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. O N T HEW I R E By HUGH J. McGUIRE THISTLEDOWN, North Randall, Ohio, June 16. Wilmer Brinton, Jr., veteran racing official who is serving here as one . of of the the stewards, stewards, has has of of the the stewards, stewards, has has given some study to the current conditions of wagering and attendance at this course. Giving consideration to local economic conditions, Brinton notes that the attendance figures have held up remarkably well, but that the average per capita play has not been been maintained. maintained. This This been been maintained. maintained. This This per capita Wagering runs from between 0 and 0 per person, but Brintons check with the mutuel department revealed that there is a definite shortage of bettors who use the big denominations windows. With the exception of the occasional horseman who backs his confidence in his own charges, the bulk of the wagering is done through the smaller denomination wickets. It is Brintons belief that never before have horses centered here from so many different sectors of the nation. There are stables here from New York, Chicago, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New England and other areas and it is understandable that the patrons who usually visit the larger denomiation wickets hesitate to back their choices boldly until they have seen the horses in competitive action over this course. If Brintons surmise proves to be correct, wagering can be expected to increase as the meeting moves along. AAA Brinton also foresees that the new rule which grants an apprentice 100 winners before 1 he loses his allowance, will have its defects. The rule is in effect in some states, but not in others. As a result, apprentice riders who are able to complete their 100 victories quickly, or in a period of a few months, then migrate from the area where the new rule is in operation to sectors that have not adopted it and where they can claim the allowance for the balance of the year from the date .on which they rode their first winner. Oddly enough, it is the apprentice who is most successful who finds to his advantage to change his point of operation. Brinton cited the case of apprentice fjt Walter Blum, who journeyed to Maryland when he had ridden himself out of his allowance in New York and New Jersey, and then returned to the latter when the the rule was rescinded there. AAA Recently, Michigan adopted the new rule, and almost immediately it affected apprentice J. L. Rotz, and it is understood that the boy plans to ride here, where he can obtain the allowance until sometime in August. Brinton goes beyond this situation in his study of the new apprentice rule. He foresees instances of the contract Brinton Studies Current Conditions Reveals Average on Per Capita Play Work of Starter Blind Commendable holder who has spent considerable time and money in. developing an apprentice, restricting the "boys mounts to his own horses so that he can have the benefits of the full-weight concessions. Possibly, these, conditions can be construed as beneficial to the developer of the rider as well as to tracks to which the successful apprentice make it advantageous to migrate. AAA The work of starter Eric Blind, who is sending the fields away at this course, reflects the influence of starter Roy "Boots" Dickerson, under whom Blind gained his experience in his chosen field. Blind worked as a ground man for Dickerson for 16 years and in that time he could not fail to pick up some characteristics of that celebrated starter. The most immediate Dickerson influence we saw in the work of Blind is his ability to get the fields away almost immediately as the last horse enters the stall gates; This is not by accident, for Blind is fully convinced, as is Dickerson, that the less time a field stands in the starting gate, the less chance there is for injury or accident to horses and riders. Before the first race of the meeting was run, Blind instructed the riders on the tactics he planned to follow and warned them to be alert. The riders, knowing what to expect, are prepared for immediate action. AAA , A check of the charts here for the first 12 days of the meeting shows that in the 98 races run, only six minutes have been spent in the starting gate. Perhaps more noteworthy is that in only one race was Blind required to hold the field for more than one-half minute. In that one race the delay was for a minute and a half, In all but a very few rare instances the starts were recorded as good, and in all other instances they were listed as good for all but one horse. In such cases, it is generally conceded that the horse or rider and not the starter is at fault. From the standpoint of safety, as well as expedience, quick starts are desirable and also find favor with patrons. AAA Trainers who race in other sectors of the country and who think that the sport in this area is a "soft touch" need only glance over the list of prominent conditioners who have their charges here to be convinced otherwise. Trainers who are racing at this course include some who have campaigned against the best in their profession throughout the length and breadth of the nation. Many of them have spent their lifetimes with thoroughbreds and a cursory glance over a program shows such names well-known nationally as Bennett Creech, W. J. Hughes, Lloyd Gentry, Lucien Laurin, Mrs. G. A. Saportas, James Arthur, Marvin Greene, Lee Niles, Tom Jolley, W. G. Christmas, Tom Stevens, Norman Haymaker, E. B. Townsend, Doug Davis and a host of others. AAA The revived Ohio Derby, which will be run here July 10, is one of the best examples of the efforts of track management to elevate thesport in this area. The classic will carry a prize of 5,000 and, although the race was inaugurated in 1876, just one year later" than the Kentucky Derby, this years running will be only the 20th. It was first won by Bombay at Chester Park, near Cincinnati, where it had seven renewals, the last in 1883. The race was revived in. 1924 at Maple Heights when it was won by Black Gold and two subsequent renewals at that course saw Millwick and Boot to Boot successful. For the following five years the scene of the race was the Bainbridge course. Then in 1935 it was contested at ThistleDown. Nextj followed a gap until 1952 when the race! was revived at Cranwood and last year was transferred to this course where it was won by Alfred Vanderbilts Find. AAA In Brief: Dick Connell, president of Hazel Park, accompanied by Mrs. Connell, was among the interested spectators here the. other day. . .So far as we know, ThistleDown is the only track which has its paddock and jockey quarters below the grandstand. When fields are smaller than nine horses, saddling is done in the paddock, but the horses .are led to the walking ring on the track rail for instructions and mounting. Larger fields than nine cramp the walking ring and invite injuries and accidents. . .Jockey Bobby Strange is making his first appearance on the Ohio circuit and is riding in good form. He is affiliated with the stable of Virginian Woods Garth. AAA Washington, D. C, banker, G. A. Sacks, is a visitor to see his horses perform. The Sacks horses are trained by E. Greene... The engagements of jockey Alfred Tryon are being made by his father, Albert Tryon, a former rider of note. . .Herbert Brown has taken over the contract of apprentice Hall, who is expected to begin riding soon . . .Doug Davis is apprehensive that he is about to fall into a similar pattern in which he found himself last year when horses trained by him finished second no less than 56 times. There were 23 photos of these finishes before Davis gained a decision. This year, he has finished third on seven or eight occasions. . .W. J. Sprow, Jr., whose string here is trained by Tom Stevens, purchased the handicap performer Pick and Play from Sam E. Wilson in Chicago and the colt is expected to race for his new owner in Saturdays ,000 Shakertown Handicap here.
