie. AAA -In Brief: Paddock Judge William Gerald Kelly is the oldest official here in point of service. Kelly has officiated at Detroit tracks for-21 years in a variety of posts but he dates back much further in other sectors of racing . . . Gene Tarlton is the man responsible for your program selections here, a job he handles also at Laurel . . . E. Barry Ryan sent word that he will ship from New York John Barry Ryans filly Slippy for the Rose Leaves Stakes on Saturday, June 19 . . . Racing secretary Charles J. McLennan is one who believes that there should be a greater spread than 00 between purse values for top quality horses and the cheapest grade . . . The 0,000 Michigan Mile is the only local stake not affected by the purse slashes . . . Starter John Morrissey, who is also a steward at Sunshine Park, prefers the former job. More fun, fewer headaches. Incidentally, Morrisseys 12-year-old son, Mike, is doing a good job as assistant starter by keeping out of the way of the ground crew . . . Trainer Harold West plans to send Mrs. John S. Ltetlliers Crimson King to ThistleDown for the Ohio Derby July 10. He may also, send others in the stable for some racing at the track near Cleveland . . . Veterinarian O. D. Chapman is again around the track following an illness . . . There are many patrons in this vicinity who would prefer an earlier post time to conform with dinner time at home but general manager Bob Leavitt and his associates are convinced through experience .that the present schedule fits this area . . . Marion H. VanBerg is the subject of an interesting article in a recent issue of the Chrysler Owners Magazine.
